Senior Corporate Tax Lawyer (incentives)

City Of London, England, United Kingdom

7/8/2025

A leading international law firm is looking to hire a senior-level corporate tax lawyer to join its growing employee incentives practice, based in London. This is a rare opportunity to step into a key role within a well-respected team, advising a broad client base across public and private markets.

The Opportunity

You'll be joining a firm that empowers individuals to shape their careers. With a strong strategy for growth, early responsibility is encouraged, and contribution is recognised. Lawyers here enjoy a genuinely collaborative environment, where transparency, fairness and performance are rewarded.

This role sits within the firm's broader corporate tax team and will focus on employee incentives and executive remuneration. You'll play a central role in supporting complex corporate transactions, designing share plans, advising on tax, and guiding clients on regulatory compliance and governance.

Key Responsibilities

• Advising on the full spectrum of employee incentives and remuneration matters.

• Supporting M&A activity and IPOs with share scheme implementation and structuring.

• Drafting and advising on tax-advantaged and non-tax-advantaged share plans (e.g. EMI, growth shares).

• Assisting with the design of bonus plans, including phantom equity.

• Advising on employment tax (including PAYE, NICs, IR35), particularly on exits and cross-border matters.

• Working on corporate governance and Remuneration Code compliance for financial services clients.

• Leading and supervising junior team members and liaising with colleagues across departments.
  
  

Team Structure

You'll work alongside a well-regarded group of tax and incentives specialists, including a recognised leader in the incentives space. The team is in active growth mode, and this appointment is key to building capacity for increasing client demand across the business.

What We're Looking For

• A UK-qualified lawyer with significant post-qualification experience in employee incentives and corporate tax

• Strong understanding of UK taxation of employment-related securities and corporate transactions

• Proven experience running the incentives aspects of deals with minimal supervision

• Ability to mentor and lead junior team members

• Excellent drafting and client-handling skills

• Commercial mindset, with confidence liaising directly with corporate clients

• Experience with FS Remuneration Codes and governance matters (desirable but not essential)
  
  

Why Apply?

This is an outstanding opportunity for an ambitious corporate tax lawyer looking to join a high-performing team within an international firm known for its warm and inclusive culture. You'll have access to excellent quality work, a supportive and collegiate team, and clear progression prospects.

Desired Skills and Experience

Experienced UK-qualified tax and incentives lawyer with a strong track record advising on the design, implementation and operation of employee share plans, equity-based incentives, and executive remuneration arrangements. Skilled in advising both private and listed companies across a broad range of sectors, including financial services, technology, life sciences, and private equity.

Extensive experience supporting complex corporate transactions, including IPOs, mergers, and private equity exits, with a focus on the impact of incentive arrangements. Regularly advise on enterprise management incentives (EMIs), growth shares, long-term incentive plans (LTIPs), bonus structures, and all-employee share schemes.

Proficient in employment tax and PAYE/NIC issues, including IR35, cross-border matters, and employment-related securities. Familiar with corporate governance frameworks, remuneration reporting, and regulatory compliance (including the Financial Services Remuneration Code).

Confident leading on projects, liaising directly with clients, and mentoring junior team members. Known for providing commercially sound, technically robust advice in a clear and pragmatic manner.