Death of Motörhead frontman Lemmy could trigger legal battle over fortune

Daily Telegraph: The heavy metal lothario's death from cancer at the age of 70 could lead to an acrimonious legal contest over his estate, warn experts.

Full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/12073617/Death-of-Motorhead-frontman-Lemmy-could-trigger-legal-battle-over-fortune.html

HMRC trialling maps to decode 'galaxy' of British tax laws

The Independent: If the prospect of filling in your tax return next month inspires early onset January blues, spare a thought for the number-crunchers of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.  This year, in a bid to help government officials understand the labyrinthine complexities of centuries of British laws and regulations, HMRC is for the first time trialling “maps” of British tax legislation.

Full story: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hmrc-trialling-maps-to-decode-galaxy-of-british-tax-laws-a6790051.html

Govt more than £600m behind tax avoidance targets

Money Marketing: Government measures to clamp down on tax avoidance are bringing in £615m less than originally forecast, according to an analysis from the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Full story: http://www.moneymarketing.co.uk/govt-more-than-600m-behind-tax-avoidance-targets/

Government softens plan to criminalise unwitting offshore tax evasion

The Guardian: Trigger for prosecution will be loss to HMRC of £25,000 a year, up from £5,000 – but experts say legislation is ‘step too far'.

Full story: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/dec/09/government-softens-plan-to-criminalise-unwitting-offshore-tax-evasion

Gov't clamps down on fund manager 'abusive tax planning'

CityWire: The government has set out new plans for taxing asset managers’ performance-related pay to stop ‘abusive tax planning’ in the sector.

Full story: http://citywire.co.uk/wealth-manager/news/govt-clamps-down-on-fund-manager-abusive-tax-planning/a866375?ref=wealth-manager-new-latest-news-test1-list

Accountant convicted of £6m tax fraud

ICAEW: An accountant has been convicted of evading more than £6m in tax Dennis Christopher Carter Lunn ran a Sussex-based accountancy firm with over 7,000 clients. Many were from the media and entertainment industry.

Full story: http://economia.icaew.com/news/december-2015/accountant-convicted-of-6-million-pound-tax-fraud

Banks given immunity over enabling tax dodging

ICAEW: More than 50 banks have been given immunity from criminal prosecution in the US The banks, including Standard Chartered, Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas, helped American clients evade tax in Swiss bank accounts.

Full story: http://economia.icaew.com/news/december-2015/banks-given-immunity-for-enabling-tax-dodging

Inheritance tax 'too toxic to save' says thinktank

CityWire: Voters on right and left of political spectrum consider inheritance tax as ‘beyond the pale', says Fabian Society, a leftwing think tank. 

Full story: http://citywire.co.uk/money/inheritance-tax-too-toxic-to-save-says-thinktank/a864853?ref=citywire-money-latest-news-list

Swiss bank to pay tax evasion penalty

Public Finance International: Switzerland’s EFG Bank is to pay a penalty of $29m to the US Department of Justice to avoid prosecution for helping its American account holders evade taxes.

Full story: http://www.publicfinanceinternational.org/news/2015/12/swiss-bank-pay-tax-evasion-penalty

Inheritance tax changes are too messy and complex, says Andrew Tyrie

Daily Telegraph: The new rules on passing your main home to your children are complicated and too slow, leaving the elderly with considerable uncertainty, according to the MP.

Full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/budget/12037511/Inheritance-tax-changes-are-too-messy-and-complex-says-Andrew-Tyrie.html

European parliament endorses Liechtenstein deal

ICAEW: The European Parliament has endorsed a deal between the EU and Liechtenstein that will make it harder for EU citizens to hide cash in bank accounts in the state.

Full story: http://economia.icaew.com/news/december-2015/european-parliament-endorses-liechtenstein-deal

Net closes on evaders

ICAEW: David Gauke, the financial secretary to the Treasury, has launched a new campaign warning off shore tax evaders that time is running out for them to make disclosures.

Full story: http://economia.icaew.com/news/november-2015/net-closes-on-evaders

RSM posts strong results following rebrand

ICAEW: Mid-tier firm RSM saw its revenues and profits rise for the financial year ended 31 March thanks to strong growth in all its service lines.

Full story: http://economia.icaew.com/news/december-2015/rsm-posts-strong-results-following-rebranding

Law firms merge to create private client force

Private Client Adviser: The union will create top-five private client team capable of advising on domestic and international issues.  Law firms Thomas Eggar and Irwin Mitchell have merged to create a private client team specialising in advising mid-market and high-net and ultra-high-net-worth clients.  The merger is estimated to complete in December 2015. The new business will be worth £250m and will create the UK's 11th largest legal business.

Full story: http://www.privateclientadviser.co.uk/news/legal-practice/law-firms-merge-create-private-client-force

Gordon Dadds appoints new Partner and Head of Tax

Gordon Dadds: We are delighted to announce the appointment of Huw Witty as partner and head of tax. Huw joins us from Fladgate LLP where he was partner and head of tax for six years.

Full story: http://www.gordondadds.com/firm-news/gordon-dadds-appoints-new-partner-and-head-of-tax/

Irwin Mitchell And Thomas Eggar Announce Merger And Target Further Expansion

Irwin Mitchell: Leading law firms Irwin Mitchell and Thomas Eggar today announce that they will merge to create a £250m dynamic legal services business, a top-five private wealth legal team and a platform to significantly grow their combined business legal services operation.

Full story: http://www.irwinmitchell.com/newsandmedia/2015/november/irwin-mitchell-and-thomas-eggar-announce-merger-and-target-further-expansion-jq-283939

Taylor Wessing announces addition of new lateral partner hire to its leading Private Client team

Taylor Wessing: International law firm Taylor Wessing has today announced the addition of a new lateral partner hire to its market leading Private Client practice.

Full story: http://united-kingdom.taylorwessing.com/en/taylor-wessing-announces-addition-of-new-lateral-partner-hire-to-its-leading-private-client-team

HMRC Collects GBP300m From Stamp Duty Crackdown

Tax-News: HM Revenue and Customs's (HMRC's) Counter Avoidance Directorate collected GBP301.8m (USD455.6m) in unpaid UK stamp duty land tax (SDLT) in the year to March 31, 2015, according to law firm Collyer Bristow.

Full story: http://www.tax-news.com/news/HMRC_Collects_GBP300m_From_Stamp_Duty_Crackdown____69830.html

Non-dom opportunities

The Lawyer: In what seems to be another step by the UK Government towards eliminating the perceived unfairness of the taxation rules in respect of long-term UK resident, non-UK domiciled individuals there may well be a glimmer of hope and an opportunity for offshore service providers to help such individuals enhance and preserve their wealth through the use of offshore trusts, prior to such individuals becoming deemed domiciled under the 15 year rule…

Full story: http://www.thelawyer.com/briefings/non-dom-opportunities/3041084.article

Gateley Plc appoints new Private Client head

Gateley PLC: Gateley Plc, the UK’s first AIM listed law firm has strengthened its offering with the appointment of partner and new head of its national Private Client team, Catriona Attride.

Full story: http://www.gateleyplc.com/news-and-events/news/item/gateley-plc-appoints-new-private-client-head/