United Kingdom > North West > Private client
Agriculture and estates
Agriculture and estates
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- Aaron & Partners LLP Chester
- Addleshaw Goddard LLP Manchester
- Brabners Chaffe Street LLP Liverpool, Preston
- Cullimore Dutton Chester
- Hibberts LLP Nantwich
- Hill Dickinson LLP Chester
- Napthens LLP Preston
- Oglethorpe Sturton & Gillibrand Lancaster
- SAS Daniels LLP Chester
- Walker Smith Way Chester
Aaron & Partners LLP maintains a broad practice led by Richard Forrester. Recent work includes acting for farming partnerships and companies in refinancing matters, and dealing with options for the development of agricultural land and rights of pre-emption.
The ‘outstanding’ team at Addleshaw Goddard LLP specialises in advising on agricultural and rural issues arising out of tax planning, wills, estates and inheritance tax matters. Alan Sturrock is recommended.
Brabners Chaffe Street LLP’s team continued to grow with the addition of Claire Gregory from Squire Sanders Hammonds and Rachel Watkin from Halliwells.
Cullimore Dutton covers a wide range of specialisms, acting for farmers and farming partnerships as well as large landowners. David Mason and Rory Lea are the main contacts.
Hibberts LLP acts for the full range of agricultural clients, and has broad experience.
Hill Dickinson LLP has been particularly busy on property matters.
In 2010 Napthens LLP acted on a high volume of property and estate planning matters as well as a wide range of contentious cases. Agricultural specialist Geoff Tomlinson heads the team.
Agricultural and farming expert Martin Gillibrand leads the team at Oglethorpe Sturton & Gillibrand, which has a long history of work in this area.
SAS Daniels LLP welcomed agricultural specialist Graham Gigg in 2010, to head up its practice in the area.
Richard Williams at Walker Smith Way is recommended, and continues to act for some of the largest landed estates in the region.
Charities
Charities
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- Addleshaw Goddard LLP Manchester
- Brabners Chaffe Street LLP Liverpool, Preston
- Cobbetts LLP Manchester
- DWF LLP Liverpool
- Hempsons Manchester
- Kuit Steinart Levy LLP Manchester
- Pannone LLP Manchester
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- Aaron & Partners LLP Chester
Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s team is ‘prompt, clear and pragmatic’. Led by the highly experienced Alan Sturrock, it acts for charities and commercial clients, including advising charities seeking to increase their involvement with non-charitable commercial parties such as lenders and sponsors.
Brabners Chaffe Street LLP has an extremely strong team, advising a diverse range of clients on complex issues. The highly recommended Stephen Claus has substantial experience in litigation, regulatory matters, and formation and governance issues.
Cobbetts LLP has a full-service offering, and continues to assist the Multiple Sclerosis Society on a wide range of governance issues. Kevin Jaquiss is experienced in the field.
DWF LLP’s ‘charitable knowledge is superb’. Chair of the group Louise Scholes ‘goes the extra mile’, and Katharine Mellor gives ‘pragmatic advice’, ‘drawing on her experience of a range of incorporated charities’.
In 2010, Hempsons provided high-level advice to The Christie, the largest NHS charity in the UK. Other key clients include Turning Point and the Wirral Autistic Society. Harrogate-based Catherine Rustomji heads the team.
The ‘excellent’ and ‘very responsive’ team at Kuit Steinart Levy LLP has advised a number of sports clients on the establishment of charities. Graham Wood heads the practice.
Pannone LLP has experience in advising charities at all stages of their life cycle. Practice head Ursula Gould is ‘exceptionally professional’ and ‘reassuring’, and ‘inspires confidence’.
Aaron & Partners LLP is noted for its ‘tailored service’. The highly recommended Simon Ellis deals with non-contentious charity work, with a focus on charity property.
