One of the sector's most experienced names, Addleshaw Goddard regularly advises clients with a wealth of overseas assets on wills, succession, and cross-border estate planning. The firm advise clients on the establishment of a variety of investment vehicles, including family investment companies, and are adept at restructuring trusts. Furthermore, the team demonstrate expertise in specialised areas of work such as the establishment of overseas gaming licenses, guiding philanthropic and education planning endeavors, and overseeing the transfer of trusteeships and trust properties. A leading player in private client matters, Manchester head Yorke Eaton advises trustees on their duties and advises on asset protection and tax planning, as well as acting on the creation of trusts in corporate transactions. National head Yorke Eaton competently engages with cross border matters, while Jane Shaw has particular expertise in inheritance tax mitigation and succession planning. Laura Woffinden continues to lend expert advice on corporate and banking transactions.

A firm with offices in Manchester, Liverpool, Lancashire and Leeds, Brabners LLP provide a full-service offering due to its considerably deep bench of lawyers and comprehensive regional coverage. National head Duncan Bailey in trust, tax and will planning, as well as acting as a professional trustee for clients and assisting with Lasting Powers of Attorney. Louise Scholes fronts the Liverpool office and has been routinely involved with Court of Protection applications, advising on inheritance tax mitigation, and drafting wills, regularly working alongside Mark Feeny who leverages his extensive private client experience to counsel on the full range of firm matters. Manchester head Steven Appleton continues to act on complex cases regarding capacity and guiding clients through philanthropic endeavours, while Sarah Murphy, who leads the Lancashire office, has specialist expertise in disabled trusts and Conditional Exemption eligibility. The ‘technically brilliant’ Amanda Bailey has established strength in the establishment of both traditional trusts and more alternative investment vehicles, such as family investment companies.

A firm with roots dating back to 1810, Hill Dickinson LLP has an established regional presence regarding tax and trusts work. The team is well versed advising foreign domiciles on their UK assets, guiding clients through various structuring arrangements and investment vehicles to mitigate tax exposure. Furthermore, the firm regularly advise high net-worth individuals on lifetime gifts, including the gifting of company shares, detailing the tax consequences for various options. Liverpool head Fionnuala Kenny has strong expertise in succession planning and inheritance tax mitigation and is skilled in the establishment of UK-based trusts, while Paul Baker is known as a go-to cross-border matters and the creation of alternative trusts. Susan Sherry is intimately familiar with Court of Protection and Lasting Powers of Attorney matters, working closely with vulnerable and restricted individual. Katie Austin has a wide caseload and is adept at managing the interests of multiple beneficiaries.

A leading player in Court of Protection work, Hugh Jones Solicitors is regularly appointed as deputies to act on the behalf of vulnerable individuals. Name partner Hugh Jones specilaises in mental capacity work, as well as complex asset tracing and financial abuse investigation work; he routinely works alongside Chris Gallagher, who is well versed in Lasting Powers of Attorney issues, the appointment and removal of deputies, as well as a broad range of property and affairs applications. The team has recently bolstered its capacity for a full-service, with the arrival of Jill Rushton from Stephensons Solicitors LLP, a move which expands the already strong private client team, headed by Charlotte Crawford. Managing director Elizabeth Hughes continues to oversee the practice’s Court of Protection work, including complex clinical negligence cases, while Catherine Oakes is actively involved in mental capacity and personal injury issues.

Complex Court of Protection matters and multi-jurisdictional private client work form the cornerstone of the practice at JMW Solicitors LLP. The team are increasingly involved with financial abuse cases, as well as deputyship work, while demonstrating aparticular strength in alternative investment structures, a key feature of private client head Joe Cobb‘s practice. Cross-border work centres on trust planning and restructuring for new domiciles, and the team is also active on Court of Protection cases, led by Megan Christie-Copeland, such as forensic investigations into missing accounts and investments, obtaining capacity assessments and establishing Lasting Powers of Attorney. Andrew Cusworth competently handles the firm’s cross border work and continues to provide trusted support to individuals who lack capacity. Russell Kaminski is an expert within the evolving cryptocurrency and digital asset landscapes.

A firm boasting a deep-rooted connection to the local market alongside a portfolio of international cases, Manchester-based Kuit Steinart Levy LLP is highly reputed for its work for high-net worth clients, advising on complex tax, estate and succession planning matters. Inheritance tax mitigation remains at the heart of its private client work, with the team advising families outside the UK with both offshore and onshore assets regarding their exposure to the IHT system. The firm also demonstrate expertise in personal injury trusts, complex business arrangements and specialist tax investigations. Head of department Paul Bricknell works closely with clients to explore investment vehicles such as family investment companies, whilst also heading the specialist team advising on Employee Ownership trusts. Graham Wood is active on a range of matters including Personal Injury Trusts and capacity issues, while Lauren Clyne‘s practice centres on high value estates with international elements.

