John Forde

Partner
John is an experienced tax lawyer who provides clear and pragmatic advice.
John is an experienced tax lawyer who provides clear and pragmatic advice.

About

John advises on a broad spectrum of business tax matters but with a particular focus on M&A transactions, real estate tax and employee share incentives.

He also has experience in providing personal tax advice to high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and entrepreneurs.

Clients value John’s ability to consider both the business and personal tax aspects of tax issues; it means he can deliver well-rounded and strategic guidance.

He joined Stevens & Bolton in 2024, having previously been a partner at a London firm.

Expertise
Corporate exits Share schemes Real estate tax Tax advisory

Experience

  • Recent work
    • Advice to Eren Paper (a Turkish conglomerate) on the acquisition of a paper mill business and site from UPM as part of a planned £600m redevelopment project.
    • Demerger of a software company from a financial services group to facilitate the granting of tax efficient EMI options to senior management and an investment by a multinational wealth management company.
    • Structuring a purpose-built student accommodation development project to maximise VAT recoverability.
    • Assisting a tech company with securing EIS tax relief on a fundraising (including assessment of eligibility, obtaining advance assurance from HMRC and preparation of EIS1 and EIS3 forms).
    • Pre-arrival personal tax planning for a wealthy foreign entrepreneur moving to the UK.
    • Advising the shareholders of ZI Group, a leading AI-powered consumer insights platform on a $170m investment from funds managed by Sumeru Equity Partners, a US PE house.
  • Qualifications and recognition

    As well as a solicitor John is qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

  • Advice to Eren Paper (a Turkish conglomerate) on the acquisition of a paper mill business and site from UPM as part of a planned £600m redevelopment project.
  • Demerger of a software company from a financial services group to facilitate the granting of tax efficient EMI options to senior management and an investment by a multinational wealth management company.
  • Structuring a purpose-built student accommodation development project to maximise VAT recoverability.
  • Assisting a tech company with securing EIS tax relief on a fundraising (including assessment of eligibility, obtaining advance assurance from HMRC and preparation of EIS1 and EIS3 forms).
  • Pre-arrival personal tax planning for a wealthy foreign entrepreneur moving to the UK.
  • Advising the shareholders of ZI Group, a leading AI-powered consumer insights platform on a $170m investment from funds managed by Sumeru Equity Partners, a US PE house.

As well as a solicitor John is qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

We don’t lose sight of the objective; we aim to make our advice focussed and actionable.

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