Personal tax, trusts and probate: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx in South East

B P Collins LLP

B P Collins LLP is frequently engaged on a broad spectrum of matters, including court of protection and deputyship, estate and tax planning, trusts, and wills and probate. Experienced family practitioner Lucy Wood received praise from one client as a ‘real star capable of managing the most complex and involved of estates’ and leads the practice group which includes Dominic Ibbs who has significant trust expertise and advises both trustees and beneficiaries. Sharon Heselton specialises in probate work and complex estate administration, whilst Naadim Shamji is another important point of contact within the practice group.

Responsables de la pratique:

Lucy Wood


Autres avocats clés:

Dominic Ibbs; Sharon Heselton; Naadim Shamji


Les références

‘The strength in depth of the entire team. It seams that it does not matter which individual you refer to or who picks up a case the outcome and quality of the work is consistently high. You get the real feel of a team working together for the best interest of the clients rather than a group of individuals.’

‘Naadim Shamji has developed into a top class solicitor with a broad wealth of knowledge and experience. He fills clients with confidence. Sharon Heselton has an easy manner that helps clients dealing with bereavement and the probate process. Within this easy manner though is a eye for accuracy and a wealth of knowledge and experience. Lucy Wood leads the team by example and is effective in operating in the higher net worth client market.’

‘A good team and matters dealt with on a timeous basis.This is so important.’

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Blaser Mills Law

Blaser Mills Law’s experienced private client team is praised for its ‘pragmatic and efficient approach’ when it comes to all aspects of sensitive and complex wills, trusts and probate work. Marlow-based Jonathan Gallop  leads the team and is known for his expertise when it comes to will drafting, tax and estate planning, trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and the administration of high value complex estates. Minesh Thakrar  is an important contact for wills, lasting powers of attorney, enduring powers of attorney, issues affecting the elderly, inheritance tax mitigation and probate, and the administration of estates. Karen Woodison is a name to note for her expertise in dealing with complex Court of Protection matters. Sara Rendell’s practice emphasises administering estates but also the preparation of wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and estate planning.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jonathan Gallop


Autres avocats clés:

Minesh Thakrar; Karen Woodison; Sara Rendell


 


Les références

‘The team has served my family well over the years and is very welcoming and helpful, always there to offer advice.’

‘Jonathan Gallop is very professional, knowledgeable and approachable. He has been very supportive to my family over a difficult time, nothing seemed too much trouble. Minesh Thakrar was very helpful and supportive giving advice to my family.’

‘Blaser Mills are very professional and helpful in the dealings that I have had with them. ’

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Debenhams Ottaway

Debenhams Ottaway’s St Albans-based private client practice group is split across protecting and managing wealth, trusts, and lifetime planning. Jointly led by Susan Glenholme and Claire Sharp, the team is praised for its ‘total reliability and trustworthiness’. Glenholme acts for HNWI and specialises in all aspects of private wealth management, whilst Sharp is an important name for managing trusts which range from small, life interest trusts through to large discretionary trusts. Rachel Hyndman is another important point of contact for lasting powers of attorney and court of protection matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

Susan Glenholme; Claire Sharp


Autres avocats clés:

Rachel Hyndman; Barry Griffin; Andrew Spearman


Les références

‘They are such a great team at Debenhams Ottaway. They are able to clinch that often unattainable ground of friendly but highly professional.’

‘Susan Glenholme remains one of the finest lawyers on the planet. Barry Griffin is truly excellent, my clients all trust and love him. He is a true asset to that business.’

‘Great team who are genuinely focused on the best interests of the clients. ’

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Sherrards Solicitors LLP

Sherrards Solicitors LLP focuses on private wealth work on behalf of international HNWI clients, collaborating with the firm’s litigation, corporate and commercial, and residential real estate teams to provide a comprehensive service. Practice head Nicole Marmor’s specialism lies with advising on wills for individuals with assets spanning multiple jurisdictions, as well as handling estates which include international assets. Senior associate Charles Burrell specialises in preventing and resolving financial disputes within families, he also advises on wills, trusts, probate, and estate planning. Legal director Arthur Byng Nelson has carved out a niche advising artists and art dealers with their estates, on strategic planning and tax matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

Nicole Marmor


Autres avocats clés:

Charles Burrell; Arthur Byng Nelson


Les références

‘Team members are always helpful and professional.’

