Francesco is an associate in the corporate tax team. Much of his work has an international dimension.
He advises a wide range of businesses on corporate taxation matters, with a focus on transactional mandates. He has particular experience in private M&A and corporate financing transactions. He has a specific interest in the taxation of venture capital investments and can also advise on the establishment and management of share incentives. On the contentious side, he has experience advising on the management and resolution of HMRC's information notices.
Prior to joining Withers, Francesco worked at both US and Magic Circle firms.
Me in a minute
I like to think of tax law in the same way that we think of priesthood.
I like to think of tax law in the same way that we think of priesthood. It's not a job. It's a calling. Otherwise, why on earth would one dedicate their career to the most absurdly complex area of law?
After dipping my toes in the area as a trainee, I knew it was the right choice for me. There is something incredibly gratifying about simplifying very convoluted concepts and delivering a clean result for a client. Somewhat surprisingly, there is also an emotional element to the practice of tax law because tax issues can easily become incredibly frustrating to deal with for businesses of all shapes and sizes – being able to handhold a client out of that maze and into a clearer world is what keeps me going as a lawyer. The political side of tax law is also crucial, as behind each piece of legislation lies a specific policy intention aimed at steering society one way or another.
I cannot pinpoint exactly when I decided to become a lawyer, but it definitely happened after the age of 18 (before then I was too busy trying to make it as a child actor to think rationally about career prospects).