 

Mills & Reeve LLP act on a range of personal tax and estate matters, including inheritance tax mitigation strategies, advising on trusts and trustee duties, and the creation of charities. Practice head Deborah Clark has specialist expertise in family investment companies, with a nationwide practice focused on high-net-worth individuals in sectors, such as professional services and finance. Zahra Siddiqui provides trusted counsel to clients with assets in multiple jurisdictions, advising on double tax treaties and safeguarding wills against tax challenges, and has a strong client network in the sports sector. Charlotte Shaughnessy works alongside business owners and entrepreneurs to advise on succession and tax planning and has a strong understanding of navigating business and agricultural tax relief claims. Christopher Noel joined the practice from DWF in September 2023.

Butcher & Barlow LLP is able to ‘navigate the complex area of inheritance planning’, advising clients on will drafting, the establishment of trusts, and potential tax charges. The team has considerable overlap with their agricultural colleagues, servicing the farming community through the considerable expertise of Mike Bracegirdle. Newly appointed team head Tim Bailey, who also has a proficiency in agricultural issues and estates, has a broad practice including advising on foreign assets and helping disabled beneficiaries through trusts, while Frodsham-based Philip Jennings focuses on Court of Protection work. Chris Hopkins has experience acting as a professional trustee and boasts a wide client list of high net-worth individuals. Helen Chadderton, who joined from Jobling Gowler Solicitors in September 2022, has taken on a broad caseload featuring both private client and Court of Protection work, while Samuel Dale leverages his contentious probate expertise to advise on complicated wills and estate matters.

A firm with offices spanning England and Wales, Clarke Willmott LLP cements its regional presence with a Manchester offering focused on tax compliance and mitigation, cross-border asset management, and the creation of trusts. The team has demonstratable expertise in the creation of charities, including liaising with the Charity Commission and guiding clients through compliance issues. Paul Davies heads the department and has established strength in the creation and restructuring of both onshore and offshore trusts, as well as advising domicile and non-UK domicile clients holding overseas assets. Rebecca Clarke is also active on matters and has a broad practice. including complex cross-border estate administration.

DTM Legal LLP has a strong reputation in the Cheshire and Liverpool market for providing expert advice on high value tax and trust matters. The team has a detailed understanding of alternative investment structures such as Family Investment Companies, the restructuring of trusts, and also tax exposure and the eligibility for agricultural and business relief. Richard Thomas oversees the department and focuses on issues regarding Inheritance Act claims, disputed wills and capacity and under influence concerns, while Heather Lally advises business owners, farmers and high net-worth families, routinely holding assets in multiple jurisdictions, on will drafting and succession planning. Stephen Mackellar is also highly active in the practice, particularly on trust creation and administration matters.

DWF advises on mandates ranging from complex trust creations to applying for Lasting Powers of Attorney, with a particular specialism in advising business owners and company directors on succession and tax planning. Noted for its collaborations with colleagues in the corporate and tax departments, the team is also able to advise trustees in senior positions on shareholder disputes and share sales. Nicole Chadwick is a key name to note, with experience safeguarding foreign assets and handling lack of capacity and undue influence concerns.

Myerson Solicitors LLP acts on a range of estate and succession planning matters, advising clients on tax mitigation avenues through both traditional onshore and offshore trusts and alternative vehicles such as family investment companies. The team has also been active counselling individuals on gift options and the establishment of charitable trusts. Team head Bik-Ki Wong deals with complex estates and trusts, often with a cross-border aspect, as well as competently handling cases where mental capacity and undue influence is questioned. Clara Staunton has expertise in will drafting, lifetime trusts and tax relief, while Simon Cieluch, who has a broad practice, leverages a particular focus on complex estates and disputes amongst executors and beneficiaries.

The ‘positive’, ‘proactive’, and ‘approachable’ Oglethorpe Sturton & Gillibrand is particularly strong on the establishment and restructuring of trusts, including lifetime and personal injury trusts. The team work on various estate and succession planning matters, with a focus on inheritance and capital gains tax mitigation and is comfortable dealing with assets in foreign jurisdictions. Clare Love fronts the department and has a broad private client practice, with a notable specialism in agricultural and rural estates, as well as complex cross border estates. Mark Hutchinson Lyons is ‘highly knowledgeable’ on matters involving trusts, advising on lifetime and wills trusts, creating and maintaining charitable trusts, and exercising trust powers. Laura Brereton has been active on complicated agricultural estate cases, where issues concerning undue influence, lack of capacity, propriety estoppel and agricultural tax relief have been evident.

