Lawyer finder

Kevin Lowe

Partner
Kevin Lowe

I lead the Corporate Tax team, concentrating on M&A, restructuring and management tax planning. A key part of my role is explaining technical concepts in simple language. I like to think this differentiates me from other tax lawyers.

Tel: +44 (0)870 730 2879
Email: kevin_lowe@wragge.com

Services: Corporate, Tax

Best brains in...

Tyre-kicking! I don't just 'turn the wheel' and implement the structures I am presented with, but 'kick the tyres' with other lawyers involved in the project, challenging the structures to see if they are the best solution to the problem.

Understanding how M&A deal structures impact on the tax cover required. So many tax lawyers simply roll out precedent documents and clauses. You can't do that. Every deal is unique and demands a bespoke document.

Minimising tax charges for management investors, on the way into and out of their investments - we do this every day and have probably come across every possible issue (and its solution).

Highlight of your career so far?

Providing the main tax structuring advice to NAI Fuller Peiser LLP and its partners on the merger of its property services business with Atisreal, part of BNP Paribas. This deal created a top ten UK property business. Tax considerations were central to the price and deal structure, putting me right at the heart of the transaction.

Most challenging job you've ever done?

I gave corporate and property tax advice in conjunction with KPMG to European real estate developer Parkridge on a series of transactions worth £1.03 billion. This included a group reorganisation and demerger, the sale of Parkridge's industrial development business to ProLogis and the acquisition by ProLogis of a 25% stake in Parkridge's retail and mixed-use development business.

What about outside the UK?

I'm frequently involved in structuring foreign investments for UK investors and businesses and in establishing a tax efficient path for foreign businesses coming into the UK.

Dedication to client care? Prove it!

In a word, effort. A London-based client said that although I was based in Birmingham, they saw more of me than their London-based advisers. I always make the effort to pop in for a quick chat about what is going on in their world.

Best example of a creative legal solution?

We provided VAT structuring advice to the Ministry of Defence in relation to the unique alliancing structure being used in the £3 billion plus project to design, build and maintain two new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy. The MoD can't recover VAT, so the addition of hundreds of millions of pounds of VAT to the cost of the project would may stopped it proceeding.

When have you ever given a client a real competitive edge?

I've spoken to a number of clients about creative ways to fund their pension schemes, utilising income streams from assets.

What's your single greatest contribution to Wragge & Co's corporate responsibility?

Little things can have a big impact. I never leave my screen or computer on standby overnight and rarely use the lifts. If everyone in the firm did these two simple things it would have a massive impact on our energy use.

What's been written or said about you that you're most proud of?

'Our relationship with the Wragge & Co Tax team gives us 24-hour access to any one of its team of tax lawyers – it really does feel like they are just down the corridor. What we really like is that they don't give a long list of reasons why something can't be done or engage in long-winded negotiation on unimportant clauses, but instead take a proactive, commercial approach.'

Alerts

23.02.09

To buy or not to buy - when is the question

The headlines can make it feel as though hanging on for dear life is the only thing left to do in this economy. However, the same economic cycle that's brought us to this point can bring up some useful opportunities for those that spot them.

23.02.09

To buy or not to buy - when is the question

The headlines can make it feel as though hanging on for dear life is the only thing left to do in this economy. However, the same economic cycle that's brought us to this point can bring up some useful opportunities for those that spot them.

05.02.09

Employees: to employ or not to employ? And should we all be making sacrifices now?

The headlines can make it feel as though hanging on for dear life is the only thing left to do in this economy: however, the same economic cycle that's brought us to this point can bring up some useful opportunities for those that spot them.

29.01.09

When the going gets tough, the taxman gets tougher

Tips for action to take from Wragge & Co's Tax team to help businesses prepare for HMRC's tough tactics.

15.01.09

Planning for an upturn

The Wragge & Co Tax team tips for making the most of tax opportunities now and preparing for when the upturn comes.

12.03.08

The Budget 2008

So was this the 'Green Budget' or the Budget of 'resilience' - Alistair Darling's version of 'prudence'? No doubt the media will be the judge.

11.03.08

Tax credits - deadline fast approaching

Following changes to the Finance Act 2006, all companies are required to finalise their Research & Development (R&D) tax credit claims by 31 March 2008, for the periods 1 April 2002 - 31 March 2006.

14.01.02

New Tax Regime for Intellectual Property and Intangible Assets

The current tax system relating to Intellectual Property (IP) is highly complex. Some IP assets are subject to capital gains rules, whilst others are taxed as income items.
 

Press releases

17.03.09

Wragge & Co advises Sanctuary Housing Association on £200 million bond issue

Wragge & Co LLP Banking & Finance team has advised Sanctuary Housing Association on a £200 million secured bond issue.

26.06.08

Wragge & Co advises on £30 million sale

Wragge & Co LLP Private Equity team has advised the shareholders of Product Support Holdings Limited (PSHL), including NVM Private Equity, on the £30 million sale of PSHL to Wincanton.

14.04.08

Wragge & Co Private Equity team advises NVM on telecomms MBO

Wragge & Co LLP Private Equity team has advised NVM Private Equity Limited (NVM) on its £5 million investment in the management buy-out of Optilan Ltd. Additional bank funding was provided by Allied Irish Bank and GE Capital.

19.03.08

Wragge & Co's Tax team expands

Wragge & Co LLP has boosted its tax capability with the appointment of Anne Fairpo as a director. The appointment strengthens the firm's tax credentials and enhances its full-service capability for corporate finance.

17.10.07

Wragge & Co completes £46.5 million Protocol Skills MBO for Close Brothers

Wragge & Co LLP's Private Equity Team has completed a £46.5 million management buyout of Protocol Skills for Close Brothers Private Equity (CBPE).

24.07.07

Wragge & Co advises NVM Private Equity on £17.5 million buyout of Astbury Marsden

Private equity partner Ian Piggin led a cross-firm team assisted by associate Jonathan Tilley, tax partners Neil Pearson and Kevin Lowe, banking and finance partner Kirsty Jefferies and director Chris Gayle.

 

Published articles

There are currently no published articles for Kevin Lowe.

 

Search for lawyer