Directors & Staff

Lucy Knighton ACA MAAT

My career started at Butler & Co in 2007 and I am now managing director at the firm, I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ACA) and the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT).

During my time at Butler & Co I have gained extensive experience across all aspects of rural businesses and operations with the focus of my work being within the Farming & Equine Department. I have developed a varied skill set due to my exposure to interesting and complex accounting and tax issues. I regularly assist a variety of rural entities and individuals with their day-to-day accountancy and taxation affairs, as well as assisting in achieving excellent results with HM Revenue & Customs enquiries. I also get involved in work for other accountants and solicitors with their complex farm tax enquiries on aspects which include the interpretation of accounts to achieve optimum income tax reliefs and maximum capital taxes protection. I enjoy being part of a firm that focuses on helping clients and providing a high quality level of service and advice.

I grew up on the family farm in Bramdean with a family who has a passion for horses, which gives me an affinity with my clients and a real understanding of their issues. When not at work I enjoy spending time with my friends and taking part in obstacle course racing and running events.

Email: lucy@butler-co.co.uk

Fred Butler MSc ATT

I joined the Butler & Co Tax Team in 2012, and have progressed to the role of Tax Director in the Farm & Equine Department. I am a member of the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT), hold a Master’s Degree from the University of Bristol, and have successfully achieved my Certificate in Probate and Estate Administration.

Working in the Farm & Equine department allows me to draw on a rich background of personal experience, having grown up surrounded by horses on the family farm. I continue to ride and remain heavily involved in the equine and farming industries at a personal level. This allows me to bring real life experience to the tax issues faced by my clients, and apply a level of knowledge and understanding that can sometimes be difficult to find in a mainstream accountancy practice.

Although I am by nature a general adviser, I specialise in Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax issues, with an additional focus on probate matters and deceased estates. In addition, I have developed a specialism in structuring equine businesses for maximum tax efficiency, and work as part of a dedicated enquiry team with a focus on Inheritance Tax mitigation.

Email: fred@butler-co.co.uk
We regularly provide consultancy services to other professionals and direct to private individuals please contact us direct for more information.

Julie Butler FCA

After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1980, I founded Butler & Co Chartered Accountants in 1986 from our farmhouse, and then set up the Alresford office in 1992. I am a director of the Company with a focus on farm and equine tax matters using a lot of my research as the author of Tax Planning for Farm and Land Diversification (now on its 7th edition) when dealing with client matters. I am also the author of Equine Tax Planning including the third edition entitled Butler’s Equine Tax Planning which again helps with solving tax problems for clients. I am privileged to be co-author of Stanley: Taxation of Farmers and Landowners which I have written for a decade jointly with Malcolm Gunn CTA (Fellow) who consults for the Company.

In 2017 I became the editor of Farm Tax Brief. This is published 10 times per year and is available in hardcopy and online via www.farmtaxbrief.com. My articles are published in the national accountancy and tax press and my work is regularly quoted and re-produced in Farmers Weekly and many of the broadsheets and financial pages.

I take pleasure in lecturing to other accountants as well as solicitors on agriculture, probate and equine tax matters and speak to a large variety of audiences through various organisations and to the rural community direct, and I am also on the Board of Trustees for the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE). I really enjoy how all my technical tax research can help clients and the tax team with problem solving in all areas from HMRC tax enquiries on aspects of Tax Returns to full estate succession planning.

I am also a director of Butler & Co Audit Ltd where I am the ICAEW RI (Responsible Individual) for the audit team. I originally trained in audit and accounts before transferring to farm tax and accounts. I find this role helpful in understanding complex farm accounts and ICAEW regulations aiding the overall review and technical planning required by clients. 

I am an authorised individual licensed by the ICAEW to carry out the reserved legal activity of non-contentious probate in England and Wales. 

Email: julie.butler@butler-co.co.uk

We regularly provide consultancy services to other professionals and direct to private individuals please contact us direct for more information.

Andy Case FCCA FMAAT

Admitted as a partner in November 2017 and now a director, I joined Butler & Co in December 1999 and I am a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and a fellow member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (FMAAT). Much of my work at Butler & Co is in the area of OMBs (Owner Managed Businesses) and SMEs (Small and Medium Size Enterprises). I deal with the compliance of limited companies, both statutory accounts and corporation tax, together with the compliance related matters of sole trades and partnerships. I place a strong emphasis on maintaining client relationships and particularly enjoy this aspect of working life – as a direct result of this approach many of my clients have been with me for over fifteen years. I feel privileged to be part of such a well-established and friendly firm and one that always puts client interests first. I live fairly locally to Alresford with my wife and three teenage children. My weekends are usually taken up ferrying my sons to endless football tournaments and training, or my daughter shopping…! But when I do get spare time I like nothing more than to relax and listen to music and read a good book with a nice glass of wine (or something stronger!).

Email: andy@butler-co.co.uk

Angela Evans FCCA CTA TEP

I joined the Butler & Co Private client, Trusts, Estates and Probate team in July 2020 with over 30 years’ experience in the accountancy profession. In addition to my accountancy qualification I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Tax, The Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners as well as holding the Certificate in Probate and Estate Administration.

Concentrating on my specialism of Estates and Trusts, I enjoy helping families understand the tax implications of passing down and inheriting wealth. By looking at the cycle of planning, starting with lifetime gifting and the use of the inheritance tax reliefs available, through to supporting families with Estate administration, Estate taxes and post death planning, and including where required probate services, I can work with them to protect their financial assets for the future and mitigate potential inheritance tax liabilities.

I like to work closely with other professional service providers, in particular solicitors, providing additional complementary services to their trust, estates, and family clients.

Email: angela@butler-co.co.uk

Amelia Crowley ATT

I joined Butler & Co in 2003 and now primarily work as part of the Trusts, Estates and Probate team. I also carry out the role of Practice Manager responsible for the Firm’s administration and compliance of the ICAEW Regulations.

I qualified as a tax advisor in 2021 and I am now a member of the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT).

Much of my Estate and Probate work involves dealing with the administration of Deceased Estates, this includes the preparation of the Inheritance Tax Return Forms, the online Probate application and carrying out the administration to bring the Estate to a conclusion.

In my capacity of Practice Manager, I deal with the firm’s annual and ongoing compliance with the Regulations set down by our professional body, the ICAEW.

Email: amelia@butler-co.co.uk