The private client team at Carson McDowell specialises in conducting high value personal estate planning. Team head Neil Bleakley is greatly experienced in managing estates which involve both real and personal property in the UK, European, and other international jurisdictions. At the associate level, Andrew Davidson and Naomi Lamont are both well versed in assisting with will and trust planning to distribute family wealth in a tax efficient manner.

The Cleaver Fulton Rankin private client department is regularly engaged in estate planning and wills, and often instructed in High Court proceedings and County Court action relating to the management of estates. Head of team Michael Graham is a strong choice for high net worth clients who wish to appoint a controller for their estates. Timothy Rankin ‘demonstrates tremendous knowledge’ in real estate administrations, particularly concerning tax legislations and probate procedures. Jonathan Forrester specialises in contentious probate and trust litigation, while Brid McColgan is often instructed to set up discretionary trusts and reduce the exposure of estates to inheritance tax.

The private client team at Elliott Duffy Garrett are particularly well-versed in conducting administration for high value cross-jurisdictional estates, including the establishment of charitable trusts and corporate entities. Neil Mulholland, a full member of the Northern Ireland Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners, leads the team. Mulholland is experienced in handling administration of trusts and liaison with corporate trustees, as well as managing expectations and potential disputes in situations of complex family circumstances. On the associate level, Suzanne Currie often lends expertise on wills, trusts, and estate administration. Currie is qualified to practice in both Northern Ireland and England and Wales.

Mills Selig is well-versed in handling the full range of administrative and tax matters, particularly inheritance tax and estate planning. It assists clients with cross-border issues - where assets are based abroad. Team leader Fiona McFall is an expert in estate administrations and trusts, often where the primary beneficiary or various commercial and residential properties are based abroad. In these instances, McFall, is supported by senior associate Paula Gibson who is experienced in drafting complex wills, setting up trusts and dealing with capacity issues.

The Tughans private client practice, led by the 'accomplished and insightful'  Fiona Kirkpatrick, is a strong choice for high net worth clients that are looking for succession planning and inheritance tax planning. Kirkpatrick holds strong expertise in advising clients regarding potentially contentious elements in wills and estate administration. Sinead Creighan supports the practice with her expertise in real estate, particularly regarding estate management property transactions. Additionally, the firm’s corporate practice is often available to lend expertise to private clients who wish to sell their personal businesses, or to set up a charitable or private fund.

Wilson Nesbitt‘s ‘laser focused’ private wealth team offers a variety of services, including administration of estates, advising on inheritance tax and capital gains tax, and setting up charitable legacies. Based in Bangor, Gilbert Nesbitt leads the team with a ‘flexible mindset’. Nesbitt is particularly strong in wealth disputes and mediations regarding estates and involving complex family relationships. In Belfast, the ‘outstanding’ Daniel McCracken specialises in contentious matters, such as will validity disputes, financial provision claims, and propriety estoppel cases.