Dains has announced the appointment of Sarah Pemberton as Employment Tax Director, alongside a series of promotions within its Corporate Finance team, reflecting the firm’s continued investment in specialist expertise and talent across the UK.
Sarah Pemberton, Employment Tax Director
Dains has appointed Sarah Pemberton as Employment Tax Director, further strengthening the firm’s specialist advisory capability across the UK.
Based in Nottingham with a national remit, Pemberton is a qualified tax professional with more than 18 years of experience.
She began her career in expatriate tax at EY in 2007, including secondments to India to train local teams and in-house placements with major UK employers. She later broadened her expertise into domestic employment taxes, joining Deloitte and more recently Cooper Parry, where she played a pivotal role in building the employment tax team.
Well known for advising on international employment tax matters, Pemberton has worked with a diverse client base including Premier League football clubs, Formula 1 teams, and large privately-owned Midland’s businesses.
In her new role, she will support James Shepherd, Employment Tax Partner, in leading Dains’ national employment taxes offering, supporting clients with both domestic and cross-border challenges.
Sarah Pemberton, Employment Tax Director at Dains said: “This is an exciting time to be joining Dains. Employment tax is an increasingly high-profile area for employers, with complex compliance requirements and real governance risks if not managed properly.
“I’m looking forward to helping clients navigate these challenges, whether that’s supporting them with HMRC enquiries, managing global mobility issues, or building robust governance frameworks. Dains has ambitious growth plans, and I’m proud to be part of strengthening the firm’s national advisory capability.”
James Shepherd, Employment Tax Partner at Dains said: “Sarah’s appointment reflects Dains’ continued focus on expanding our specialist expertise across the UK. Her experience will be instrumental as we continue to support our broad client base - from mid-market firms to large, complex organisations - with tailored employment tax advice.
“We have a strong track record in the recruitment and temporary labour sectors, and Sarah’s expertise further enhances our ability to help clients navigate evolving tax legislation, manage risk, and optimise their workforce strategies both in the UK and internationally.”
Sophie Rogers, Katy Murrall and James Pridmore – Corporate Finance Assistant Managers
Dains has also promoted Sophie Rogers, Katy Murrall and James Pridmore to the position of Assistant Manager, following a period of strong deal activity and national recognition for the firm’s corporate finance team.
Dains has recently been shortlisted for four accolades at the Rainmaker Awards 2025, with partner Roy Farmer nominated for Rainmaker of the Year after a flurry of high-profile transactions.
The corporate finance team also climbed Experian’s UK financial advisor rankings in the first half of 2025, building on its breakthrough into the top 20 in Q1.
Headline transactions include the successful sale of Derby-based TidyCo to international technology and industrial business group Indutrade, the sale of Derbyshire-based Core Control Solutions to Ipsum Group, a specialist engineering services provider, Linnaeus’ acquisition of Rutland Veterinary and the Pancholi family’s sale of Just Egg to Noble Foods.
The firm also advised the shareholders of Meet & Engage on its sale to Unseen Group, as well as performing a significant fundraise for chartered surveyor firm Greenhatch with Virgin Money, building on Dains’ earlier advisory work on its Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) transaction.
Roy Farmer, corporate finance partner at Dains said: “We’re delighted to see Sophie, Katy and James step up to the role of Assistant Manager. Their promotions reflect the momentum we’re building as a team, not only in terms of deal volume but also in the complexity and profile of transactions we’re advising on. Their expertise and energy will be instrumental as we continue to grow and cement Dains’ reputation in the mid-market.”