1. Our people
  2. R&D tax credit practice

Our people

ForrestBrown’s team offers specialist technical expertise. We’re chartered and combine specialist R&D tax credit knowledge with real passion, enthusiasm and energy for helping innovative businesses grow. Our team is 130+ strong and comprises chartered tax advisers, chartered accountants, lawyers, sector specialists, former HMRC inspectors and quality assurance experts.

  • David Byrne

    Director

    • Skilled in working with technical and tax teams in large, complex and global businesses.
    • Over 15 years of experience specialising in R&D tax credits, primarily within Big Four firms.
    • Strong track record of outstanding client service.
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    David Byrne

  • Lisa-Marie Smith CTA

    Director & Vice-Chair

    • Founding member of the ForrestBrown team.
    • Solicitor and chartered tax adviser (CTA).
    • Past winner of Tolley Taxation’s Rising Star award.
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    Lisa-Marie Smith director

  • Chris Alderson CTA

    Associate Director

    • Qualified chartered tax adviser (CTA)
    • Tax team lead with more than a decade of tax experience including at the Big Four
    • University of Bristol graduate with a masters in economics
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    Chris Alderson senior tax manager

  • Tom Jones ATT

    Associate Director

    • Leads client-facing teams in ForrestBrown’s R&D tax practice.
    • Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) qualified.
    • More than 15 years’ experience in tax and trained at a Big Four firm.
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    Tom Jones senior tax manager

  • Chloé Palmer CTA

    Associate Director

    • Qualified chartered tax adviser (CTA)
    • Extensive experience at a Top 10 accounting firm
    • Over a decade of tax experience
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    Chloé Palmer CTA

  • Ben Goad CTA

    Senior Tax Manager

    • Qualified chartered tax adviser (CTA).
    • Team lead with more than 15 years' experience in tax.
    • Degree in politics and international relations from the University of Reading.
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    Ben Goad senior tax manager

  • Katy Long CTA CA

    Senior Tax Manager

    • Qualified chartered tax adviser and chartered accountant
    • More than 10 years’ tax experience 
    • Studied business and accounting at the University of Exeter
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    Katy Long - Tax consultant

  • Orla Shanagher CTA ACA

    Senior Tax Manager

    • Qualified chartered tax adviser (CTA) and qualified accountant (ACA).
    • Background in personal taxation for high net worth individuals.
    • Trained at a Big Four firm.
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    Orla Shanagher - Tax consultant

  • Gemma Brown CTA

    Tax Manager

    • Qualified chartered tax adviser (CTA).
    • Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) qualified.
    • University of Wales primary studies graduate and former teacher.
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    Gemma Brown tax associate

  • Joanne Chance CA

    Tax Manager

    • Qualified chartered accountant and ICAS tax professional.
    • 7 years' of experience at a Big Four accounting firm.
    • University of Bristol geography graduate.
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    Joanne Chance

  • Oliver Clapp ACCA

    Tax Manager

    • Association of Certified Chartered Accountants qualified (ACCA).
    • More than 5 years' accounting experience.
    • University of Cardiff accounting and finance graduate.
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    Oliver Clapp tax consultant

  • Kate Coombs

    Account Manager

    • Manages a client portfolio to ensure outstanding client service
    • Bournemouth University International Business Studies graduate
    • Background in business planning and performance management
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    Kate Coombs - Client Relations Manager

  • Rebecca Fry

    Tax Manager

    • Institute of chartered accountants (ACA) part qualified.
    • Background in personal taxation for high net worth individuals.
    • University of Essex Accounting and Finance graduate.
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    Rebecca Fry tax consultant

  • Alonso Martín-Moreno Redondo

    Tax Manager

    • More than 13 years’ experience as an industrial design engineer and tax consultant.
    • International exposure to R&D tax incentives.
    • Helps innovative businesses maximise innovation funding.
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    Alonso Martin-Moreno Redondo

