HedgeStart, a London-based consultancy working in the alternative investments space, has appointed a former UK government revenue specialist and experienced accountant to work in its private client tax practice.  

The firm has appointed Laurence Parry to the role of partner; in his previous job, he was a specialist anti-avoidance advisor with HM Revenue & Customs for three years. In that role, he advised on policy issues and provided technical support on individual cases.

In his new job, Parry will lead the practice, advising owner-managed firms and private clients on bespoke, long-term tax solutions.

“Everyone feels that they pay too much tax, but with increasing pressure from the authorities, greater emphasis now needs to be placed on the robustness of any tax solutions and leading the service delivery on all aspects of personal tax, including compliance and routine planning,” Parry said.

Before his stint at HMRC, Parry was a tax partner for 10 years at a mid-sized practice in the northwest of the UK; he qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young, spending his early career at KPMG.