Family
Family
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- DWF LLP Manchester, Liverpool
- Mills & Reeve LLP Manchester
- Pannone LLP Manchester
- Weightmans LLP Knutsford, Liverpool, Manchester
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- Brabners Chaffe Street LLP Liverpool
- Gateley Manchester
- Hill Dickinson LLP Liverpool
- Laytons Manchester
- Linder Myers LLP Manchester
- Stephensons Solicitors LLP Manchester
- Stowe Family Law LLP Altrincham
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- Aaron & Partners LLP Chester
- Forbes Blackburn
- George Davies Solicitors LLP Manchester
- Irwin Mitchell LLP Manchester
- Morecrofts LLP Liverpool
- Russell Jones & Walker Manchester
- SAS Daniels LLP Stockport
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- Cullimore Dutton Chester
- Gorvins Stockport
- Hague Lambert Knutsford
- JMW Solicitors LLP Manchester
- James Maguire & Co Wilmslow
- KBL Bolton
- Slater Heelis Sale
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- Walker Smith Way Chester
In 2010, the team at DWF LLP won a reported Court of Appeal case concerning personal liability for a £3m personal injury award. Other work included three cases with net onshore and offshore assets of over £100m. David Pickering is ‘an excellent tactician and lawyer and maintains a refreshing commercial reality’; and Lesley Smythe is ‘sharp, focused and pragmatic’.
The team at Mills & Reeve LLP is still relatively new to the region, but is described by one client as ‘Manchester’s best-kept secret’. Nigel Shepherd is acting on a case involving business and personal assets worth between £50m and £90m, as well as a number of international cases. Alison Bull and Sue Brookes are also recommended.
The large team at Pannone LLP advises on a broad range of work, often involving international elements. Beth Wilkins and Fiona Wood are both ‘thorough and organised, confident in their ability, and unwavering in their support’.
Notable work for the team at Weightmans LLP included advising on complex company law and trust structures in a number of ancillary relief and Schedule 1 Children Act cases, with assets ranging between £20m to £50m. Carole Atkinson, also a Deputy District Judge, is recommended.
Helen Marriott is ‘superb in the field of ancillary relief’’, and heads up the family team at Brabners Chaffe Street LLP, whose clients include a number of high-profile sports clients.
Elizabeth Hassall at Gateley wins high praise from clients for her unwavering dedication to their cause; she is ‘undoubtedly one of the leading matrimonial lawyers in the area of complex and high-value divorce, pre-nuptial and cohabitation work’.
Hill Dickinson LLP provides advice to individuals referred by the firm’s corporate and commercial, sports and private client teams. Paula Milburn has ‘integrity and professionalism far beyond her years’.
Although smaller than other teams, Laytons represents many high-net-worth and high-profile individuals. Christine Barker is ‘a consummate performer in this field’, and for some ‘the best ancillary relief solicitor in Manchester’.
Linder Myers LLP acts on high-net-worth ancillary relief cases; and also has experience in acting on complex children law matters with international elements. Colin Davies heads the department.
Stephensons Solicitors LLP has expanded to handle privately funded work for high-net-worth individuals, and has also boosted its capabilities in unmarried couple advice and collaborative law services. The well-respected Mike Devlin leads the team.
Stowe Family Law LLP is one of the largest specialist family law practices in the UK, led by the well-known and highly respected Marilyn Stowe, who is based in Harrogate. Robin Charrot recently left for George Davies Solicitors LLP.
Aaron & Partners LLP delivers a ‘fantastic level of service’. New head of department Richard Barge, who arrived from West Midlands firm FBC Manby Bowdler LLP, is ‘very cool and calm under stressful situations’.
David Parkinson and Dawn Baker at Forbes are both acting on a number of high-asset divorces, and also advise on complex children law issues.
Robin Charrot arrived from Stowe Family Law LLP to lead the team at George Davies Solicitors LLP, contributing significantly to the firm’s increased workload on domestic and international matters.
Elizabeth Tait is the only partner in Irwin Mitchell LLP’s team in Manchester, and continues to advise on large volumes of high-quality work.
Morecrofts LLP has a sizeable team in the region covering all aspects of family law, from divorce through to adoption. Managing partner Helen Broughton also specialises in family law.
Russell Jones & Walker inherited a 15-strong family team from Gorvins in 2010, headed by Amanda McAlister, who specialises in complex divorce and ancillary relief matters. She and Sarah Thompson are both recommended.
The experienced team at SAS Daniels LLP includes Shelley Hesford, who is ‘pragmatic and forthright’; and Liz Bottrill, who is ‘supportive, innovative and straightforward’. Recent work includes acting in an international divorce and financial settlement.
