Slater & Gordon to acquire Pannone’s private client services

Private Client Adviser: Pannone has agreed to sell the majority of its consumer practice groups to Slater & Gordon, with the firm's remaining practice areas – particularly its business legal services – to continue under a new independent practice, Pannone Corporate.

Full story: http://www.privateclientadviser.co.uk/news/international/slater-gordon-acquire-pannone%E2%80%99s-private-client-services

'Why expats should care that UK IHT threshold is frozen till 2018:' Canada Life

International Adviser: UK residents with assets of more than £325,000 are not the only ones who might be concerned that the UK’s inheritance tax threshold is failing to keep pace with inflation: expats, for example, ought to be studying the matter as well.

Full story: http://www.international-adviser.com/news/tax---regulation/why-expats-should-care-that-uk?

Bermuda opts for tax transparency

ICAEW: Bermuda has formally signed an automatic exchange of tax information agreement with the UK.

Full story: http://economia.icaew.com/news/november-2013/bermuda-opts-for-tax-transparency

Blake Lapthorn, Boyes Turner and Morgan Cole explore three-way merger

The Lawyer: Blake Lapthorn, Boyes Turner and Morgan Cole are in talks over a three-way merger which would create a new top 40 UK firm with revenues closing in on £100m.

Full story: http://www.thelawyer.com/analysis/the-lawyer-management/merger-watch/blake-lapthorn-boyes-turner-and-morgan-cole-explore-three-way-merger/3013125.article?

Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Colombia, Greece, Iceland and Malta commit to automatically sharing tax information

HMRC: Following the meeting of the Global Forum on Tax Transparency in Jakarta last week, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Colombia, Greece, Iceland and Malta have agreed to automatically share information on UK taxpayers with HM Revenue & Customs through the G5’s pilot initiative launched by the G5 on automatic exchange of tax information.

Full story: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/luxembourg-liechtenstein-colombia-greece-iceland-and-malta-commit-to-automatically-sharing-tax-information?

Mazars expands Birmingham tax practice

Insider Media: Accountancy firm Mazars has appointed a new partner to its tax practice in Birmingham, joining from Grant Thornton.

Full story: http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/103601-mazars-expands-birmingham-tax-practice