  • Rebecca Smyth ATT

    Tax Manager

    • Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) qualified.
    • Formerly with a Big Four accounting firm.
    • Cardiff University economics graduate.
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    Rebecca Smyth tax consultant

  • Paul Warren

    Research Manager

    • Heads up our research team working closely with clients to articulate their R&D to HMRC.
    • Background in the insurance, accounting and entertainment sectors.
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    Paul Warren research consultant

  • Helen Warren CTA

    Tax Manager

    • Qualified chartered tax adviser (CTA).
    • Background as a corporate tax adviser.
    • Trained and gained ATT qualification with regional accounting firm.
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    Helen Warren tax consultant

  • Sam Wood ACA

    Tax Manager

    • Qualified chartered accountant (ACA).
    • Worked and trained with regional accountancy firm.
    • University of Birmingham history graduate.
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    Sam Wood - Tax consultant

  • Joe Ballard

    Tax Consultant

    • Studying towards his joint CTA and ACA qualifications.
    • Interned in Brussels working on EU research.
    • University of York politics and international relations graduate.
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  • Max Brough ATT

    Tax Consultant

    • Association of Taxation Technicians qualified (ATT).
    • Formerly with Jaguar Land Rover and expert in engineering R&D.
    • University of East Anglia politics graduate.
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    Max Brough tax associate

  • Emily Carden

    Tax Consultant

    • Studying towards her joint ACA and CTA qualifications.
    • University of Bristol economics and management graduate
    • Experience at a Big Four accountancy firm.
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    Emily Carden - Tax associate

  • Elizabeth Fry ACCA

    Tax Consultant

    • Association of Certified Chartered Accountants qualified (ACCA).
    • Background in management accounting for large corporates.
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    Elizabeth Fry

  • Lois Gidley CA

    Tax Consultant

    • Qualified chartered accountant.
    • First-class honours degree in accounting and finance.
    • International big four experience.
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    Lois Gidley

  • Isaac Greenbury ATT

    Tax Consultant

    • Association of Taxation Technicians qualified (ATT).
    • Studying towards chartered tax adviser qualification (CTA).
    • Undergraduate and master’s degrees in physical geography and geoscience at UCL.
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    Isaac Greenbury Tax Associate at ForrestBrown

  • Matthew Jones ATT

    Tax Consultant

    • Association of Taxation Technicians qualified (ATT).
    • Over 5 years' experience working in a range of tax consultancy roles.
    • Trained at a top ten accountancy firm.
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    Matthew Jones

  • Richard Lewis

    Research Consultant

    • Helps translate our clients' complex scientific and technical projects into reports for HMRC.
    • 20 years' experience in copywriting as a business and finance journalist and data analyst.
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    Richard Lewis - Research associate

  • Lucy Painter ATT

    Tax Consultant

    • Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) qualified.
    • Background in employment tax.
    • Trained and qualified at a Big Four accountancy firm.
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    Lucy Painter

  • Adam Palmer CTA

    Tax Consultant

    • Qualified chartered tax adviser (CTA).
    • Background in personal taxation for high net worth individuals.
    • Trained and gained qualifications with top accountancy firm.
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    Adam Palmer

  • Zoe Rose

    Tax Consultant

    • Studying towards chartered accountant qualification (ACA).
    • Gained accounting experience with leading facilities management company.
    • University of the West of England accounting and finance graduate.
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    Zoe Rose tax associate

  • Rhiannon Searle

    Senior Consultant

    • Provides a range of specialist R&D tax advisory services to our clients.
    • Working towards her ATT qualification.
    • Supports clients to communicate complex technical projects to HMRC.
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    Rhiannon Searle - tech associate

  • Abigail Tacchi

    Tax Consultant

    • Studying towards chartered accountant qualification (ACA).
    • More than 10 years' experience with a leading insurance firm.
    • Holds two bachelors degrees including one in accounting and finance.
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    Abi Tacchi - Tax associate

