Kate McDermott

Kate is our Head of Indirect Taxes and a Director of the firm. She leads our VAT and Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) teams. Kate works with overseas businesses delivering major projects in the UK — from onshore and offshore wind farms to biomass plants, hydro-electric power stations, high-speed rail, and large-scale manufacturing facilities. She helps clients plan and structure their UK activities to minimise VAT and CIS costs, while ensuring compliance with UK tax regulations. With a deep understanding of cross-border supply chains, she advises on the movement of goods into and within the UK, so that projects run smoothly from a VAT and customs perspective right from day one. Kate also heads up our HR services, supporting clients as they build their UK workforce. Working closely with our HR Manager, she helps clients with employment contracts, onboarding processes, Right to Work compliance, and day-to-day people matters. Internally, she plays a key role in shaping our own HR strategy — from recruitment and staff development to fostering an inclusive and supportive working culture across the firm.