Specialist tax and incentives lawyers Claire Matthews and James Ross join the partnership

Today we announce our latest UK partner appointments into areas of strategic focus. We have appointed Claire Matthews and James Ross as the latest partners expanding our corporate offering with specialist tax and incentives advice, following the extensive demand for the group's expertise.

Claire joins the firm on 1 July as a partner in London from Linklaters in Singapore*. Claire advises on all aspects of incentives and reward. She has experience in creating UK and international share plans, advising on reward strategy, corporate transactions, and governance as well as disclosure, regulation, tax and operational issues. Claire has spent over 10 years overall at Linklaters and has experience advising on executive remuneration and employee incentives at Deloitte. In her senior leadership role at Prudential, she led their Head Office Reward and HR Operations. Spending the last three years in Singapore, in a client partner role at Upstart Alliance and then again at Linklaters, has enabled Claire to develop distinct expertise advising on incentives for growth companies, extending from early-stage start-ups to large-scale global and APAC-wide incentives projects.

James Ross will also join the firm as a partner from McDermott Will & Emery in July. James provides advice on corporate and commercial tax issues to corporates, funds and individuals. While his practice is wide-ranging, he has particular expertise in advising on the structuring of corporate groups and of mergers and acquisitions.  Much of his work is cross-border, and he has extensive experience of advising on UK and European inbound investments, particularly from the United States, and on group reorganisations. In this context he frequently advises on structures for the holding and exploitation of intellectual property and on group financing arrangements. He has also advised high net worth individuals and family offices on corporate structuring matters.

Commenting on these latest hires, Partner James Goold said: "2021 was another hugely successful year for our corporate team and our clients. Our Tax & Incentives team is well established and the combination of specialist knowledge and service excellence our corporate clients can expect from us has resulted in increasing demand for our advice. James' and Claire's expertise is highly valued, and their experience will complement the group's international offering to support our clients with their ambitions, growth and innovations."

Managing Partner Shane Gleghorn said: "Claire's reputation for specialist incentives advice combined with her experience with venture capital and technology companies makes her a great fit for our clients. The scale of corporate experience James has, and his work in the private wealth sector, is impressive. As the demand for our specialist expertise in technology, life sciences and private wealth sectors increases, we are continuing to invest in the best talent to support our clients who require tax and incentives advice."

*Subject to standard regulatory approvals and on completion of her notice period.