Private equity and venture capital tax specialist joins Pitcher Partners Sydney
Pitcher Partners Sydney has strengthened its tax advisory services with the appointment of Dragan Misic as their newest Tax Advisory Partner, bringing more than 25 years of specialised expertise in providing advice to private equity and venture capital funds.
The appointment reflects Pitcher Partners’ focus on ensuring new partners are not only experts in their field but are able to lead both the people and the firm, embodying the firm’s distinctive culture and collaborative approach.
“Pitcher Partners’ culture is unique, and the management team is really conscious of protecting and nurturing that culture,” Dragan said.
“The way this firm makes decisions is quite refreshing, with a real tangible focus on delivering exceptional experiences for clients.”
Dragan brings valuable expertise in private capital transactions, fund structuring and formation, particularly for Managed Investment Trusts (MITs), Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (VCLPs) and Early Stage Venture Capital Limited Partnerships (ESVCLPs).
“That ability to understand how funds are actually being raised is one of the things which enables you to become a better advisor to private equity and venture capital,” he said.
“You need to understand where the money is coming from in order to provide effective advice on transactions, exits, and ongoing matters.”
Prior to joining Pitcher Partners, Dragan was the founder and principal of Fund Partners, a boutique tax firm specialising in services to private equity and venture capital funds.
He also previously led PwC’s and EY’s private equity fund structuring and venture capital tax practices and served as Head of Policy & Research at the Australian Investment Council, where he was responsible for developing policy and advocacy initiatives with federal and state governments.
“For me, it’s the growth story that made this move compelling,” Dragan said.
“I was growing my business at an extremely fast rate, and it was much easier to join forces with a firm that already has resources in place rather than trying to do that myself.
“There are so many things that a larger firm provides, from IT infrastructure to risk management, that a practitioner on their own needs to handle while still delivering exceptional client service.
“Importantly they have the depth of capabilities to support my clients in adjacent areas such as transaction advisory, valuations, audit and private wealth.
“At Pitcher Partners, we want our clients to feel that our service is personal. This partnership allows me to focus on what I do best while being supported by a strong network in Australia and internationally with Baker Tilly.”
Dragan also specialises in advising high-growth companies on raising funds, including providing expertise on the early-stage innovation company (ESIC) tax incentive. His experience spans corporate tax advisory in multiple sectors including technology, communications, entertainment, retail, consumer and industrial products, financial services, transport and commercial property.
Pitcher Partners Sydney Managing Partner Adam Irwin welcomed Dragan to the firm, noting that his appointment strengthened the firm’s capabilities in the growing private equity and venture capital sectors.
“Dragan’s expertise in fund structuring and formation enhances our existing services in this space. His expertise compliments our suite of offerings to the private capital industry, making him invaluable to clients navigating this complex area,” Adam said.
“His appointment reflects our commitment to growing the firm and building a team of specialists who can provide practical, commercial guidance to our clients.
“Dragan’s deep industry knowledge and his understanding of both the technical and policy aspects of this sector will be a tremendous asset to our firm and our clients.”
Dragan will commence in his role on March 31.
