Senior Associate, Tax Disputes

We are a modern, ambitious law firm always on the look-out for talented individuals to join our Tax Advisory and Director Services team. This team is currently led by Andy Lynch, who has 18 years’ experience from within HMRC which is utilised mainly for the benefit of private clients. We are recognised market experts across several legal areas including commercial litigation, corporate restructuring and insolvency, specialist director advice (both pre and post commencement of proceedings), shareholder disputes, tax disputes and banking & finance work.

FWJ offers advice to SMEs, directors and shareholders on various aspects of tax advisory work, currently primarily focused on commercial settlements with HMRC (including time to pay), advice and assistance in respect of tax avoidance schemes, Code 8 and Code 9 enquiries, investigations and meetings with HMRC and worldwide freezing orders. FWJ’s services are primarily offered to directors and SME businesses. FWJ has a dual qualified solicitor/accountant supporting these services, a consultant with 18 years + experience from within HMRC and a variety of individuals supporting various aspects of this tax advisory service.

FWJ is looking to expand this offering and seeks a senior associate (subject to experience) who can grow this team from the personnel within FWJ, extending to tax litigation including appeals against determinations and decisions, advisory aspects on tax investigations and fraud (from the defendant aspect) and/or any related criminal proceedings.

ROLE OVERVIEW

Applicants are not required to have experience of all contentious tax investigatory areas but would be expected to support a small team of solicitors offering tax dispute and resolution services which should extend to defences or appeals to the FTT and onward to the wider non-specialist Courts (where appropriate). Technical ability, excellent case management skills and experience of dispute resolution strategies are of critical importance. While FWJ does not currently offer criminal law advisory services, we would also be keen to encourage applicants with relevant experience of criminal proceedings relating to tax investigations and/or fraud (subject to the business case and our PI cover). But this is not a mandatory requirement of this role.

We would expect the team to quickly become involved and be able to deal with cases of significant size and complexity and it is anticipated that with time the team would grow to additionally include more senior associates, associates, solicitors and paralegals. Accordingly, although not mandatory, we would be interested to hear from any applicant with a following, in addition to the required technical and case management skills.

The team will be supported by a commercial litigation team, a contentious insolvency team and the wider firm offering commercial debt recovery and insolvency (non-contentious and contentious) services to banks, Insolvency Practitioners, commercial finance institutions and HNWIs. The successful candidate must have experience of tax advisory and litigation services as described above. Experience of fraud investigations and/or criminal proceedings would also be of interest, although FWJ is currently a civil litigation law firm.

It is anticipated that many instructions may be internally referred as connected to current client concerns or directed through our website, in addition to the candidates' own marketing and business development efforts. The applicant would be expected, with time, to contribute to written articles published online.

Our people are central to the success of Francis Wilks & Jones and ensuring the successful candidate fits into our culture is important to us. We are therefore looking for candidates who:

• Are enthusiastic and interested in the technical challenges of our clients’ instructions and have the ability to provide a “value added” and quality service;
• Are keen to keep themselves updated with regular training and the understanding of breaking case law which often impacts upon the services provided to our clients;
• Understand the needs of HNWIs and Directors/SMEs and their commercial needs in respect of the dispute risk and tax mitigation, and primarily any strategies employed to mitigate the risk of criminal proceedings;
• Of critical importance is the value-added aspects of tax advisory services and any related litigation strategy;
• Are personable and understand the importance of getting on with colleagues and clients and are keen to raise the profile of FWJ and their own profiles via marketing and social media portals;
• Demonstrate an understanding of technology, and open to learning new systems and supporting the firm’s development in this regard;
• Understand the use of SEO, AI and other modern marketing techniques as part of a modern legal profession, in addition to their continuing development of clients through more traditional marketing techniques;
• Are ambitious and keen to develop and grow a team of specialists, in line with city boutique business models in a small group of other specialist law firms;
• It would be an ideal position for any experienced solicitor who is innovative and has ideas, particularly where they can positively contribute to the growth of FWJ.

SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:

The successful candidate should have experience, either partial or wholly, of similar tax advisory litigation services in private practice. FWJ would be very keen to consider any individuals from within HMRC or any tax accounting advisory firm and would also be interested in any individuals who have experience of tax tribunal work, insolvency and/or commercial litigation (although this is not a prerequisite).

Ideally the candidate should be able to demonstrate a partial or whole range of experience of tax advisory and/or tax litigation including where possible experience of some of the following areas:

• Case management of appeals or defences through the Tax First Tier Tribunal and thereafter, including all case management, evidence preparation and technical submissions (with or without specialist counsel);
• Detailed understanding of the tax legislation relevant to the candidates’ field of experience and an interest in developing other related technical skills;
• Experience within a law firm and/or tax accounting practice/HMRC managing a small (or big) team of individuals supporting such services;
• Experience of Proceeds of Crime investigations, enquiries and enforcement would be of great interest, particularly where they relate to tax investigations by HMRC;
• Experience of freezing order proceedings, ranging from worldwide freezing orders to those initiated in the magistrate’s court by HMRC as well as conventional commercial freezing order applications or POCA applications initiated by HMRC;
• Advice on tax schemes or arrangements or business structures, potentially in coordination with Counsel;
• Experience of a private client facing role, speaking to HNWIs and or their business representatives from CEOs/MDs to financial directors and providing any creative legal solutions;
• Any experience of COP8/COP 9 meetings or criminal proceedings, where they could complement the above services, would also be of great interest to FWJ;
• Experience of developing areas of tax enforcement by HMRC, including tax avoidance, VAT fraud, R&D credits etc.;
• Experience of cross border tax schemes or enforcement/disclosure aspects;
• Familiarity of the analysis of accounts, both management and financial, including related cash flows and other business accounts would be an advantage;
• Any hybrid experience that could extend to POCA or other criminal proceedings may also be of interest.

Why Join Us?

• Hybrid working model for better work-life balance.
• 25 Days paid holiday, plus extra days for long service, and free day given at Christmas.
• Private healthcare via Vitality – includes holiday discounts, gym discounts and even free cinema vouchers and coffee!
• Complimentary in-house breakfast, healthy (and not so healthy) staff snack bar.
• Critical Illness and Income Protection Insurance.
• Wellbeing support for you and your family, medical helpline & legal support.
• Collaborative culture – ideas are welcomed, and innovation is encouraged.
• Regular training and updates on cutting-edge case law.
• Marketing and profile-building support via social media and thought leadership.
• Modern Tech tools, including AI, SEO, GEO and digital marketing techniques to enhance your legal practice.

Ready to take your career to the next level?