The private client team at Carson McDowell specialises in high-value personal estate planning and can handle matters with cross-border aspects relating to assets and legatees abroad. Heading up the team is Neil Bleakley, who is well-versed in drafting discretionary trusts and wills and managing assets across the US, Ireland and Europe. Andrew Davidson and Naomi Lamont are noted for their expertise in minimising tax liability when preparing trusts.
Personal tax, trusts and probate in Northern Ireland
Carson McDowell
Responsables de la pratique:
Neil Bleakley
Autres avocats clés:
Andrew Davidson; Naomi Lamont
Les références
‘Very personal service for such a large practice. Treat everyone very well, and the customer service is excellent. Never fail to return a call, and can call on in-house experts to assist in other legal areas.’
‘Neil Bleakley, Andrew Davison, and Naomi Lamont really care about and are passionate about serving customers.’
‘Carson McDowell’s private client team provides a professional, efficient and focused service to their clients and other advisors.’
Cleaver Fulton Rankin
The Cleaver Fulton Rankin private client department is well-equipped to handle estate administration matters covering inheritance, corporate and property law. Practice head Michael Graham is a go-to for high-net-worth individuals and has significant expertise in trust administration. Graham is also noted for his experience dealing with vulnerable adults. Timothy Rankin is a key client contact for both The Esme Mitchell Trust and The Blackburn Trust and regularly advises individual clients with their inheritance tax planning. Brid McColgan, who was promoted to director in November 2024, specialises in the property aspects of complex estate administration mandates.
Responsables de la pratique:
Michael Graham
Autres avocats clés:
Brid McColgan; Timothy Rankin; Melissa Ruddock
Les références
‘I use CFR for private client work and have always found them to be experts in their field. They respond extremely quickly to any queries and clients and have a very experienced private client team. ’
‘The individuals I deal with on a regular basis are Tim Rankin, Michael Graham and Melissa Ruddock. All are very pleasant to deal with and very helpful.’
‘The partners have a deep understanding of trusts, probate and estates administration, and are proactive in delivering advice in these areas.’
Principaux clients
The Esme Mitchell Trust
The Blackburn Trust
Principaux dossiers
- Administered the Esme Mitchell Trust with investments worth over £9,300,000.00.
- Administered the Blackburn Trust with investments worth over £320,000.00.
Elliott Duffy Garrett
The private client team at Elliott Duffy Garrett has a broad offering, including advising on the administration of estates and the drafting and implementation of trusts. Praised for providing a ‘first-class service’, Neil Mulholland has a strong track record with instructions related to contentious trusts and disputed estates and is proficient in handling property law considerations and complex family circumstances. Suzanne Currie supports the team on the full range of private client matters and is well-versed in wills, trusts, and estate administration.
Responsables de la pratique:
Neil Mulholland
Autres avocats clés:
Suzanne Currie
Les références
‘The team at EDG manages to combine local business acumen with world-class legal technical knowledge.’
‘Neil Mulholland and his team have been providing first-class service consistently for many years. Neil is extremely client-centred, which is important when dealing with sensitive succession planning. He takes the time to understand the clients’ needs and comes up with innovative solutions.’
‘Elliot Duffy Garrett are a friendly, engaging and extremely competent firm of lawyers.’
Mills Selig
Mills Selig is called upon by both individuals and families in complex wealth preservation matters. Team lead Fiona McFall specialises in wills, trusts and succession planning and is noted for advising the executors of the estates of high net worth individuals. Paula Gibson boasts considerable expertise in drafting wills and administering estates, and has a particular focus on providing advice related to inheritance tax.
Responsables de la pratique:
Fiona McFall
Autres avocats clés:
Paula Gibson
Les références
‘Strength in depth across multiple disciplines, but retaining the ‘personal touch’ with clients.’
‘Paula Gibson is attentive, professional and great at client communication and follow-up.’
‘The private client team bring together a wealth of experience, allowing bespoke tailored client advice.’
Tughans
The Tughans private client practice is highly active in providing advice around succession and exit planning, particularly for family-run businesses. Garnering plaudits for her ‘sharp mind and depth of knowledge’, Fiona Kirkpatrick is skilled at advising on inheritance tax planning. Kirkpatrick is also a strong choice for clients with assets in foreign jurisdictions. Anna Thompson, who joined the team in August 2024, focuses on wealth and tax planning for high-net-worth individuals and their families.
Responsables de la pratique:
Fiona Kirkpatrick
Autres avocats clés:
Anna Thompson
Les références
‘Right from the outset, I was treated with courtesy, respect and empathy. I was constantly updated with progress, so I never had to « chase them up ». Tughans’ probate department continually strives for excellence.’
‘Fiona Kirkpatrick stands out from the crowd. She is positive, empathetic and totally reliable. I quickly realised that I could trust her sharp mind and depth of knowledge, thus I was able to relax about my difficult probate case.’
‘For a large practice, Tughans still provide very much a personal service.’
Wilson Nesbitt
Wilson Nesbitt‘s private client team is noted for its capabilities in private wealth and tax planning and contentious estate matters. Gilbert Nesbitt is at the helm of the team and chiefly handles high-stakes disputes related to wills and estate administration. The team’s bench also boasts a chartered tax advisor who offers support on tax exposure and tax-efficient structures.
Responsables de la pratique:
Gilbert Nesbitt
Les références
‘One of their greatest strengths is their responsiveness. No matter who Gilbert delegates a task to, I’m always met promptly, and communication throughout the process is seamless. Everyone I’ve worked with has been approachable and easy to build a strong rapport with.’
‘I hold Gilbert in very high regard. He is extremely intelligent and has expanded the firm strategically, ensuring steady, thoughtful growth while staying ahead of industry developments. His ability to transform what started as a small company into a significant practice is a testament to his expertise and leadership.’
‘Very client focused and driven to get the best outcome for the client.’