Catherine Desmond

Hello

I am Head of Private Client Services and Landed Estates based in Ashbourne but operating across the Derbyshire offices of the firm. I have over 20 years’ experience of looking after a broad client base, from large landed estates to owners of family businesses, professional partnerships, sportsmen and independently wealthy individuals.

What can I do for you and your family?

Putting the needs of you and your family at the forefront of everything I do, I can offer a holistic approach to planning your financial and tax affairs.

I believe that it is vital that the interests of businesses and their owners are well looked after and very carefully balanced, particularly when it comes to tax planning and preventing wealth erosion!

I like to work closely with my clients and their families and provide joined-up advice along with their other professional advisers in a clear, proactive way that caters for their individual needs.

Experience counts

After studying law in Nottingham, I went on to qualify as a chartered tax adviser with a top-ten firm of accountants. Before joining Smith Cooper, I was a partner at Saffery Champness within the private wealth and landed estates team.

I have been providing advice to clients for nearly two decades on the taxation implications of key life events such as business start-ups and exits, marriage, family succession, and planning for retirement.

Deeper knowledge

While I have worked across most of the taxes over the years, my particular areas of expertise centre on business tax mitigation and capital taxes (inheritance tax and capital gains tax). I also have a wealth of experience in using and maintaining trusts and succession planning.

I have worked with individuals and their business interests across many sectors, including leisure and tourism, property development and investment, manufacturing, and mineral extraction.

I have a particular interest in rural businesses, from small farms to large landed estates (including some very diverse businesses), and have a detailed understanding of the particular issues they face on a day-to-day basis as well as specific issues such as land sales or succession.

For some years, I have been a guest speaker on tax issues at conferences covering budget updates, inheritance tax and succession planning, and rural tax issues, and I have also contributed numerous articles for external professional publications and the farming press.

Personally speaking

Outside the office, I enjoy the activities that living in the Peak District offers the whole family, as well as trying to keep fit playing for the local hockey club. I also confess to a fascination with historical fiction (and the odd period drama) when I get a few moments to unwind.