Paul is the firm's Senior and Managing Partner, responsible for driving the vision and strategy of the firm. Additionally, Paul manages a varied caseload, working with business leaders, across a wide range of sectors, helping them to grow and develop their companies. Paul’s experience extends to working with clients in the businesses of IT, recruitment, media, childcare, healthcare, construction and retail. His field of practice includes UK subsidiaries of overseas parent companies, SMEs, owner-managed businesses and partnerships. Paul’s area of expertise is his ability to combine sound commercial advice with tax planning for businesses. In the case of owner-managed businesses, he is experienced in delivering the personal objectives of the individuals involved and in responding to the specific challenges of those who mix business with family life. Advising clients participating in Management Buyouts (MBOs), Management Buy-In (MBIs) and the acquisition and disposal of companies is an area Paul particularly enjoys. When working on transactions he has provided strategic advice, assistance with raising finance, financial due diligence and business valuations. In addition, Paul is a member of Mercer & Hole’s Litigation Support Team and has prepared a considerable number of expert witness reports. Having previously completed his training with a top 20 firm in London, Paul joined Mercer & Hole in 1987 and became a Partner of the firm in 1990. He became the firm’s Senior Partner in 2013 and, additionally, Mercer & Hole’s Managing Partner in 2017. Paul is married with three children. When leisure time allows, he enjoys watching football and rugby, and visiting the gym. Paul also enjoys listening to live music and can often be found at Glastonbury in June.
Professionals by Last Name
Leanne is a Director within the Dispute Resolution team. Leanne is also Head of DQ’s specialist Employment team. Leanne is a qualified Manx Advocate and Commissioner for Oaths (having previously practiced as a solicitor in Northern Ireland), who regularly advises both domestic and international clients on a broad range of corporate and commercial disputes. Leane is also a qualified Data Protection Practitioner. Leanne specialises in employment law and has extensive experience in dealing with both non-contentious HR matters and contentious litigation both in the High Court and the Employment Tribunal. Leanne's specialist areas of practice are: Employment Law Data Protection Dispute Resolution Commercial Contracts Professional Negligence Claims Immigration and Work Permits Leanne is individually ranked by Chambers and Partners UK Guide.
Services: Labour law, Legal Services, Litigation
Dunstan Magro is the Managing Partner of the Audit, Assurance and Advisory service lines at WDM International. After having worked for a Big Four audit firm, Dunstan joined his father Winston Magro, a respected tax practitioner, to form what is known today as WDM International. Dunstan graduated as an accountant in 1997 from the University of Malta after carrying out research and writing a dissertation entitled “The Financial Implications of Joint Ventures and Mergers within the Perspective of the Competition Act”. He furthered his studies in 2010, reading for a Master degree in Business Ethics with the University of Malta and carrying out research in the field of ethics in taxation. Dunstan is a holder of a practicing certificate in Audit. Dunstan provides both local and international clients with advice and consultancy in relation to audit, tax and advisory matters. To this end, in his over 15 years of experience, Dunstan has advised a multitude of clients in relocating their business interests to Malta, via the setting up of corporate vehicles to carry out trading, financing, holding and other activities. He has been involved in local and international tax planning, business advisory, financing, mergers and acquisitions, company formations and business structure development. He also advises clients in relation to corporate governance issues and holds the position of director in various Maltese companies. Dunstan is heavily involved in the financial services industry. He is the Honorary Treasurer and a council member of the Malta Institute of Management, a Member of The Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism sub-committee of the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners, and a Committee Member of the Small & Medium Sized Practices of the Malta Institute of Accountants. Dunstan has delivered numerous lectures and presentations, both in Malta and overseas. He has lectured accounting at the Malta International Training Centre, business ethics at the Malta Institute of Accountants and has delivered various presentations on diverse aspects of Prevention of Money Laundering. He has recently been invited to deliver a presentation on tax related matters at Ascoli Piceno, Italy for the Istituto Diplomatico Internazionle per L’Internazionalizazzione delle Aziende. Main Practice Areas: • Audit • Business Advisory • Risk Management Other areas: • Corporate law • Taxation • Prevention of Money Laundering • Business Ethics
Education: - University of São Paulo – USP, School of Law, Master’s Degree in International Law (2002). - University of São Paulo – USP, School of Law, LL.B. (1996) Career, Professional Activities and Associations: Neil is a dual national (British/Brazilian). Admitted to the Brazilian Bar Association, São Paulo Chapter – OAB/SP 146.468 in 1997, Brazilian Bar Association, Rio de Janeiro Chapter – OAB/RJ 182253 and IAB 102066-6. Former member of the Commission on Foreign Trade and International Relations of the São Paulo Chapter of the Brazilian Bar Association. Former Councillor of the British Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Brazil and Chairman of its São Paulo Legal and Tax Committee. Speaker at many Brazilian and international events (and lecture on Doing Business in Brazil at the renowned Brazilian business school Fundação Getúlio Vargas – FGV) and author of several published articles on Brazilian corporate and international law, arbitration, insurance and reinsurance and competition law. Former associate of English law firm Richards Butler (now Reed Smith), having worked in the Shipping and International Trade & Commodities and Corporate Finance Departments in London. Former Partner and COO of a major Brazilian law firm. Member of the International Bar Association. Former Board Member (representing Latin America and the Caribbean) of Meritas, an association of independent law firms present in more than 70 countries and congregating more than 7,000 lawyers worldwide. Public Sworn Translator. Neil is a graduate from the Meritas Leadership Institute Program – Class of 2009/2010. Practice Areas: - Corporate law (including M&A and joint ventures) - Commercial Contracts - International Trade Law - Antitrust/Competition Law - Employment Law - Cross-border Litigation (including Mediation and Arbitration) - Aviation and Shipping - Insurance and Reinsurance - IP / IT - Media and Entertainment (including Betting and Gaming) - Real Estate Ranked in: - Chambers: Aviation; Corporate/M&A; Insurance; Media & Entertainment. - Who’s Who Legal: Mergers and Acquisitions. - Legal 500
Services: Corporate, International Trade, Legal Services
I am a practitioner and at the same time retain my strong interest in academic work. My field of expertise is business law, domestic and international, whereas my added value is my strong expertise in private international law, arbitration and mediation. I am managing our law office, which would be considered to rank among medium size Greek law offices. We offer full scale services to our clients who are corporate, Greek and foreign alike. Our main focus is to create long standing co-operations with clients based on mutual trust.