Contact Alexander
Alexander Massey leads the tax incentivised venture capital tax and incentives offering at Excello Law.
Alexander gained experience as a tax specialist at Grant Thornton (UK) LLP, Knights PLC and Shoosmiths (UK) LLP where he most recently held the role of Head of Legal Innovation (Corporate Division, London) and senior tax associate. Alexander is registered with both the ICAEW as a part-qualified accountant and the solicitors’ regulatory authority as a practicing solicitor.
Alexander has gained significant experience in the marketplace advising on the ‘SEIS’, ‘EIS’ and ‘VCT’ venture capital schemes and:
- has previously advised HMRC on the creation of its SEIS/EIS/VCT e-portals; and
- is an active member of HMRC’s research and development consultative committee, supporting and engaging with the UK’s R&D tax credit programme.
Alexander also has experience:
- negotiating tax covenants and drafting documentation relating to the exercise of share options in relation to international M&A transactions;
- assisting Companies in obtaining stamp duty relief on restructures and share-for-share exchanges; and
- implementing new management incentive plans.
Alexander's Experience
- Advised hundreds of UK and international company groups in addition to a number of the UK’s largest tax-incentivised venture capital funds on the filing and compliance requirements of the SEIS, EIS and VCT schemes, including negotiation of advance assurance and EIS1 filings with HMRC, and on-going compliance requirements for venture capital trusts.
- Assisted HMRC on the design of its SEIS, EIS and VCT e-portal as part of the Government’s ‘Making Tax Digital’ campaign and has previously supported the UK’s EIS Association ‘EISA’ in the organisation of several of its regional events.
- Assisted a large SEIS, EIS and VCT investment fund in securing those reliefs on its investments into several high-profile film and television production companies, which have produced award winning series and productions for Netflix and wider broadcast.
- Advised several international groups on share-for-share exchange restructures, achieving a 100% stamp duty saving and preservation of EIS and VCT reliefs.
- Assisted in the design of new management incentives plans and negotiation of tax covenants as part of several further private equity investments by one of the UK’s leading private equity houses.
- Assisted with the negotiation and drafting of tax covenants in relation to several international profile mergers and acquisitions.
- Advised on the availability of SDLT reliefs to high-net-worth purchasers; achieving a significant tax saving for clients acquiring both multiple dwelling and partially commercial estates.
LL.M. Master of European Commercial Laws (Durham University)
M.Sc. Master of Science in Law, Business and Management (the University of Law, London)
LPC Legal Practice Course (Distinction)
Member: HMRC R&D Tax Credits Consultative Committee
Board of Trustees member: SAT-7 UK
Board of Trustees member: SASRA
Taxation of trusts—CGT reliefs for business assets (Lexis Nexis PSL · Nov 1, 2018)
This Practice Note sets out the key CGT reliefs and exemptions applicable to business assets which are available to trustees (as well as individual business owners), including business asset roll-over relief, incorporation relief, EIS and SEIS reliefs, relief on company reorganisations and relief for losses on loans to traders. https://www.lexisnexis.co.uk/legal/guidance/taxation-of-trusts-cgt-reliefs-for-business-assets
VAT, the Financial Supplies Exemption and the Financial Transaction Tax
Bloomberg BNA: Tax Planning International, Indirect Taxes, Volume 14, No. 4 · Apr 1, 2016
The Financial Supplies Exemption and the Financial Transaction Tax Part Two: what are the Alternatives?
Bloomberg BNA: Tax Planning International, Indirect Taxes, Volume 14, IDTX 10 · May 1, 2016