Neal Lees - Director

Neal joined Buzzacott in 2023 and is a Director in our Private Client team.

He provides personal tax advice to high-net-worth individuals and their family trusts, companies and charitable foundations.

Key areas of expertise:

• Advising UK resident and non-UK domiciled individuals and their offshore structures.
• Succession and governance strategies, including the set up and on-going advice in respect of appropriate family entities (e.g. trusts and companies).
• Property and investment structuring from a UK tax perspective, including the availability of associated tax reliefs (e.g. Principal Private Residence relief and Business Asset Disposal relief).

With an increasingly complicated tax landscape, private clients face the challenge of efficiently managing their own affairs as well as their businesses, trusts or charities. Additionally, media and public interest in the “fairness” of the taxation system has risen significantly in the last decade and therefore a client’s profile (rather than just the resultant tax liability) can be just as an important factor to consider, particularly in the case of high-profile individuals. Neal therefore supports his clients by giving considered advice, generally preferring a more simplistic approach where at all possible.

With the introduction in recent years of further reporting (e.g. UK land returns and the Trust Register), private clients are increasingly encumbered with compliance and Neal helps them navigate the various returns in a timely and efficient manner.

Clients like to work with Neal because he makes himself available, is responsive, and tailors his advice to deliver it in a clear and digestible way. He also takes a step back in order to provide a pragmatic view. Neal enjoys building and maintaining personal relationships, which is a key part of working with private clients and their other key advisers.

Neal works collaboratively with our Expatriate Tax team to provide tailored and practical advice that is considered from a UK and US tax perspective, our Tax Investigations and Dispute Resolution team to regularise any historic matters with HMRC or to resolve on-going disputes with HMRC, and our Financial Planning team to provide personal tax advice that feeds into a client’s wider investment and cashflow strategy. He also works with our Corporate team when working with directors and shareholders to ensure tax efficient withdrawal and exit strategies, and our VAT Consultancy team for self-employed clients to ensure they’re compliant and to review any particularly complex transactions.

Before joining Buzzacott, Neal worked in the London Private Client team at BDO for nearly 10 years. He is a Chartered Tax Adviser and has a Step Advanced Certificated in UK tax for International Clients.

Outside of work, Neal has a love of many sports and can often be found playing tag rugby, tennis, squash or taking part in outdoor military fitness classes, as well as watching motorsport. He also enjoys going to the theatre and cinema, and spending time with his partner and their cat.

To view the latest news and insights written by Neal click here.