Expertise: Private Clients, Trusts and Estates
Work and clients: Fiona specialises in providing income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax advice to individuals and their families, trusts and estates. She has a particular interest in non-UK domiciliaries, but also acts for many UK domiciled individuals. Her clients include entrepreneurs, those with inherited wealth, lottery winners and people leaving or coming to the UK.
The route to Shipleys: Started her career in the City before getting the tax bug. Completed her training with Deloitte before joining KPMG and then Mercer & Hole before moving on to Shipleys.
Memberships: Chartered Institute of Taxation
Aim:
"To explain complicated tax problems simply and provide practical solutions"
Most entertaining deal or case:
"Looking after a high profile international businessman where I not only had to deal with his UK tax affairs but also to co-ordinate advisers in other countries to join up our advice. Tax planning in three continents was made even trickier when one of the overseas advisers fell off the roof of his own home whilst carrying out repairs, and was off work for a month!"
Proudest professional moments:
"Being regularly recommended by an intermediary as the right person to look after their customers who have complicated tax affairs. The background to this is that when I first met the intermediaries concerned they were sceptical about the role of tax advisers and did not initially appreciate that the tax planning I proposed was in the best long-term interests of their client. I am proud to have earned their trust."
What I like about my job:
"I love it all; the intellectual challenge, the fact no two days are the same, meeting interesting people, the lot!"
Interests outside work:
Fiona enjoys cooking, baking cakes and collecting wine (with some quality control sampling), but is kept in shape by her young family, weight training and skiing. She maintains her fluent French and Spanish by reading newspapers and books and watching films in those languages.