• Who-we-are-banner

    News

Charles Russell Speechlys welcomes new Partner specialising in Corporate Tax

Charles Russell Speechlys today announces the appointment of James Stewart as a Partner within the Firm’s Corporate Tax and Incentives team. 

James is a Corporate Tax specialist joining from Sheridans, where he was a Partner for two and a half years. He is a Chartered Tax Adviser and has advised clients on the tax aspects of a broad spectrum of real estate transactions (both commercial and residential), including direct sales and acquisitions, corporate real estate transactions and real estate finance. He also has significant M&A tax experience, with particular focus on the technology sector, including negotiation and drafting of all tax aspects of transactional work. 

James also brings experience in venture capital and structuring-related advice spanning across income tax, corporation tax, stamp tax implications of various structuring matters, and much more. 

He will predominantly work with the Firm’s Corporate, Real Estate and Private Client teams to offer Corporate Tax advice to new and existing clients, and explore opportunities for Corporate to work with other teams and our international offices to win new work for the Firm. 

David Collins, Partner,who is responsible for the Firms Business Advisory & Transaction Services Division, which includes the Corporate, Commercial, Employment, Immigration, Financial Services and Banking teams, comments: 

“We’re delighted to welcome James to the division. His broad-based corporate tax expertise, and in particular his experience advising on corporate real estate transactions, will be invaluable to the team as we continue to build out our transaction capabilities in line with our Private Capital-led strategy.” 

Robert Birchall, Partner and Head of the Corporate Tax and Incentives practice, comments:

“James adds significant technical ability and experience to our team and we are very pleased to welcome him into the Firm. Our Corporate Tax and Incentives practice is exceptionally busy at the moment and continues to grow at pace - the skills and expertise that James brings with him, especially on real estate tax matters, will create significant value for a number of our clients.”

James Stewart, Partner, adds: 

“I am very excited to be joining the team. It’s clearly a dynamic Firm with strong capabilities across transactional, advisory and contentious. It was clear to me from the very start that the Firm takes a joined-up approach to matters, involving experts from all sorts of disciplines and backgrounds where needed. That was a real draw for me, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with colleagues from different practices to carry out the best possible work for clients.” 

James’s appointment follows two other recent Partner hires into the Business Advisory & Transaction Services Division, in one of the busiest years for senior lateral hires for the Firm to date. 

At the start of September, Ahmad Anani joined as Head of Capital Markets and Regulation in Doha, Qatar and, in August, Dan Pollard joined as Partner in the Employment team in London.

Related coverage:

Bloomberg Law (subscription required), EPrivateClient (subscription required), WealthBriefing, New Law JournalSolicitors Journal, FinancialNews.co.uk

Our thinking

  • IBA Annual Conference 2025

    Simon Ridpath

    Events

  • Next Gen Rural Professionals Drinks Reception

    Events

  • Triple Play "Bid Fever": UK Tech's ability to scale and go global

    Mark Howard

    Quick Reads

  • The Future of AI and Copyright Regulation in the UK: The Data (Use and Access) Bill finally gets Lords approval in the UK

    Rebecca Steer

    Quick Reads

  • HM Land Registry's Digital Drive - Delays Persist but perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel?

    Maisy-Jane Cook

    Quick Reads

  • Key aspects of the FCA’s PISCES Sourcebook

    Jodie Dennis

    Insights

  • Mike Barrington and Mary Perham write for Tax Adviser on what the proposed changes to business property relief mean for investors and entrepreneurs, and for their businesses

    Mike Barrington

    In the Press

  • Bloomberg quotes Catrin Harrison on the recent exodus of non-doms from the UK

    Catrin Harrison

    In the Press

  • Trusts and Matrimonial Disputes in England

    Tom Watts

    Insights

  • The Financial Times and Daily Mail quote Emma Humphreys on the impact of the UK Government's Spending Review on housebuilding targets

    Emma Humphreys

    In the Press

  • Alumni Drinks Reception

    Events

  • Consultation on Private International Law and Digital Assets Law Commission Proposes Landmark Reforms

    Racheal Muldoon

    Insights

  • Cross-border clarity: the rise of the international prenup

    Matt Foster

    Quick Reads

  • Navigating International M&A Disputes: Insights and Strategies for 2025

    Stephen Burns

    Quick Reads

  • Bridging Differences: The Role of Mediation in Resolving Cross-Border Trust Disputes

    Tamasin Perkins

    Insights

  • Planning essentials case update: what changes can I make to my listed building?

    Sadie Pitman

    Quick Reads

  • Rachel Warren writes for Solicitors Journal on the new failure prevent fraud offence

    Rachel Warren

    In the Press

  • MoneyWeek quotes Mary Perham on whether business property relief can be claimed on a furnished holiday let

    Mary Perham

    In the Press

  • Anti-greenwashing in the UK, EU and the US: the outlook for 2025 and best practice guidance

    Caroline Greenwell

    Insights

  • Landmark rulings from the Italian Revenue Agency on income tax exemption on gains from Italian shares held in trust

    Nicola Saccardo

    Quick Reads

Back to top