Praised as ‘friendly, approachable and personable’, the private client team at B P Collins LLP houses a team of experts across a broad portfolio of matters in this space, including wills, probates, estate administration, inheritance tax, and trusts, exhibiting particular expertise with high and ultra-high-net-worth clients. This is exemplified by practice head Lucy Wood, who draws on her extensive experience in this field to advise individuals and families, with a focus on estate planning, trusts, and structuring multi-generational wealth. Estate planning specialist Emma Hurrell works closely with national and international clients to advise on portfolios of investments and taxable gifts, while Dominic Ibbs is a key port of call for trustees and beneficiaries, notably in cases involving estates in foreign jurisdictions. Adept in probate matters, Sharon Heselton frequently handles complex estate matters and Naadim Shamji is noted for his work with C-Suite executives and business owners.

Fielding a ‘highly professional, technically strong and friendly’ wills, trusts, and probate team, Blaser Mills Law boasts a strong regional reputation with experts in private client services, particularly high-value estate planning, estates with international assets, Court of Protection-related mandates, and trusts. In Marlow, Jonathan Gallop heads the team, drawing on decades of experience in this field to undertake an array of work, from will drafting and Lasting Powers of Attorney, to complex estate administration, tax planning, and the creation and management of trusts. For Minesh Thakrar, complex preparations of wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, inheritance tax matters, and the administration of estates are notable areas of strength, while Karen Woodison has significant experience in complex Court of Protection matters. Adept in administrating estates is Sara Rendell, and her workload also consists of the preparation of wills and estate planning. Heenal Chhipa-Gadday is well-versed in inheritance tax planning and Kathy James is another key name to note.

Debenhams Ottaway fields a team that is ‘willing to go the extra mile’ for its client roster of young professionals, celebrities, entrepreneurs, business owners, and families, both within the local region and extending beyond. The team is split threefold, handling wealth management cases, trusts, and lifetime planning matters. Susan Glenholme leads the team in conjunction with Claire Sharp. As a private wealth law specialist, Glenholme brings expertise in wills, trusts, probate, and complex wealth management for high-net-worth clients, while Sharp specialises in trusts and tax planning, and has notable experience in wills, probate, estate administration, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and Court of Protection applications. Elsewhere in the team, Rachel Hyndman is a key port of call for accountants, IFAs, and banks. Andrew Spearman fields a growing reputation in setting up and administering trusts and Barry Griffin works closely with cross-jurisdictional issues.

Credited for its ‘excellent knowledge and professionalism’, Longmores Solicitors LLP fields a private client team that is well-equipped to handle all matters involving tax planning, estate administrations, and wills for local families, businesses, and landowners. The team is chaired by Richard Horwood, a seasoned private client solicitor with over two decades of experience, specialising in inheritance tax planning, trust creation and administration, and succession strategies for families with business or agricultural interests. Alastair Liddiard is a highly experienced solicitor specialising in personal tax, trusts, and probate law.

Sherrards Solicitors LLP leverages the bench strength of its local and international reach to maintain a strong reputation for its cross-jurisdictional private wealth services in wills, estate, and tax planning. St Albans-based Nicole Marmor heads the team and is lauded for her expertise in estate and succession planning for clients with multi-jurisdictional assets, as well as her skill in establishing trusts for both domiciled and non-domiciled individuals, particularly discretionary, bare, and excluded property trusts. Francesca Rossi is a key contact for private clients with international connections and Charles Burrell has experience in complex financial disputes involving families.

Taylor Walton LLP‘s private client department is well regarded for offering ‘comprehensive legal advice across multiple fields’, including tax implications, successions planning, trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and probate work for a multi-jurisdictional client roster consisting of high-net-worth individuals, business owners, entrepreneurs, farmers, and charities. Alex Drake draws on decades of experience to head the St Albans-based practice and often acts as executor, trustee, or attorney in complex private client matters. Alison Voyce brings substantial experience in a range of matters and has built an impressive client roster of high-net-worth individuals. With particular strength in inheritance tax, business protection, and succession planning, Steve Hamilton is another name to note.

The private client team at Tees Law possesses broad capabilities, including lifetime tax planning, wills, administration of estates, and Court of Protection work. Its representation in cases involving French legal matters is also a specialism, ranging from property-related transactions to French inheritance law and wills. In Bishop’s Stortford, Nicola Havers leads the team in conjunction with Sarah Walker; Havers is adept in complex trust administration and personal tax planning, with a particular focus on advising trustees and beneficiaries, while Walker brings noted expertise in Anglo-French estate and inheritance tax planning, advising on French wills and cross-border estates, alongside a broad practice in trusts, estate administration, and Lasting Powers of Attorney. Royston-based Letty Glaister oversees their department, leveraging decades of private client experience to regularly act for the rural community and farming clients in succession planning matters.

Crane & Staples LLP houses a team with ‘real interdisciplinary expertise’ across the full gamut of private client law, acting as a key contact for families, business owners, and public figures in the local area. David Bird leads the team in Welwyn Garden City, boasting particular strengths in the administration of high-value and complex estates, trust management, tax planning, and Court of Protection matters. Samantha Webb is a highly experienced private client solicitor and full STEP and SFE member, specialising in personal tax, trusts, and probate matters, including complex estate administration, inheritance tax planning, declarations of trust, and Court of Protection applications. She has particular expertise in cases involving agricultural assets and lifetime settlements.

Noted for its ‘professional, knowledgeable and reliable’ service, the team at Machins Solicitors LLP is well-placed within the region to handle a prolific flow of private client work for high-net-worth individuals, commercial clients, and MPs. Co-head Nic Pestell is a seasoned private client solicitor who specialises in trusts, inheritance tax mitigation, and business succession planning for high-net-worth individuals. Also jointly leading the team, Nicki Denton-Masih handles all aspects of non-contentious private client work, including wills, probate, and Lasting Powers of Attorney, and has particular strength in matters for elderly clients.

Pictons Solicitors LLP is highly capable of acting across an array of private client areas, with team’s recent workload including probate matters, Lasting Powers of Attorney, estate planning, wills, and the administration of estates. Siobhan Rooney heads the team and frequently supports clients as executor and trustee, bringing particular expertise at the intersection of family law and estate planning. Adept in matters involving high-net-worth individuals and international matters is Sarah Crook, who is also noted for her estate planning involvement.

The rapidly expanding private client team at VWV in Watford frequently supports high-net-worth individuals and families, and the department is particularly well-regarded for its knowledge of international tax planning, complex estate administrations, charity tax reliefs, and cross-border estates. Daniel Church leads the team, specialising in wills, probate, tax planning, and Lasting Powers of Attorney, with a particular focus on business protection. He is a go-to for high-net-worth clients seeking advice on family trusts and succession planning.

Housing a substantial team of private client lawyers, Woodfines LLP handles a range of estate planning matters, with a particular specialism in agricultural matters, making the group a key contact for farmers and landowners. Mikhala Leak heads the team, splitting her time between Bedford and Milton Keynes, and she regularly acts as trustee and attorney for clients.