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Ashley has specialised in tax since he qualified in 1988. He joined Macfarlanes in 1994 and became a partner in 1997.

Ashley is head of the corporate tax group. He advises on the full range of corporate tax issues, but particular specialisations include the corporate tax aspects of UK and cross-border corporate finance transactions, including M&A, flotations, and private equity-backed transactions. He also advises companies on group structuring and strategic tax planning including assisting our private client group on corporate tax aspects of structuring issues for substantial privately held groups.

Recent highlights include advising:

• ICAP plc on the acquisition of The Link Asset and Securities Company Limited, a leading global equity derivatives broker for up to £280m;
• Pernod Ricard on its takeover of Allied Domecq for £7bn, its interests as a selling shareholder on the IPO of Britvic Plc and on its acquisition of Swedish company Vin & Sprit, makers of Absolut vodka, for €5.6bn;
• IHS Inc on its $183.5m acquisition of Jane's Information Group (Holdings) Limited, which publishes trade publications for the defence sector;
• the Virgin shareholders on the IPO of Virgin Mobile USA;
• CSN on its £6.6bn pre-conditional offer to take over UK steelmaker Corus;
• HeidelbergCement on its £8bn takeover of UK building materials company Hanson; and
• Groupe Norbert Dentressangle on its £254m takeover of UK logistics company Christian Salvesen.

Ashley is the Chairman of the Tax Law Committee of the Law Society and a member of its Corporation Tax Sub-Committee.