James Heathcote

Spear’s Review

Having built and led the private client tax department at a large family office-backed firm since 2019, James Heathcote started his own firm, Sanctoras, in 2022, employing many of the same team members.

He now lives in Dubai but still focuses on UK tax law. ‘The move to Dubai was initially for lifestyle reasons,’ he tells Spear’s. But he has since found a growing customer base in Dubai – in addition to his existing UK clients – who are looking for advice without having to deal with an office in London. ‘We’re not looking to be the next big private office company,’ he says, ‘but to provide the service our clients are looking for, and be a bit selective about the clients we work with.’