Housing a team of ‘real specialists with a depth of knowledge and talent’, private client specialist EMG Solicitors is regularly trusted by high-net-worth clients, with particular activity in the professional deputyship area well-supported by its strong Court of Protection team. As a ‘true leader in her field’, Emma Gaudern heads up the team and has proven experience as a professional trustee in high-value personal injury trusts, while leading the Court of Protection team is Jemma Morland, who receives a varied caseload from vulnerable clients. Samantha Edward helms the wills, trusts, and probate practice and fronts the complex estate planning work. Claire French combines dual qualifications as both a solicitor and an accountant. Deborah Jude joined the firm from Womble Bond Dickinson in December 2024.

The private wealth team at Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP is one of the first ports of call for high-net-worth clients seeking assistance in wealth structuring and estate succession planning matters. The group is led by a capable trio consisting of Simon Kirkup, who aids landowning families with issues arising from the ownership of estates; David Dale, who engages closely with high-net-worth individuals and their families; and Will Bonas, who leads the Newcastle private capital group and combines prior experience as a commercial specialist with key knowledge on generational succession planning. Harriet Campbell is recommended for her lifetime planning expertise, while Elisabeth Gubb is rated for her work on estate planning.

The private client team at Hay & Kilner ‘combines technical expertise with a personal and attentive approach towards clients’, with notable expertise across a comprehensive offering spanning Court of Protection services, estate and succession planning, and trust administration. Spearheading the team, Alice Clewes fields dual-qualification as a solicitor and a chartered tax advisor, well-positioning her to advise on a breadth of matters. With a broad portfolio spanning wills, powers of attorney, and estate planning, Tom Bridge is praised by his clients for his ‘vast knowledge of various subject matters that form part of probate procedures’.

Providing a strong family and wealth protection offering, the Latimer Hinks Solicitors team excels in complex estates and trusts for individual, farmer, landowner, and business owner clients. Co-head Elizabeth Armstrong exhibits a wealth of knowledge in estate, wealth, and tax planning, with a diverse caseload from high-net-worth individuals. On the administration of estates front, Jennifer Quayle is a valued advisor to personal representatives, including on the use of post-death restructuring and planning, while co-head Natalie Palmer’s practice is split between Court of Protection, deputyship, and elderly and vulnerable client matters.

Demonstrating key cross-border capabilities, Sintons LLP is regularly sought out by clients with assets abroad, in addition to handling a diverse stream of complex wills, tax planning, trusts, and the administration of estates. Group head Paul Nickalls is at the helm of a range of mandates for high-net-worth clients, with key services including tax planning, administration of estates, and Court of Protection applications, while Paul Collingwood is recommended for his similarly broad practice. Hilary Waters is a tax disputes expert, and Katie Gosling is a go-to name for trust advice. Sophie Moore fronts the Court of Protection unit, where she is lauded by clients for her ‘ability to navigate intricate legal matters while keeping business goals and objectives at the forefront’.

Ward Hadaway LLP is highly capable in the full gamut of private client mandates, including succession and inheritance tax planning, complex wills, Court of Protection applications, and tax issues. At the helm of the practice, Andrew Facer is a valued advisor to entrepreneurial and landed clients on succession planning. Gaynor Jackson demonstrates a broad practice across inheritance issues, whereas Sarah Dove is a go-to contact for farming families on succession planning and issues regarding succession. Alison Hall joined from Hay & Kilner in May 2025.

Cartmell Shepherd regularly advises on tax and estate planning and demonstrates particular strength in agriculture and landed estates. Deborah Flynn heads the team and has extensive experience in Court of Protection work, with particular knowledge of mental capacity issues, while Alan Douglas handles a varied stream of work ranging from lasting power of attorney to complex estate administration mandates.

With experience in estate tax planning and large settlements, Gibson & Co Solicitors Ltd receives a steady stream of instructions from landowners and farmers, and has recently seen an uptick in contentious probate matters. Christopher Sheppard sits at the head of the team, where he handles contentious probate issues, wills, Powers of Attorney, and inheritance tax planning issues. Derwent Gibson and Michael Macgregor left the firm in 2024.

The ‘first class’ team at full-service firm Mincoffs Solicitors LLP offers wills, probate, and trust services and is capable of advising a broad range of clients. Practice head Lydia McCaslin’s experience has seen her engaged on a variety of mandates, and she is also a key figure for estate administration. Victoria Richer is engaged in all areas of asset protection, whereas Janine Kennedy demonstrates particular experience with Court of Protection matters.

Muckle LLP is an established adviser to a range of clients, with a client roster comprised of business owners, farm land owners, and landed estate owners, routinely managing succession planning for their clients. Sought out by clients for her ‘very personal approach to client service’, team head Julie Garbutt oversees a range of wills, family trusts, inheritance tax planning, as well as business succession and Court of Protection work.

Swinburne Maddison LLP continues to receive a high volume of instructions on the administration of deceased estates, while also observing a growing stream of estate planning instructions. Anna Stephenson fields an ‘exceptional knowledge base’ and is active on estate planning, administration of trusts, and inheritance tax matters. Amy Pyman is predominantly engaged in the drafting of wills and lasting powers of attorney and the administration of estates. Elizabeth Gibbison joined the practice in July 2025, and handles the full breadth of private client work for a varied client roster.

Hill Dickinson LLP advises clients on complex succession planning, tax planning, trust creation and administration, estate administration, and mental capacity issues. Richard Marshall chiefly focuses his practice on corporate structuring for succession planning and tax mitigation and is singled out for ‘putting his client’s interests at the forefront of what he does’.

Irwin Mitchell is well-known for advising business owners on structuring and governing their businesses and wealth, while also guiding succession and estate planning for landed estates and rural businesses. Andrea Jones leads the team and is rated for her strength advising claimants on high-value wrongful birth claims, as well as her expertise on pre- and post-death succession planning.

The ‘approachable and professional’ team at Punch Robson Solicitors is noted for its capabilities in estate planning and administration. Head of team James McMillan has particular expertise in lifetime estate planning, and Shannon Whyatt handles the administration of estates, wills, and lasting powers of attorney.

Weightmans’ team is a one-stop shop for clients in the region, and has established strength advising business owners on succession planning and exit strategies involving lifetime and charitable trusts. Louise Miller leads the Newcastle team and handles all aspects of estate planning, underpinning this with experience dealing with high-net-worth estates and those containing substantial property portfolios.