A look back at the most popular stories on eprivateclient this week...

Monday 

HMRC published the details of five further tax avoidance schemes, including three promoted by AML Tax. Last year, AML Tax was fined £150,000 for failing to provide HMRC with legally required information as part of a tax investigation. The five schemes all seek to disguise remuneration, something which HMRC classes as tax avoidance.

Members of the European Parliament voted to widen the scope and toughen sanctions of proposed legislation aimed at clamping down on shell companies used for tax purposes. MEPs voted to amend an EU Commission’s proposal for a directive setting out criteria for determining a shell company used for tax avoidance and tax evasion, the ensuing penalties as well as reporting requirements.

Tuesday 

Immigration barrister Zoe Jacob joined Boodle Hatfield from Farrer & Co. Her appointment as a partner establishes a new immigration practice for the firm, further bolstering its existing private wealth and corporate offering. Ms Jacob is an immigration specialist with over a decade’s experience advising both individuals and institutions in all areas of UK immigration and nationality law.

EY strengthened its private team in the Midlands with the appointment of new director, Anisha Patel. Ms Patel will originate and build relationships with both new and existing clients in the privately owned business market, connecting clients with expertise from across all areas within the firm, including tax and corporate finance.  She has over eight years’ experience working in mergers and acquisitions and growth capital markets. 

Wednesday 

Offshore law firm Carey Olsen appointed Robert Dobbyn as a partner in its trusts and private wealth practice in Jersey. Mr Dobbyn has joined Carey Olsen from rival offshore law firm Walkers, where he has been a partner and head of its Jersey private capital and trusts group for nearly seven years. Before joining Walkers, he spent five years at Ogier.

UK law firms joined a new divorce support initiative for employees. This came as a new survey showed nine out of 10 employees admit family breakdown impacted on their ability to work. Payne Hicks Beach, Boyes Turner, Mills & Reeve and Laura Devine are among the first wave of law firms to sign up to a new initiative to support practitioners and other employees who are going through separation.

Thursday 

Global offshore law firm Carey Olsen was again in the news as it appointed partner Alexa Saunders as the firm's new head of trusts and private wealth in Jersey. Ms Saunders joined the firm in 2011 and has been a partner in the trusts and private wealth group since 2016. She has experience in advising on a broad range of both non-contentious and semi-contentious trust matters.

UK law firm Hunters Law launched Resolve, a new “one couple, one lawyer” service designed for separating couples who wish to "separate amicably and with dignity". Resolve is offered within the framework of “Resolution Together”, which was launched late last year by Resolution, the association of family justice professionals. Resolve will be offered by Mr Hood, who has nearly thirty years of family law experience, largely in high net worth divorces.

Friday 

Jersey-based wealth management services provider Affinity Private Wealth appointed Elizabeth Shaw as an associate director within its trust team. Her primary role will be managing key client relationships, whilst providing leadership and support to members of the trust team. Ms Shaw has 15 years of industry experience having practiced as a private client lawyer both onshore and offshore as well as focusing on private client tax.

The government of Cyprus has stripped 222 wealthy investors and their family members of citizenship, according to reports. Deputy government spokeswoman Niovi Parisinou said the figure includes 63 investors and 159 of their relatives, including spouses, children and parents. An inquiry into the 'investment-for-passports' programme found it had unlawfully granted citizenships in hundreds of instances, reportedly generating more than EUR9 billion for the country.