‘The individuals with whom I have been in contact are approachable and respond well to emails and telephone calls. ’

‘Extremely efficient. Quick responses And all made easy to understand Nicole ’

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Taylor Walton LLP

Taylor Walton LLP’s diverse client base includes HNWI and UHNWI, business owners, entrepreneurs, farmers and landowners, as well as charities on the entire gamut of wills and estate planning, tax and succession aspects, trusts, powers of attorney, and probate. Alex Drake heads the department, with her broad practice encompassing wills, estate and inheritance tax planning, grants of probate, and the administration of estates. Alison Voyce predominantly represents business owners, farmers, landowners and high-profile public figures.

Responsables de la pratique:

Alex Drake


Autres avocats clés:

Steve Hamilton; Alison Voyce; Zoe Sivelle


Les références

‘The team are very knowledgeable and provide relevant and practical advice around wills, trusts and IHT planning. We know we can trust their advice when we refer clients to them’

‘Alex Drake – is able to explain things in ways easily understood by clients who are then able to trust their advice. ’

‘To touch on what is unique about Taylor Walton is difficult to clarify – I don’t believe that the services they offer clients are anything significantly different to other firms. Having said that however, I do think that they go out of their way to focus on the client outcome and are happy to involve other professionals, where appropriate,to deliver the best possible outcome for the client. Sadly, I have not always found that to be the case with other professional firms who don’t always appreciate the synergy that working with other specialist professionals can provide.’

Principaux clients

Executors of Taxable Estate with assets abroad


High Net Worth Married Couple


Lifetime Settlement for Nigh Net Worth Family


Executor of a high value estate (1)


Executors of high value estate (2)


Local Executors


Married couple


Trustees of discretionary Will Trust


Executor of high value estate (3)


Wealthy married couple


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising a very wealthy married couple in relation to Wills and Inheritance Tax Planning in the context of changing family circumstances and inconclusive domicile.
  • Dealing with the high value estate of a wealthy widow to include advising on various life-time Trust arrangements with a view to maximising tax savings for the family as a whole.
  • Advising the Trustees of a discretionary Will Trust including personal and business assets of their duties and responsibilities against a background of significant family disharmony.

Tees Law

Tees Law’s work portfolio spans a broad range of matters in the space, including lifetime tax planning, wills for a range of clients, Court of Protection work and the administration of complex and high-value estates. Nicola Havers and Sarah Walker jointly spearhead the practice group: Havers has extensive knowledge of administering trusts, whilst Walker lends her know-how to a full suite of private client work including estate and inheritance tax planning, wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, estate administration and trusts. Letitia Glaister is known for her work with farming clients, providing them with succession planning advice.

Responsables de la pratique:

Nicola Havers; Sarah Walker


Autres avocats clés:

Letitia Glaister; Hervé Blatry; Helen Craughwell; Victoria Sweeting


Les références

‘My wife and I have been dealing with the Will writing team and at all times have been kept posted on progress and all my questions have been answered quickly and been easy to understand.’

‘Our Will preparation has been undertaken by Frances Gill and her paralegal, Omor Abedin. This was undertaken with the Christmas holidays falling in the interim but it was made clear that the drafts would be available soon after the holidays and this was the case. Frances reminded us when we had failed to respond to a recommendation.’

‘This practice has always had a good reputation in Bishop’s Stortford and I have been dealing with them for many years now. I have had excellent advice and help from everyone I have dealt with at the offices in Bishop’s Stortford. ’

Principaux dossiers


  • Acting for the executors in the administration of a complex estate valued at £34.5 million.
  • Acting for the executors in the administration of an estate with a trust element giving rise to technical tax issues involving the repayment of a loan made by the Trustees.
  • Acting for the Trustees of 3 family Trusts holding assets comprising property, investments and shares in the family company together valued at over £20 million.

