Robert Kern

Robert started his tax career with the Inland Revenue in 1971. He then spent 3 years in the profession before joining Stoy Hayward where he spent a little under 7 years working on a mixed portfolio of clients, including both high net-worth individuals, their companies, and trusts. Robert has been with Ivan Sopher & Co since January 1987, where he heads up the tax team.

During his time here, Robert has been involved in the more technical issues relating to our clients. On a corporate front this includes company reorganisations and acquisitions, Enterprise Investment Schemes, and Enterprise Management Incentives. With regard to personal tax matters he advises clients on issues relating to their domicile, Capital Gains Tax, and Inheritance Tax issues.

Jeanette Lipscombe

Jeanette joined Ivan Sopher & Co in June 1988, having previously worked for the National Westminster Bank PLC in their Trust and Taxation Branch for 14 years.  She was responsible for opening our Pinewood Studios office in July 1996.  Her main expertise is dealing with the taxation affairs of companies and individuals within the film, TV and media industries.

Jeanette is a member of BAFTA, the BKSTS and also a Director of the Children's Film Unit.

Neela Chauhan

Neela qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser in 1987 with a small practice in Victoria. She then moved to Chantry Vellacott, working in their London and Watford offices where she gained experience in the taxation of owner managed businesses, partnerships and wealthy individuals.

Neela joined Ivan Sopher & Co in 1997 and has used her knowledge to help build a tax department to ensure that the firm provides the highest level of service to all its clients.. Neela works with her clients to make their business and personal wealth an outstanding success. Neela's client portfolio ranges from small owner-managed businesses to wealthy individuals with foreign taxation issues.

Daniel Sopher

Daniel has been in practice for over 7 years and qualified as an accountant in 2001. Having studied law at University, Daniel started his career at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in the media division of their Corporate Tax Department.

Daniel joined Ivan Sopher & Co's tax department in 2003, where he qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser. Daniel's primary focus is the corporate and personal tax affairs of entrepreneurs and their companies. Daniel's knowledge of law, accounting and tax has given him a wide range of expertise which his clients find invaluable.

Amanda Fletcher

Qualified as a Certified Chartered Accountant in 1999. She started her career in 1991 in a five partner practice in Letchworth, Hertfordshire.  There she was involved in bookkeeping, payroll, company secretarial, accounts preparation and audits before she specialised in tax.  This varied role has given Amanda a solid background in many aspects of running a small business. Amanda joined Ivan Sopher & Co. in April 2000.

Since joining she has developed a good relationship with her portfolio of high net worth individuals and deals with the preparation of personal and corporate tax returns, HM Revenue & Customs enquiries, day to day compliance and ad hoc queries from clients.

Karen McDonagh

Karen started her career in the tax profession in 1993 as a junior with a medium sized accountancy practice in North London.

Following a brief stint in the West End she joined Ivan Sopher & Co in 2001 and has enjoyed the experience gained and close contact with clients.  She handles a varied portfolio of personal and corporate clients ranging from actors, writers and other individuals in the film and television industry to high net worth individuals and owner managed businesses.  Karen deals with the day-to-day compliance of her portfolio, which includes the preparation of Tax Returns, Sole Trader Accounts, HM Revenue & Customs Enquiries and Capital Gains Tax issues.

David Hawkings

David joined the Inland Revenue in 1965 and has since 1967 worked for a number of City and West End firms of Chartered Accountants.  He qualified as a Chartered Taxation Adviser in 1971.  He joined Moores & Rowlands as a Senior Tax Manager in 1975.  In 1980 he set up his own taxation consultancy practice and in 1983 he formed Professional Publications Limited to market tax publications to the accounting and legal profession.

He specialises in HM Revenue and Customs investigations, share purchase and sale agreements and VAT matters.  He passed the Chartered Insurance Institute examinations in 1997. He acts as a consultant to Ivan Sopher & Co.