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Business Risk Services
Our Business Risk Services team deliver practical and pragmatic solutions that support clients in growing and protecting the inherent value of their businesses.
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Corporate Finance and Deal Advisory
We offer a dedicated team of experienced individuals with a focus on successfully executing transactions for corporates and financial institutions. We offer an integrated approach, with our corporate finance specialists working seamlessly with tax and other specialists to ensure that every angle is covered.
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Economic Advisory
Our all-island Economics Advisory team combines expertise in economics and business with a wealth of experience across the public and private sectors.
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Forensic Accounting
We have a different way of doing business by delivering real insight through a combination of technical rigour, commercial experience and intuitive judgment. We take pride in delivering responsive and tailored solutions to all our clients, capitalising on the wealth of experience housed within our Belfast and wider Forensics team
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People and Change Consulting
The Grant Thornton People & Change Consulting practice works with clients on these issues as well as on all aspects of how they attract, retain, engage develop, deploy and lead their people.
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Restructuring
We work with a wide variety of clients and stakeholders such as high street banks, private equity funds, directors, government agencies and creditors to implement solutions which provide the best possible outcomes.
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Technology Consulting
Motivating and assisting our clients to pursue, maintain and secure the benefits of digital solutions is at the core of our Digital Transformation teams' agenda and goals. We work with business leaders to deliver efficient digital strategies and operating models that provide new or enhanced capabilities.
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Corporate and International Tax
Northern Ireland businesses face further challenges as they operate in the only part of the UK that has a land border with a country offering a lower tax rate.
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Employer Solutions
Our team specialises in remuneration and incentive planning and works closely with employers, shareholders and employees to ensure that business strategies are aligned and goals achieved in the most tax efficient, cost-effective manner.
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Entrepreneur and Private Client Taxes
Our team of experienced advisors are on hand to guide you through any decision or transaction ranging from the establishment of new business ventures, to realising value on exit, to succession planning and providing for loved ones.
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Global Mobility Services
Grant Thornton Ireland offer a different approach to managing global mobility. We have brought together specialists from our tax, global payroll, people and change and financial accounting teams across Ireland and Northern Ireland, while drawing on the knowledge and insights of our global network of over 143 offices of mobility professionals to provide you with a holistic approach to managing global mobility.
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Outsourced Payroll
Our outsourced service provides valued service to over 150 separate PAYE schemes. These ranging from 1 to 1000 employees, working for micro, SME and global employers. The service is supported by the integrated network of tax and global mobility teams and the wider Grant Thornton network delivering a seamless service. Experienced staff deliver a personal service built around your business needs.
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Tax Disputes and Investigations
Our Tax Disputes and Investigation team is made up of tax experts and former HMRC investigators who have years of experience in dealing with a variety of tax investigations. Our expertise and insight can guide you through all interactions, keeping your cost at a minimum while allowing you to continue with the day to day running of your business.
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VAT and Indirect Taxes
At Grant Thornton (NI) LLP, our team helps Northern Ireland businesses manage their UK and global indirect tax risks which, as transactional taxes, can quickly become big liabilities.
Law firms - Don’t ignore the implications for your own business whilst advising others
18 Oct 2016With the implications of Brexit on business still to be fully understood, many businesses are considering ‘protective’ steps to try to minimise any commercial impacts.
In particular, Northern Ireland law firms are likely to see a number of impacts, as clients require specific advice in this area. International law firms in the UK are turning some of their focus to Ireland which could have wider impacts on referral networks etc.
One certainty is that local law firms will be key advisors to the NI business community on the potential impacts for businesses and the Northern Ireland economy.
With one international law firm having filed to trademark the term ‘Brexit law’ many of the local commercial law firms will be bracing themselves for a Brexit bonanza, as businesses consider what Brexit and leaving the EU will actually mean for them. Already there will be legal teams busy unravelling the legal complexities of Brexit. However, transactional lawyers may see a decline in their workloads as the market and investors ‘hold tight’ in uncertain and increasingly volatile conditions.
Transactional practices are normally a key driver of performance and revenue generation for commercial law firms. If this splutters, firms will have to consider how they can maintain practice areas and maximise their ability to provide specialist advice on Brexit. It is questionable whether the scale of this ‘new work’ will replace any downturn in transactional work.
One factor of particular importance to local law firms – given the land border with the Republic of Ireland – is that many UK and NI qualified lawyers have already began applying to the Law Society of Ireland. Triggered by some as a precautionary measure – lawyers registered with the Law Society of Ireland should be able to continue to practice EU law in the event of Brexit. The registration of solicitors in Ireland should provide firms with access to European courts and privilege, with competition lawyers being particularly concerned about the UK’s impending EU exit.
Registering in Ireland does not necessarily mean that a law firm is required to establish operations in Ireland. Firms should properly consider the potential tax implications of whether their activities might create an Irish permanent establishment for tax purposes. If not properly considered, this could potentially lead to the business and all ‘partners’ being required to file Irish tax returns. Irish VAT, payroll and other regulatory considerations may also need to be addressed, which could result in a level of complexity that was not initially contemplated when the business undertook ‘a simple piece of work’. Specialist international tax advice should be sought.
The effect of Brexit on the legal sector will ultimately depend on the impact on clients. Whilst many law firms will be considering how best to advise their clients on Brexit they should not forget about managing their own business through complexities of the new era.