Sarah Ferguson

Employee Incentives & Benefits

I am a Tax partner, based in our London office and specialising in incentives. I advise both listed and private companies on their executive remuneration and all-employee incentive structures, including the design, implementation and operation of share-based and cash-based plans, their global implementation, related trust and tax work, and support on large cross-border transactions.

Known for my practical approach in tackling potential incentives problems and for my 'can-do' attitude, I delight in finding solutions to any issues swiftly and cost-effectively for my clients.

I have over 15 years’ experience of advising private companies and AIM-listed companies, as well as numerous FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies, share plan administrators and trustees on the global incentives aspects of their transactions and advisory matters, including global rollouts.

With an especially strong background in transactional and global work, I have supported both clients and my corporate colleagues through many large private company acquisitions/investments. In the listed arena, I have advised on many high-profile IPOs, takeovers, rights issues/placings and demergers.

My particular focus is on tax-favoured enterprise management incentive (EMI) option plans. I also advise on growth shares, long-term incentive plan (LTIPs), tax-advantaged company share option plans (CSOPs), share incentive plans (SIPs) and sharesave (SAYE) plans, as well as non-tax advantaged share plans.

As an active member of the share plans industry, I am privileged to have sat on the tax committee of the Share Plan Lawyers Organisation since 2015.

Solicitors Regulation Authority, 2010

I have travelled broadly (including a stint living in New England, USA and later Prague, Czech Republic) but now enjoy a peaceful life in Yorkshire with my husband, spiced up by my role as Head of the Employee Incentives & Benefits team for Two Birds London and our three rambunctious children. My hobbies include crafting, baking, skiing, hiking and reading – crime fiction is my favourite. Who doesn’t love a good Agatha Christie?