Anderson Strathern counts high-net-worth individuals and families, landowners and various trusts among its key roster of clients. The team’s Edinburgh office regularly handles the full range of contentious and non-contentious tax-related matters, administrations of executrices with high liability risk, estate planning and asset protection. Led by Carole Tomlinson, the practice also advises on family will and succession planning for clients with notable investment portfolios and commercial property. Martin Campbell focuses on mandates concerning asset protection, succession and ownership planning, while Alasdair Johnstone advises on property taxes, capital taxes and income tax work. Other key contacts in the group include Caroline Pringle, Sarah Lonie and Nick Dobbs.

Housing a team of ‘driven and extremely knowledgeable’ practitioners, Brodies LLP acts for high-net-worth individuals on estate planning matters, in addition to succession plans and deeds. Based in Inverness and Aberdeen, accredited private client specialist Mark Stewart leads the team, and Alan Barr advises on tax and trust mandates. Praised as ‘commercially astute, bright and personable’, Angela McCulloch acts for high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as winding up estates, while Leigh Gould advises on succession planning and the passing on and protection of assets. Other key contacts include ‘enormously experienced’ Susanne Batchelor and ‘energetic, engaging and hugely pragmatic’ Hayley Robertson.

Shepherd and Wedderburn ‘has real strength in depth’ when advising high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs and landowners on a broad range of private wealth and tax matters. Malcolm Rust leads the deep bench of ‘highly professional’ practitioners, including Gillian Campbell, Christopher McGill, and Alexis Graham, who handle mandates concerning succession, tax planning and contentious executrices. The team is also well equipped to advise on private and business asset management mandates. Eleanor Kerr spearheads the Glasgow team, leading on cross-border inheritance tax liability cases.

Situated in the firm’s wider private client practice, the personal tax and trusts team at Burness Paull LLP handles multi-jurisdictional tax and business-related matters for Scottish and international clients. Practice head Colin McKenzie acts for family investment companies and limited liability partnerships, while ‘exemplar’ Fiona Clarke counts high-net-worth individuals among her key roster of clients. Claire Macpherson advises on tax mandates and Amanda Armstrong assists with contentious liability claims. Euan Fleming left in November 2023.

Jointly led by Agnes Mallon and John McArthur, the team at Gillespie Macandrew LLP acts for high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs and land owners on a broad range of estate planning, contentious trusts and tax matters. The team is also well equipped to handle lifetime inheritance tax and complex succession planning mandates. ‘Consistently exceptional’ Lianne Lodge frequently assists post retirement clients, with demonstrable experience advising on matters concerning care fee planning and the operation of Powers of Attorney. David Mowlem joined from Turcan Connell in May 2023, and Eilidh Adams spearheads the private client team in Perth.

Leveraging strong expertise in personal tax and trust matters, Harper Macleod LLP showcases ‘exceptional knowledge’ in matters concerning protection of assets and inheritance tax. The team also regularly advises on operating structures and family succession mandates. Accredited asset protection expert Pamela Niven leads the team, supported by Jacqueline Leslie, Julie Doncaster, and Leigh Beirne. Other key contacts in the group include Kathleen Martin and Lindsay MacEwen, who assist with executry administration of cross-border cases and personal injury trust preparation.

Lindsays acts for numerous trustees, land and estate owners, and private individuals on a broad range of matters, including estate administration with high-value liability issues and multi-jurisdictional wills, succession and estate planning mandates. The firm also advises charitable trusts on regulatory and stock portfolio issues. Grant Johnson leads the practice, while Caroline Fraser and Sandy Lamb are key contacts in Tayside and Glasgow respectively. Ernie Boath continues to provide administrative advice on charitable grants to various trusts.

Boutique firm Murray Beith Murray LLP excels in handling tax planning strategy mandates for landed estate owners and administrative advisory work for investments and heritable property. The practice is also well equipped to advise high-net-worth Scottish clients on domestic and cross-border matters, particularly regarding the establishment of charitable trusts. An ‘expert in his field’, Peter Shand jointly leads the team alongside Andrew Paterson, focusing on asset protection and executry mandates respectively. Sophie Napier and Fraser Scott advise on tax planning strategies and land sales,  Adam Swayne is another key member, while Alec Stewart joined from Morton Fraser MacRoberts in September 2023.

Well-placed to advise on the full range of cross-border inheritance matters, Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP regularly handles tax planning, partnership and succession issues, often involving highly contentious family dynamics. Accredited private client expert Ian Macdonald leads the team with support from Roddy Harrison, while Rod MacLean spearheads the practice in Inverness, handling will drafting, inheritance tax, and land and estate sale matters. Magnus Mackay departed for Thorntons Law LLP in November 2023, while Sarah-Jane Macdonald joined from Gillespie Macandrew LLP.

The ‘exceptionally well-qualified team’ at Aberdein Considine is collectively led by ‘invaluable’ Aileen Entwistle, who has considerable experience in handling matters concerning will drafting and powers of attorney; James MacKinnon, who has ‘excellent knowledge’ in contentious trusts and estate matters; ‘approachable and empathetic’ Ryan Fox and Anthony Quin, who spearheads the Stirling-based team. Shona Sandison is another key contact, assisting with contentious and cross-border will and inheritance mandates.

Blackadders LLP’s team continues to expand, leveraging its expertise in multi-jurisdictional succession planning, often concerning high-value business assets. Dundee-based Laura McDowall leads the team and Gillian Brown has considerable experience in wealth management and tax issues. Johnston Clark assists clients with asset protection and power of attorney mandates, while dual qualified in England and Wales, Dale Ross specialises in executry and trust cases. Donna Brennan joined from BTO Solicitors LLP in January 2024.

Led by Gregor Mitchell, the team at BTO Solicitors LLP advises on estate planning mandates for companies and the establishment of discretionary trusts, in addition to tax matters involving foreign jurisdictions and a range of estate management work, including employment and corporate matters. Focusing on capital gains tax issues, Bruce Battersby is another key contact, and Euan Fleming joined from Burness Paull LLP in November 2023, further bolstering the team’s capabilities in sales and purchases, and administration cases.

Situated in the firm’s wider corporate and real estate practices, the personal tax and trusts team at Morton Fraser MacRoberts is well equipped to handle the full range of inheritance tax planning, executry administration and related regulatory issues. Private client specialist Carryl Beveridge leads the team, regularly handling succession and tax planning matters, while Catriona MacPhail assists high-net-worth individuals and estate landowners on planning and trust management. Jack Kerr, Carole McAlpine-Scott, James Inglis and Sue Hunter further bolster the team’s expertise in personal injury and charitable trusts mandates.

The Aberdeen-based team at Stronachs LLP is led by Jaclyn Russell, who is well-versed in handling tax and estate planning matters. The practice assists local and international clients with mandates concerning capital tax planning, power of attorney and estate administration. Kirsten Anderson and Karen Oliver advise on personal injury trust matters, while Raiya Law and Emily Wright handle estate and succession planning cases for high-net-worth individuals.