John Dunlop

John is the head of the tax team for DACB specialising in all areas of UK tax applicable to businesses and their owners together with employee incentives.

He has over 20 years’ experience advising clients across a range of sectors including real estate, healthcare and tech. His key clients include all the major house builders, public and private healthcare providers and owner managed businesses in the technology area.

John specialises in the field of commercial tax generally, arising on all commercial and corporate transactions and advising on all aspects of corporation tax, income tax, NIC, capital allowances, capital gains tax, VAT, stamp duty and stamp duty land tax. John regularly advises on the tax aspects of all types of commercial agreements and mergers and acquisitions, focusing on tax minimisation and the allocation of risk.

John advises on all types of share schemes. He is passionate about helping clients to achieve tax savings, for example through the use of Enterprise Management Incentives (EMIs). More and more clients are being drawn to the new Employee Ownership Trust as a genuine alternative to private equity.

Relevant experience includes advising:

• Medvivo on an employment tax dispute with HMRC. Nick Gordon of Medvivo commented "DACB led our response to an investigation with HMRC into the self-employed status covering a significant part of our workforce. They brought significant experience to both the subject matter and the investigation process itself and managed our activities in a way that enabled us to be well prepared and briefed at all times. Of note was the way they maintained the pressure on all parties to drive the investigation to a ‘speedy’ satisfactory conclusion.".
• APT Solutions Ltd on a tax dispute with HMRC. Stuart Shepherd of this private equity backed company commented “After finding myself in an unfavourable position due to some bad advice I needed it to be sorted out properly. Fortunately, someone I knew had worked with John before and he came highly recommended and I was very grateful I took their advice and engaged John to help me with my problem. John was able to work through a very detailed issue to resolve the matter without said tax having to be paid. You can do it cheaper I am sure, but then, that is what I did in the first place for the original transaction advice and ended up needing John to sort things out!”.

John is a recognised practitioner by Chambers & Partners. ”John Dunlop of DAC Beachcroft LLP delivers efficient and practical advice and is regarded as having an excellent breadth of knowledge.” Chambers & Partners UK, Employee Share Schemes, London.

In addition, John is a Chartered Tax Adviser and a member of the Share Plan Lawyers Group and a founding member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation’s Employment Income Tax Forum. John has lectured at the leading White Paper Company’s annual share plan conference for the last 3 years and gave the IR35 talk to the 2019 Employment Lawyer’s Association conference.

Endorsements

"John is exceptional in his field. He understands our business and how to create solutions to our problems."

"John is a trusted and valued adviser who always provides excellent advice quickly and efficiently."

"John is very good at cutting through the issues and providing realistic, workable solutions."

Chambers & Partners UK, 2023