Citywealth Leaders List, 60 seconds interview – David Livitt, Blick Rothenberg
This week’s 60 seconds Citywealth Leaders List interview is dedicated to David Livitt, Partner, Global Mobility at Blick Rothenberg.
Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role.
I’m a Partner at Blick Rothenberg, specialising in UK-US cross-border tax and global mobility, advising entrepreneurial businesses, multinational organisations, and internationally mobile individuals on the tax challenges of operating across borders. My role is far broader than helping clients comply with tax rules. I work with entrepreneurial businesses, private clients, and multinational organisations as they expand internationally, helping them navigate the tax, mobility and commercial challenges that come with operating across borders. A significant part of my role is building relationships connecting clients with the right people, whether that’s lawyers, investors, wealth advisers, technology providers, or partners within my international network. Increasingly, I see my role as helping clients build confidence to grow globally.
What does a typical day look like for you?
No two days are ever the same, and that’s one of the things I enjoy most. One morning might involve advising a US business and it’s executive who are expanding into the UK or working with a multinational company reviewing the tax implications of international assignments, and by the afternoon I could be meeting with a technology provider to discuss the latest developments in global mobility technology, speaking at a conference or introducing colleagues to clients to address their business challenges. I’m fortunate that my role combines technical tax work, business development, thought leadership and relationship building, which keeps every day interesting.
Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions or requests you have received.
Many of my recent projects have centred on businesses expanding internationally. I’ve advised UK companies establishing a presence in the US, US businesses entering the UK market and multinational organisations redesigning their global mobility programmes to reflect changing ways of working. Clients are asking broader strategic questions around international growth, remote working, workforce mobility, technology, governance and risk. One particular project in the past couple of months has been working with the Board of a Fortune 100 company inverting into the UK from the US and the corporate and individual tax implications of this move.
What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping them overcome them?
The biggest challenge is uncertainty. Businesses are expanding internationally more quickly than ever before, but the regulatory landscape is becoming increasingly complex. Tax, immigration, employment law, payroll, permanent establishment risk and technology all add complexity, and my role is to help clients make informed commercial decisions while ensuring they remain compliant and connect them with the right specialists across different jurisdictions so they receive joined-up advice rather than fragmented solutions.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
Building long-term trusted relationships with both fellow professionals and clients. I’ve worked with some of my clients for years, some across multiple firms and even across continents. That trust is something I value enormously.
More recently, I’m proud of helping position Blick Rothenberg as a leading adviser in the UK/US corridor, while also driving collaboration across service lines and developing strategic alliances that create opportunities for both our clients and the firm.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
Curiosity and humility. A good leader doesn’t need to have all the answers, they need to ask the right questions, bring great people together and create an environment where others can succeed. I’ve also learnt a great deal from rugby throughout my life. Respect, teamwork, resilience and putting the team before yourself are values that translate remarkably well into business.
Who do you most admire and why?
I have always admired people who combine humility with high performance rather than seeking the spotlight. That can be found at every level. The energy, intelligence and fresh thinking brought by colleagues only a few years into their careers can be just as inspiring as working alongside established leaders. I am energised by people who support those around them rather than simply directing them, and I particularly admire those who build ecosystems rather than empires, creating opportunities by bringing people together and sharing success.
Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?
Most recently, New York meeting clients and developing relationships. Travel has always been one of the most enjoyable parts of my personal life and career because it allows me to understand local markets, strengthen relationships and see first-hand the challenges businesses face as they expand internationally.
If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?
Probably something that still involved connecting people and solving problems. I’ve always been fascinated by business growth, strategy and international expansion, so I suspect I’d still be helping organisations build relationships and create opportunities perhaps in international business development.
On a completely different note, archaeology has always been a passion of mine. I love understanding how people and societies have evolved which perhaps isn’t that different from understanding businesses today.
How do you relax after a long day?
Spending time with my family is the best way to unwind, traveling whenever we can. I am also a lifelong rugby supporter and have coached teams in both the UK and the US. I take great enjoyment from the challenges, camaraderie and sense of community that rugby brings. I enjoy travelling whenever I can and I find switching off is often easier when I’m exploring somewhere new or learning something completely unrelated to tax.
Blick Rothenberg’s Citywealth Leaders List profile
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