Milan Patel, a US tax specialist, has resigned from international law firm Withers to set up the new Zurich office of Sharp Kemm PA as chief counsel, WealthBriefing has learnt.

Mr Patel, a former trial attorney for the Internal Revenue Service in New York, is understood to be relocating from Geneva to Zurich to open the new office this month.

Mr Patel joined Withers’ Geneva office as a senior associate in January 2009, according to the firm’s website. Withers confirmed his resignation when contacted by this publication.

Florida-headquartered Sharp Kemm PA is an international law firm specialising in international tax planning, tax disputes and related business transactions. The firm is noted for its strong practice in US voluntary disclosures, an area of heightened importance at a time when the US – like other governments around the world – is cracking down on tax evasion and putting pressure on international financial centres to share information on offshore account holders.