A firm with offices in Stockport, Chesire, Macclesfield and Congleton, SAS Daniels LLP serves as a go-to for wills and trust planning for vulnerable and disabled people, possessing extensive Court of Protection experience, disputing local counsels over care funding, advising on capacity issues, and care home contracts. Department head Justine Clowes  has strong will and succession planning expertise, as well as experience acting on cases concerning mental capacity and elderly clients. Victoria Timothy is strong advising on agricultural estates, helping clients with the establishment of trusts and partnerships, in addition to advising non-UK domicile clients on tax system exposure and potential mitigation strategies. The ‘professional’ Helen Kelly is highly active on complex trusts work, while Genevieve Powrie has a specialist, niche practice advising on matters concerning elderly and vulnerable clients.

Possessing a broad national footprint and the Legalink network to supplement complex cross-border estates work, Weightmans LLP is geared to act on a diverse range of wills, trusts and probate matters. The firm is known for the trusted counsel it provides to clients in the corporate, sport and entertainment sectors pertaining estate and trust management, but also bolsters its full service offering through expertise in Court of Protection work, alternative investment vehicle structures, and establishing philanthropic endeavours. National and Manchester team head Richard Bate is a go-to for tax mitigation, wealth protection, and family trusts advice, and also competently acts for the interests of disabled and vulnerable individuals. Nina Sperring, who leads the Liverpool office and joined from FDR Law in February 2022, has a broad private client practice and is praised for her expertise in cross-border matters and innovative tax planning, while the ‘technical’ Sally Cook advises domiciles and non-domiciles on estate management, succession planning and tax mitigation. Lorraine Wilson is also active in the practice and has established strength in cross-border matters and the establishment of trusts.

Aaron & Partners LLP‘s offering in Cheshire makes the team uniquely placed to advise agricultural and rural clients on estate planning, succession and tax issues, as well as possessing a broader practice that encompasses the North-West and caters for high-net worth businesspeople and families. The department also has notable expertise administering foreign assets, handling Court of Protection cases, and establishing charitable foundations. The ‘absolutely professional‘ team head Clive Pointon presides over these types of matters, in addition to advising on inheritance tax exposure and mitigation. James Wallace is an expert regarding the transfer of assets and navigating capital gains tax implications, while Rowena Ridgway‘s caseload includes estate and will planning as well as Court of Protection and deputyship matters. Paul Caslin provides ‘clear and concise advice’ to Trustees concerned with estate and trusts issues, and also acts as trusted counsel to mentally and physically handicapped individuals.

A national law firm with a significant Lancashire presence, Forbes Solicitors is geared to act on the full array of private wealth and estate management matters. The team have considerable experience establishing both traditional and alternative trust structures to mitigate tax consequences, and routinely act for trustees, high-net worth landowners and businesspeople. Although the department’s work portfolio contains many complex urban and agricultural UK estates, the firm competently handle cross-border issues, including directing family tracing in foreign jurisdictions, liasing with authorities abroad, handling estates and assets abroad, and managing the interests of multiple beneficiaries. Head of team and Preston-based Jane Burbidge is active in will and trust creation matters and has particular expertise in dealing with intestate estates. Victoria Motley competently oversees estates with a cross-border aspect, and has a strong understanding of business and property relief and establishing trusts for vulnerable or disabled individuals. Elizabeth Whitaker has a broad practice encompassing Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection work, as well as estate and succession planning.

The team at Glaisyers Solicitors LLP have established experience advising on domestic and cross border mandates concerning will drafting, trust creation, and estate management. Inheritance tax mitigation and asset perseveration continues to be the cornerstone of the department’s matters, while team head Chris Burrows‘ expertise has been the main driver behind the practice’s growing activity in the establishment and administration of trusts and providing counsel to both trustees and beneficiaries. Burrows regularly works alongside Emma Green to provide an ‘outstanding service’, with the latter possessing a particular specialism in Court of Protection work, including aiding disabled individuals and removing incapacitated trustees. Charlotte Hardie, who also has experience in Court of Protection work, is active in high-net-worth estate planning as well as contentious matters.

Gorvins Solicitors advises on a broad range of wills, trusts and succession planning mandates, as well as undertaking Court of Protection work, such as acting as deputies and submitting applications. The firm has a specialist family business team which leverages expertise from its deep bench of private client lawyers to offer a full service including corporate and commercial, wills, trusts and probate, and also employment law counsel. Head of department Michael Smoult jointly heads the family business team and has extensive experience in matters concerning inheritance tax planning, will preparation, and protecting the assets of clients with disabled beneficiaries. Julie Burgess has expertise advising on complex estates, including agricultural property and foreign assets, as well as lifetime planning for disabled and vulnerable children. Almas Patankar is involved with inheritance tax planning and Court of Protection matters.

