Register to get free articles
Want unlimited access? View Plans
Already have an account? Sign in
Johnston Carmichael has announced the appointment of Adrienne Paterson as tax director in its Newcastle office, strengthening its presence in the North East.
Paterson, one of the region’s most experienced transaction tax specialists, began her career at KPMG in the early 1990s and later worked at EY before joining a regional firm in 2004. For the past 15 years, she has focused on business sales, acquisitions, reorganisations, mergers and demergers.
At Johnston Carmichael, she will work with the transaction tax team to expand the firm’s market profile and build relationships with business owners, entrepreneurs and advisers across the region.
Paterson said: “Johnston Carmichael has an excellent reputation, both in terms of its technical capability and its culture. What attracted me was the firm’s collaborative ethos, its investment in people, and the depth of tax expertise already here.
“My focus will be to strengthen our profile in the North East, particularly around transaction tax. If a business is looking to sell, restructure or expand, I want Johnston Carmichael to be the first name they think of when it comes to expert tax advice.”
Suzanne Brownie, tax partner at Johnston Carmichael, said: “Adrienne is a highly capable and likeable expert in transaction tax. She prides herself in supporting clients with clear and pragmatic advice – allowing clients to make confident and well-informed decisions.
“With a wealth of commercial experience and long-standing relationships across the North East, she is a fantastic addition to strengthen our senior tax team.”
Paul Shields, head of the Newcastle office, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Adrienne to the team. She is incredibly well-respected in the North East business community and brings a wealth of experience in a highly specialised area of tax.
“Her appointment strengthens not only our service offering, but also our leadership in the region. As we continue to grow, we want to ensure that businesses across the North East have access to the very best advisory support, and Adrienne will play a key role in that.”
The appointment follows recent national recognition for Johnston Carmichael, with its VAT and transaction tax teams shortlisted for the 2025 Tolley’s Taxation Awards. Its VAT team is also a finalist in the ‘Excellence in Tax’ category at the North East Accountancy Awards, taking place on 3 July at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead.
