Andrew Drennan and Kathie Haunton join A&M
Alvarez & Marsal has announced two senior appointments to its UK team. Andrew Drennan joins the firm as a managing director in the firm’s disputes and investigation practice, while Kathie Haunton arrives as a managing director at Alvarez & Marsal Tax.
Kathie Haunton arrives at Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) having previously worked as a material scientist. She spent 30 years at Deloitte, most recently as a partner in Manchester, having trained with the audit practice, before moving into corporate tax. There she became one of the founding members of Deloitte’s research and development team, responsible for leading responses to R&D consultations and handling HMRC enquiries. With expertise across a range of industries – including life sciences, engineering consultancies, technology, and manufacturing – she has helped clients claim millions in tax benefits.
Marvin Rust, managing director of A&M Tax UK and head of A&M Tax Europe, commented, “We are honoured to welcome such an experienced adviser to the team. Kathie is a true industry specialist – committed to building out our Manchester practice, and helping clients ensure their claims are robust in the face of the most complex, or protracted, HMRC enquiries.”
According to a release from the firm, A&M’s global services portfolio is gaining momentum, and Haunton’s appointment reflects A&M Tax’s growth in the UK, as it looks to capitalise on double-digit growth worldwide. Becoming a managing director with immediate effect, Haunton will help clients across the North West of England seek support for research grants and tax benefits.
Haunton added, “Manchester continues to be a city that innovates, and the business-minded, entrepreneurial team at A&M’s tax advisory base has the opportunity to support companies in a range of sectors – from advanced manufacturing, life sciences and net zero, to creative and media, digital and technology. With the R&D tax relief landscape changing rapidly, clients need closer support than ever to navigate this evolving market and successfully defend claims.”
Andrew Drennan meanwhile joins the firm in its global construction disputes team within the disputes and investigations (DI) practice. Based in the firm’s London office, he will work closely with the global construction disputes team and wider DI practice across multiple jurisdictions with a particular focus on the UK and EMEA.
“This is an incredibly exciting time of growth for our Construction Disputes offering, and Andrew’s profound expertise and experience in the market will be instrumental in accelerating the expansion of the team,” commented Phil Beckett, leader of A&M’s European and Middle East DI practice in London.
Drennan’s core areas of focus include providing expert witness services in international arbitration and litigation proceedings, as well as quantity surveying, procurement, commercial management, project management and contract management across a broad range of industries. He has previously held senior positions at global disputes consultancy HKA, as well as serving as commercial manager at multiple construction firms and as managing quantity surveyor at civil engineering and infrastructure firms.
Speaking on his new role, Drennan added, “Excited to add and grow a Construction Disputes team within a business that has a great platform of existing and complementary service lines as well as a very talented and experienced group of individuals.”