Gowling WLG has further strengthened its UK tax practice with the appointment of Tom Rank as a partner.
Tom is a corporate tax specialist with extensive experience advising on transactional tax matters across M&A, private equity, public markets, banking and solvent structuring. His practice covers both domestic and cross-border matters, and he is equally comfortable acting as lead tax adviser or working as part of large, multidisciplinary and international teams.
He returns to Gowling WLG following three years as a partner at DWF and was previously a principal associate at the firm, where he spent seven years. He will be based of the firm’s Birmingham office.
Tom brings a strong track record of advising on high-value and complex transactions, including structuring the redomiciliation of an AI business from Luxembourg to the UK, acting for a private equity investor on a £900 million disposal involving employee benefit trust distributions, and advising a Premier League football club on cross-border VAT and customs issues relating to a global merchandising arrangement. His experience also includes advising pension funds, insurers and financial institutions on innovative investment and risk transfer structures.
In addition to his transactional work, Tom has significant expertise in share incentives, advising on the implementation and review of both tax-advantaged and non-advantaged schemes, as well as more bespoke incentive arrangements.
Lee Nuttall, Head of Tax at Gowling WLG, said:
“Tom is a highly regarded transactional tax adviser with an excellent reputation for providing clear, commercial advice on complex matters. His breadth of experience across M&A, private equity and structured transactions, combined with his pragmatic approach, makes him an outstanding addition to our tax team and a real asset to our clients. We are delighted to welcome him back to the firm.”
Stuart Young, Head of Gowling WLG’s Corporate Finance and Tax Group, added:
“Tom’s appointment reflects the continued growth and momentum of our Corporate, Finance and Tax practices. His ability to work seamlessly with corporate finance colleagues and support clients across the full lifecycle of major transactions aligns perfectly with our integrated, client-focused approach.”
Commenting on joining Gowling WLG, Tom said:
“I’m delighted to be joining Gowling WLG at such an exciting time for the firm. The strength of the tax team and its close integration with the firm’s corporate, finance and sector teams was a real draw, and I’m looking forward to supporting clients on strategically important transactions in the UK and internationally.”