Crane & Staples LLP

Complex estate administrations, tax issues, Court of Protection matters, gift applications, statutory wills, establishing and managing trusts, and preparation of wills are among the core focuses of the team fielded by Crane & Staples LLP. David Bird leads the team and lends his considerable expertise to the administration of high value estates, matters involving complex tax issues, creation and administration of trusts, as well as the preparation of wills and lasting powers of attorney. Samantha Webb is another important contact on the team and advises clients on the entire spectrum of sensitive personal tax, trusts and probate matters.

Responsables de la pratique:

David Bird


Autres avocats clés:

Samantha Webb; Georgina Christou; Katie Lane


Les références

‘The teams communicate and so work very well together.’

‘Everyone I work with at Crane & Staples takes the time to listen to the issue I’m aiming to address and understand my feelings about possible outcomes. They are diligent, patient with my tardiness and their advice has always stood the test of any challenges.’

‘Georgina Christou has always done a fabulous job of understanding potential changes to a trust she looks after and as mentioned above makes up for my inefficiencies making sure nothing “falls through the gaps”. Sharon Montgomery also continues ot give wise counsel whenever I need to get an informred view of an issue.’

Principaux dossiers


  • Advising a high net worth business owner on Wills, tax and Estate planning in respect of their £16 million estate.
  • Acting in the administration of an estate valued at over £5m that was complicated by the fact that two beneficiaries were predeceased.
  • Assisting a high net worth couple with setting up Lifetime Discretionary Trusts.

IBB Law

IBB Law advises high net worth clients on a broad range of tax planning matters, including lifetime gifts and agricultural reliefs, trusts and use of trusts for vulnerable individuals, applications to the court of protection, and preparation of wills and lasting powers of attorney. Jacqueline Almond heads the practice and specialises in estate planning, including estates with foreign assets. Russell Hallam is another key contact and holds a large number of appointments as deputy, attorney, trustee and executor.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jacqueline Almond


Autres avocats clés:

Russell Hallam; Jane Beaven; Michael Charalambous


Les références

‘The team has extraordinary experience in the their given field, is very responsive and committed to their client. Their attention to detail does not leave any stones unturned. They are also the expediter of the case as well by trying to push things to a faster resolution.’

‘I have been in constant contact with Linda Blay and find her at all times extremely professional but with an air of friendship. Linda explains things in a way that that can be understood rather than bombardment of legal jargon. This exactly what I want and need. Linda was extremely kind and understanding during the passing of both inlaws within three weeks of each other.’

‘The team responds promptly to any queries asked and provides intelligent responses.’

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Longmores Solicitors LLP

Richard Horwood spearheads the private client practice at Longmores Solicitors LLP which focuses on all aspects of wills, tax planning and administration of estates. Horwood is praised for his ‘ability to think outside of the box’ and lends his expertise to a broad range of complex and sensitive private client matters. Alastair Peter John Liddiard is a key name for the administration of trusts and estates.

Responsables de la pratique:

Richard Horwood


Autres avocats clés:

Alastair Peter John Liddiard; Bernard Flanagan; Charles Fraser


Les références

‘It has been a pleasure working as an Executor with Longmores team who have proved to be attentive, helpful and knowledgeable. The estate has proved to be challenging due to there being no living relatives and rather random paperwork but they have taken on the challenge, been friendly and supportive, helped find additional outside professionals to dealing with the house and chattels and at all times kept me as the sole executor fully informed. I would not hesitate tor recommend them to others or use them again.’

‘This practice was recommended to us as we needed new wills and Power of Attorney agreements. We found the solicitor Charles Fraser very helpful and efficient. Unlike the firm we used previously Mr Fraser did not ‘lead’ or hurry us but good documentation was provided and any queries were clearly answered and the implications explained.’

