Our founder Sarah Gardner recently spent a week speaking and collaborating with other specialists on the most important but often hidden risks in M&A transactions and investor fundraising incentives. Her experience highlights how integrated advisory approaches can help clients plan effectively and avoid costly surprises.
At the Hidden Risks in M&A seminar for March Women, Sarah joined a panel exploring the complexities that can affect deal outcomes. M&A transactions are not just about valuation and headline tax rates. Risk arises from multiple sources including tax, legal structures, intellectual property, and immigration. Clients rarely experience these issues in isolation, and advisers should not either. During the seminar:
- Victoria Welsh of Taylor Rose shared insights into immigration considerations that can impact deal structure and post-transaction integration.
- Rina Sond of INTAGEN examined intellectual property risks and the importance of protecting and correctly transferring IP.
- Sarah focused on tax, showing how early planning, thorough fact-finding, and careful consideration of reliefs can reduce risk and protect deal value.
Sarah emphasised that proactive planning is crucial. Tax itself is rarely the surprise; the surprise comes from failing to address potential pitfalls early in the process.
Beyond the seminar, Sarah connected with her Adviserly pod to discuss plans for the year ahead and potential collaborative projects. These discussions are about more than networking. They are strategic conversations on how different advisers can integrate expertise to deliver holistic client support. Tax intersects with corporate structuring, succession planning, and wealth management, and an integrated approach can prevent value leakage that might otherwise go unnoticed. This philosophy underpins the work of Allegro Tax: thoughtful planning, joined-up advice, and clarity in complex situations.
Later in the week, Sarah joined Tracy Smart of The Smart Finance Team for a webinar on the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). While often thought of as tax-efficient investment tools, EIS and SEIS are most effective when integrated into wider financial planning. The webinar covered:
- How EIS and SEIS can support long-term wealth strategies
- Key risks investors need to understand before participating
- Common misconceptions about eligibility and relief
- Aligning investment and tax planning with broader commercial objectives
The principle remains consistent: collaboration and integrated advice help clients understand risk, plan effectively, and make informed decisions.
Sarah’s week demonstrates that the best advisory work happens when specialists work together.
- M&A risk is not just legal
- Investment planning is not just financial
- Tax is never “just tax”
Collaboration allows advisers to identify hidden risks, optimise planning, and create better outcomes for clients. For Sarah and Allegro Tax, this integrated approach is central to their work. By fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration, advisers can anticipate challenges, reduce uncertainty, and protect client value.