Irwin Mitchell‘s private client lawyers leverage expertise from their colleagues in the corporate, conveyancing and real estate teams to comprehensively act on complex estate administration matters. The department excel at advising UK domiciles on how their wills may affect their foreign assets, such as companies and properties, as well as possessing particular expertise establishing a variety of trusts such as personal injury and disabled persons interest trusts. The ‘incredibly knowledgeable’ Christine Thornley is an experienced name in succession planning and wealth protection work and has bolstered her capacity to provide a full service by developing a niche specialism delivering trust, will and Lasting Powers of Attorney advice to vulnerable and disabled children. Fiona Bushell counsels high-net-worth clients on estate administration and succession planning issues, while Danielle Burgess, who joined from Linda Myers in October 2022, is active on a wide range of practice matters.

A firm operating out of offices in Altrincham and Lymm, MLP Law LLP focuses on business wills and succession planning, preparing Lasting Powers of Attorney, incorporating business property trusts, and reviewing estate planning needs to ensure tax exposure is minimal. Jane Hunter has a broad practice and client portfolio though possesses a particular specialism advising business and agricultural property owners on wills and asset management affairs. The ‘incredibly meticulous‘ Doris Raggatt handles complex estates and has demonstrable experience acting on Court of Protection proceedings and applications. Samantha Kennedy is also highly active in the practice, advising high-net worth individuals on will and tax planning, as well as acting on the behalf of elderly, vulnerable and disabled clients.

A practice which remains a firm choice for HNW UK and non-UK domiciles seeking private wealth legal advice, Price Slater Gawne operates out of Altrincham and is headed by Laura Bywater. The team is ‘technically very strong’ and has expertise in will drafting, succession planning through trusts, and offering tax mitigation strategies. Bywater is a specialist regarding inheritance tax and capital gains tax, and completely advises clients living abroad with UK assets on whether they fulfill non-resident requirements and on potential complications from creating foreign wills. Gareth Williams handles the full range of wealth protection and succession planning issues, as well as acting for vulnerable individuals as a Court of Protection financial deputy.

Boutique firm Private Client Solicitors act exclusively on private wealth matters, include estate administration, tax planning, and the establishment of trusts. The group regularly advise clients with assets in multiple jurisdictions and have the understanding of foreign tax and legal systems to highlight the implications of drafting wills and transferring property. Exemplifying this in particular is practice head Tasnim Khalid, who specialises on Shariah Law and routinely works alongside high net worth individuals with ties to the UK, Middle East and South America on estate planning and wealth protection issues. Paul Gotch, who has a client roster containing sport and media personalities, focuses his practice on structuring wills and trusts to mitigate tax, while Nicola Walker acts on a broad range of matters including Court of Protection and Lasting Powers of Attorney applications.

Slater Heelis handles a steady stream of Court of Protection matters, with head of private client work Chris Partington principally noted for his expertise acting as a financial deputy for individuals who been victims of clinical negligence. Georgina Garner regularly works alongside her colleague in these deputyship proceedings and is especially well regarded for her adeptness at mental capacity cases. Alex Sealy spearheads the team’s private wealth offering, with far-reaching expertise that focuses on complex estates involving foreign assets. The group is geared to advise clients on domicile status and the consequential tax implications, as well as possessing a strong understanding of Sharia Law. In addition, the firm has a strong proficiency at will drafting and trust creation.

A firm with history dating back to 1822, Temple Heelis‘s deep-rooted connection to the South Lakeland community and market has allowed the team to grow an extensive client roster of high-net-worth families and individuals with multiple dwellings, holiday homes and distinctive real estate looking for wealth protection and succession planning advice. The department regularly act on tax exposure and mitigation queries, trust creation and restructuring matters and estate administration work, as well possessing experience regarding Court of Protection proceedings and applications. A go-to for tax advice, especially inheritance and Stamp Duty Land Tax, group head and Kendal-based Robert Kornas has a broad private client practice that includes acting as an official deputy for incapacitated clients, preparing Statutory Wills, and establishing trusts. Tax and estate planning are the cornerstone of managing partner James Hamilton‘s extensive legal career, who operates from all three of the firm’s regional offices, while Kendal-based Laura Priestley has particular expertise in Court of Protection work, alternative investment structures such as family investment companies, and probate matters.