Paul Hastings continues London tax build with Macfarlanes partner

Paul Hastings has hired Macfarlanes tax partner Alicia Osei in London, as the US firm continues to rebuild and expand its City tax bench.

Osei spent 15 years at Macfarlanes and was made up to partner in 2020. Her practice focuses on private funds and private capital tax, advising clients on fund formations, secondaries, continuation funds and carried interest structures - core areas in Paul Hastings’ wider focus on investment funds and private capital work.

The hire marks Paul Hastings’ fourth tax partner addition globally in three months as it looks to strengthen its London tax capability.

In London, the firm lost senior corporate tax duo Arun Birla and Jiten Tank to White & Case in the autumn. It has since added highly ranked partner Jenny Doak from Weil and Catherine Richardson, previously at Cadwalader, alongside Osei, as part of a broader effort to build what it describes as a “preeminent” tax practice in the UK and globally.

Tax bench reshuffle

The move comes as Macfarlanes has announced a tax hire of its own, bringing in experienced tax disputes partner Kate Ison from BCLP.

Ison will strengthen what is widely regarded as one of the City’s leading tax practices. She spent nearly eight years at BCLP and previously practised at legacy firm Berwin Leighton Paisner, specialising in high-value tax investigations and litigation.

At Macfarlanes, Ison will join a dedicated tax disputes team advising on the full lifecycle of HMRC enquiries, investigations and court proceedings, working alongside the firm’s broader private capital-focused tax advisory bench.