Bishop Fleming expands private equity tax team

Bishop Fleming has strengthened its private equity tax advisory services with the appointment of Graham Charlton as a partner in its Cheltenham office.

Charlton, who previously served as Tax Director at PwC, brings nearly two decades of experience advising private equity-backed businesses. His expertise spans the entire investment lifecycle, from preparation for sale to post-transaction advisory.

At Bishop Fleming, he will lead the firm’s private equity tax division, with a focus on enhancing management advisory services for clients in the sector.

“I’m excited to join Bishop Fleming as part of its fast-growing team in Cheltenham at such a pivotal time for the firm,” Charlton said.

“With its commitment to expanding its private equity tax offering and deal volumes expected to pick up significantly over the next calendar year, this is a fantastic opportunity to help shape a specialist service that delivers real value to private equity-backed businesses and their management teams.”

Bishop Fleming, which provides audit, tax, and advisory services, has been expanding its footprint in recent years. The firm opened its Cheltenham office in 2023, followed by an expansion into the Midlands with a new Birmingham office.

Charlton’s appointment follows the hiring of Stephen Patey as Audit Partner in January and is part of a broader plan to add four new partners in the first half of 2025.

Chris Walklett, Partner and Head of Corporate Tax at Bishop Fleming, described Charlton’s appointment as a key step in the firm’s growth strategy.

“Graham’s appointment is the next step in Bishop Fleming’s ambitious growth plans. The opening of our Cheltenham office in 2023, the recent expansion into the Midlands with a new Birmingham office, and subsequent investment in expanding our partner group are signals of our intent to expand the breadth of our capacity and capability with specialist expertise,” Walklett said.

“Graham was the perfect candidate to strengthen our tax team presence and expand the range of specialist services we can offer to our private clients across the country. We’re really looking forward to working with him during this exciting journey for Bishop Fleming.”