Tilney Smith & Williamson bolsters tax practice with Head of Business Rates appointment

Tilney Smith & Williamson, the leading wealth management and professional services group, has bolstered its tax practice by appointing Colette Henshaw to lead the launch of a new Business Rates offering. The move forms part of a strategic plan to continue to grow the firm’s tax advisory propositions within its professional services business.

Colette is an MRICS Business Rates Tax Specialist with 13 years of experience in the commercial property industry, the majority of which she has spent working as a Business Rates adviser. She joins Tilney Smith & Williamson as Head of Business Rates from Cushman and Wakefield, a global real estate advisory practice, where she was a Partner.

Tom Shave, Head of London Tax at Tilney Smith & Williamson commented: “I am delighted to welcome Colette to Tilney Smith & Williamson to lead the launch of our new national Business Rates service offer. I look forward to working closely with her to build out our capability across multiple geographies and real estate asset sectors. Business rates tax is commonly one of the largest real estate overheads for owners and occupiers of real estate in the UK and I know many of our clients will benefit greatly from Colette’s considerable experience and expertise in this space.”

Colette added: “Tilney Smith & Williamson has a revered business tax offer with a market leading real estate focus. This serves as an attractive and natural platform from which to launch a market leading national business rates advisory team to complement the existing offer. I am truly excited to be a part of the great tax practice expansion plans at Tilney Smith & Williamson.

“Business Rates Tax is one of the key real estate costs and is becoming more complex in terms of its assessment and challenge. It is key for occupiers and owners of commercial property liable for Business Rates to seek advice at the earliest opportunity to ensure liabilities are kept to a minimum. With the 2023 Business Rates Revaluation fast approaching on 1 April 2023, now is a crucial time for ratepayers to start to review their current and anticipated liabilities to inform budgeting and alignment with business strategy.”