Mike Shearan

Senior Tax Manager

My experience

Over my career I have experienced all sizes of accountancy firm, starting with a large international business and then both smaller and medium sized firms. This has enabled me to understand companies and groups, transactions including sales of companies, start up situations, and personal tax planning. In particular, in more recent years I have specialised in all matters relating to shareholdings in private companies and technology businesses, including share investments and the various tax benefits around that, share sales, and employee share incentive arrangements such as share options.

Describe what you do at Whitley Stimpson

My focus at Whitley Stimpson is on tax.   I support the directors and colleagues on most areas of direct taxation, mainly around the important transactions in our client’s lives, whether they are individuals, families, companies or other businesses.

Why Whitley Stimpson?

I joined the firm in September 2025. In the early part of my career I worked in a technical tax role which enabled me to advise across the broad range of the complex and ever changing set of rules and planning opportunities that is the UK tax system, and it’s been really exciting to come back to this broad role with a growing and diverse firm like Whitley Stimpson. It has a wide client base and is firmly rooted in the local business environment. The senior management team and colleagues are all very friendly, practical and helpful. Going forward I can see that the firm is growing well and has a great future. And tax isn’t going away!

What matters to you?

I like to help clients navigate through the often baffling tax system to help them through their commercial and life transactions, starting a business or selling it, issuing shares to raise new funds, planning their estate to protect their wealth for their family, and to show that tax can sometimes work in their favour rather than be their enemy!

Working at Whitley Stimpson also allows me to have a good work life balance so I can enjoy the outdoor life and gardening and conservation work.