  • Robert Waterhouse ATT

    Tax Consultant

    • Association of Taxation Technicians qualified and studying towards CTA.
    • Mechanical engineer expert with a passion for innovation.
    • University of West of England mechanical engineering graduate.
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    Rob Waterhouse - Tax associate

  • Emily Williams

    Account Manager

    • Manages a client portfolio to ensure outstanding client service
    • University of York Sociology graduate
    • Qualified primary school teacher
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    Emily Rose Williams - Client Relations Associate

  • Owen Adamson

    Research Associate

    • Communicates our clients' scientific and technical projects to HMRC via detailed reports.
    • Degree in journalism from University of Gloucestershire.
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    Owen Adamson

  • Serena d'Arcy

    Tax associate

    • Supports R&D claim process.
    • Works with a broad range of clients.
    • Graduate of the University of York.
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    Serena D'arcy

  • Laura Eastman

    Tax Associate

    • Studying towards a ATT/CTA qualification.
    • Background in financial recruitment.
    • University of Southampton maths and economics graduate.
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    Laura Eastman

  • Rory Farrell

    Tax Associate

    • Studying towards a ATT/CTA qualification.
    • Studied abroad at the University of Hong Kong.
    • University of Bristol economics graduate.
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    Rory Farrell

  • Julian Ford

    Tax Associate

    • Studying towards a joint CTA/ACA qualification.
    • Accountancy masters from University of London, Birkbeck.
    • University of Bristol electrical engineering graduate.
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    Julian Ford tax associate

  • Matthew Fry

    Tax associate

    • Supports the R&D claim process for our clients.
    • Works with an array of clients.
    • First class degree in BSc Accounting and Finance.
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    Matthew Fry

  • Jim Haire AAT

    Tax Associate

    • Associate of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and studying towards joint ACA/CTA qualification.
    • Background in management accounting for the NHS.
    • Former aircraft mechanic with British Airways.
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    Jim Haire

  • Amy McFall

    Research Associate

    • First-class master’s degree in English Literature
    • Previously worked at Dyson
    • Helps clients convey highly technical R&D information
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    Amy McFall

  • Jared Nguyen-Lee ATT

    Tax Associate

    • ATT qualified and studying towards his CTA qualifications.
    • Experience working in finance for the NHS.
    • University of Sheffield economics graduate.
    Read more
    Jared Nguyen-Lee

  • Kelly Smith MSc

    Account Manager

    • Ensures all our clients receive an outstanding service
    • MSc in International Business Management 
    • Background in marketing with digital agencies
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    Kelly Smith - Client relations associate

  • Holly Washington

    Tax Associate

    • Studying towards Association of Taxation Technicians qualification (ATT).
    • Formerly worked as a secondary school teacher in the UK, Italy and United Arab Emirates.
    Read more
    Holly Washington - tax associate

  • Ben Weaver MSc

    Tax Associate

    • Achieved a first in his Master’s in Physics from Bristol University.
    • Expert in quantum physics and quantum computing.
    • Uses his knowledge to identify and interpret qualifying R&D.
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    Ben Weaver - research associate

  • Jacob Darrall

    Tax Associate

    • Accounting and finance graduate.
    • Working towards his ATT and ultimately CTA qualifications.
    • Helps innovative businesses optimise their R&D tax credit claims.
    Read more
    Jacob Darrall

Want to work for us?

We’re ForrestBrown, and we were ranked in The Sunday Times best small companies to work for in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Regionally, we were ranked number one across all companies to work for in the South West in 2018. Everyone at ForrestBrown is valued for who they are as well as what they can do. We all share a common purpose: to help innovative businesses grow. If you’re thinking “where next?”, we’d love to hear from you.

Visit our careers site
The QA team

Find out how we can help you

If you have questions about your eligibility for R&D tax credits, or how much they might be worth to your business, get in touch with our team.

Contact us