Squire Patton Boggs has appointed Jeremy Cape as a partner in the Tax Strategy & Benefits Practice Group in its London office. Mr. Cape joins the firm from the tax team at Dentons in London.
Mr. Cape advises on a wide range of tax-related issues covering cross-border transactions including M&A, finance, restructuring and insolvency, funds and outsourcing. His industry experience includes the financial services, aviation, manufacturing, energy and resources, hospitality and media sectors. He acts for clients on both UK and international tax matters; in his global work he has a particular focus on Africa and emerging markets, where he advises both governments as well as corporate entities. Mr. Cape also has a background advising politicians, both in the UK and abroad, on tax policy matters.
Among his recent work highlights he has advised numerous financial institutions on credit agreements and tax issues such as FATCA; clients in the insurance sector on warranty and indemnity insurance policies and the insuring of tax products; several international airlines on global tax matters; a major US health food manufacturer on structuring its expansion into Europe; and an NHS Trust on structuring a joint venture in Qatar.
In his Africa-related work, Mr. Cape has advised an energy company on outsourcing certain operations to South Africa; a Texas-based oil and gas services provider on structuring services for a Nigerian client; several African governments on the tax issues regarding the development of their mining sector; a Middle Eastern client on the structuring of a luxury hotel development on an African island jurisdiction; and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) on the establishment of a pan-African infrastructure fund.
“We are delighted to have Jeremy on board,” commented Bernhard Gilbey, partner and global leader of the Tax Strategy & Benefits Practice Group. “His sophisticated tax expertise, broad sector knowledge and familiarity with multiple jurisdictions fit perfectly with our group and will enhance our existing international practice. Our international tax advisory work is highly specialized, particularly for our increasing client base in countries across the Middle East and Africa, so an experienced practitioner like Jeremy will be a great asset for clients. In terms of tax policy advice, where our US team already has a leading reputation, Jeremy also brings valuable expertise and relationships to the firm’s growing practice in the UK and EU in this complex area.”
One of Tax Journal’s “40 under 40” for 2012/13, Mr. Cape writes extensively for various tax and business publications and is a regular speaker at major tax conferences and events. Mr. Cape has also appeared frequently as a commentator on international tax issues in broadcast media. Mr. Cape commented on his appointment: “The tax team at Squire Patton Boggs is first rate; the firm has an outstanding global reach; and it possesses the kind of in-depth local expertise that makes for seamless delivery on global transactions. So it is an ideal platform for the tax practice I have developed over the years. The firm’s commitment to emerging markets has also long impressed me and it has one of the leading Africa practices among any of the international law firms. I look forward to collaborating with the new team and to sharing these advantages with the businesses I work with.”
The Squire Patton Boggs Tax Strategy & Benefits Practice Group is composed of more than 60 lawyers and has a physical presence and practical experience across five continents. The group has an in-depth knowledge of national and international tax regimes and structures and the local and global expertise to advise on cross-border transactions, including matters related to transfer pricing, acquisitions, divestitures and restructurings and global tax optimization. Its tax structuring advice includes acting for sovereign and other institutional and non-institutional investors. The team also includes a number of tax policy advisers in several of its offices.
The firm’s Africa Practice is well known for the representation of private sector and government-owned oil and hydrocarbon and other natural resources companies, is and recognized throughout Africa for its service to the mining, electricity, telecommunications, projects and infrastructure sectors. The Africa team has seen significant expansion in the past 18 months with the arrival of partners Neil Upton, Matthew Mulqueen, James Duckworth and Karim Maalioun, all of whom have major transactional and project experience in energy, transportation and infrastructure across the African continent.