‘Longmores have been established for a long time. They have a fantastic reputation of being the “go-to Solicitors” in Hertford. They consistently “go the extra mile” for their clients. They work with great professionalism and integrity. When clients require advice from a couple of departments for more complex situations, this is a seamless process. I have passed a number of clients to Longmores in my role as an Independent Financial Adviser, they have all been very happy with the service/advice they have received. ’

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Machins Solicitors LLP

Machins Solicitors LLP’s private client department has a strong regional presence and advises a broad range of clients including HNWI on a full suite and complex and sensitive matters in the space. Nic Pestell and Nicki Denton-Masih jointly lead the practice group: Pestell predominantly handles trusts and tax planning, including mitigating inheritance tax as well as business succession planning; whilst Denton-Masih, who is known by clients as ‘personable, straight talking, easy to understand, thorough and extremely efficient’, runs a broad practice which encompasses the entire range of private client work.

 

Responsables de la pratique:

Nic Pestell; Nicki Denton-Masih


Autres avocats clés:

Nigel Gibson-Birch; Radha Chauhan


Les références

‘Nicki Denton-Masih handled probate for my late mother. Nicki was personable, straight talking, easy to understand, thorough and extremely efficient. Handling of the finances and administration after a loved one has died is time consuming and often slow, you need a lawyer to expedite the process, not slow it down. It was fantastic to work with Nicki who was easy to get hold of, always responded quickly and did what she said she would do.’

‘We have interacted with two different Machins Offices, in Berkhamsted and Luton. Although our needs were completely different for each Office they obviously communicated well with each other and knew each others capabilities and particular strengths. This provided an all-encompassing feeling of security in our dealings with them.’

‘Very friendly and personal service but still very professional. ’

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Pictons Solicitors LLP

Pictons Solicitors LLP handles all aspects of wills, lasting powers of attorney, probate matters and estate planning. Siobhan Rooney leads the team, which includes Lydia Mills whose cases include estate planning and probate work. The team is further enhanced by Chartered Legal Executive Sarah Crook who specialises in dealing with probates and managing trusts.

Responsables de la pratique:

Siobhan Rooney


Autres avocats clés:

Lydia Mills; Sarah Crook


Les références

‘I have dealt with Pictons Solicitors for a number of years, those individuals I have worked I believe have provided a personal and professional service to their clients at a difficult time.’

‘I have had instructions with Melissa Browning, Lydia Mills, Sarah Crook and Sarah Kane and on those occasions they have provided an efficient service. When queries have been raised all named have responded promptly and provided the information required. ’

‘Responsive from the first enquiry.’

Rothley Law Limited

Rothley Law Limited provides specialist succession planning and wealth protection advice to HNWIs, UHNWIs, families and businesses across generations. Melissa Maple leads the national practice while Charlotte Dunn leads the team in Milton Keynes and is a key name for all aspects of succession planning for HNWI’s, business and landowners.

Responsables de la pratique:

Melissa Maple


Autres avocats clés:

Charlotte Dunn


Les références

‘I have always found Charlotte Dunn to be very approachable with a full grasp of the subject in hand I would recommend her as a credit to her profession.’

‘Very competent, approachable and fills you with confidence. I am particularly impressed with Charlotte Dunn with whom I do a fair amount of work.’

 

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Woodfines LLP

Woodfines LLP fields a large team which provides support to business owners and directors on succession planning and high-value, complex estate planning. Agricultural matters are another core pillar of the group’s practice. The ‘very knowledgeable’ Mikhala Leak leads the team and is commended by some clients for her ‘commitment and drive to offer the best possible service’.

Responsables de la pratique:

Mikhala Leak


Autres avocats clés:

Jenny Teall; Helen Simpson


Les références

‘I always feel listened to my questions are treated with respect and answered with full explanations. I have always found that I’m offered a professional friendly service which I certainly appreciate.’

‘Recently my involvement has been with Ester. I have always found her to very professional, she has been the lead solicitor for my Trust. Her work has always been of the highest standard Ester has always provided excellent support giving explanations where and when required. Her understanding about some of my issues has been very helpful which I have found to be of great help during our discussions. Ester has been instrumental in restoring my confidence with managing my work within the Trust.’

‘My solicitor kept me well informed throughout my probate process. Was contactable throughout, and I felt that I was listened to, and given reassurance on aspects of my case, when I needed it.

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