There is a substantial amount of experience within the small team at Cullimore Dutton, led by Diana Williams.
Gorvins lost most of its family team to the Manchester city practice of Russell Jones & Walker. The remaining team is led by Sally Leaman.
Beverley McCluskey leads the team at Hague Lambert.
JMW Solicitors LLP saw the arrival of the experienced Patricia Cottrell from Halliwells.
James Maguire at James Maguire & Co is a ‘perfectionist, with warmth, intellectuality, perception and verve’. He acts for medium to high-net-worth individuals, and specialises in cases with an international dimension.
Nick Lewis heads the team at KBL.
The practice at Slater Heelis includes a collaborative law service. Head of department Mike Hamlin is also a Deputy District Judge.
Angela Woods at Walker Smith Way sits as a Deputy District Judge and a Specialist Judge in private family law cases.
Personal tax, trusts and probate
Personal tax, trusts and probate
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- Addleshaw Goddard LLP Manchester
- Brabners Chaffe Street LLP Liverpool, Manchester, Preston
- DWF LLP Liverpool, Manchester
- Hill Dickinson LLP Liverpool, Manchester
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- Aaron & Partners LLP Chester
- George Davies Solicitors LLP Manchester
- JMW Solicitors LLP Manchester
- Kuit Steinart Levy LLP Manchester
- Mills & Reeve LLP Manchester
- Pannone LLP Manchester
- Weightmans LLP Knutsford, Manchester, Liverpool
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- Forbes Preston
- Gorvins Stockport
- Laytons Manchester
- Neil Myerson LLP Manchester
- SAS Daniels LLP Macclesfield
- Stephensons Solicitors LLP Leigh
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- Cullimore Dutton Chester
- Hibberts LLP Nantwich
- Knights solicitors llp Alderley Edge
- Lawson Coppock & Hart Manchester
Highlights for Addleshaw Goddard LLP included advising on restructuring offshore trusts and wills, for Indian clients with cross-border issues and a UK business worth over £100m. Alan Sturrock leads the team, and is ably supported by Sean Williams and Jane Lee.
The already strong team at Brabners Chaffe Street LLP was bolstered by the firm’s merger with David Bishop & Co, bringing trusts, wills and tax specialist David Bishop, and the hire of David McGurnaghan from Halliwells. Mark Feeny, Duncan Bailey and David Renison are all highly recommended.
The ‘progressive and innovative’ DWF LLP recently hired the ‘fantastic’ Graham Ball to head its private client team. Previously with NatWest, Ball has over 30 years’ experience in the private banking and wealth management sector, giving the team a commercial insight into all financial matters. The practice was also boosted by the firm’s merger with niche firm Lane-Smith & Shindler LLP, welcoming five fee-earners including the well-known and highly regarded Geoffrey Shindler OBE, and Paul Davies, who is a longstanding member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.
Hill Dickinson LLP recently acquired a team of four from Halliwells’ private client practice, including Carol Mason, who adds expertise in trusts and estate work. The team is experienced in providing both onshore and offshore trusts and tax advice to high-net-worth individuals based in the UK or overseas.
Recent work for the strong team at Aaron & Partners LLP includes advising on an agricultural estate administration, involving an ongoing trust; and lifetime succession planning with a landed estate. Head of the team Clive Pointon is well known for his work as a Court of Protection panel receiver. David Cooney left to join Gorvins.
George Davies Solicitors LLP has a growing reputation for advising on personal injury trusts, and advises on tax-saving and asset protection will structures which are compliant with shari’ah law. Practice head Tony Hall is recommended.
Ged Wilson and Elaine Roche at JMW Solicitors LLP both act as professional deputies in Court of Protection matters. Roche has also been advising various SMEs regarding IHT-efficient business structuring; and Gerard recently advised on a multimillion-pound personal injury trust.
Kuit Steinart Levy LLP acts for many high-net-worth individuals, including leading sports personalities and professionals. Robert Levy’s experience includes advising on the HMRC’s Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility. Graham Wood heads the team.
Mills & Reeve LLP attracted numerous client referrals in 2010, many from leading accountancy practices, private banks and local financial advisers. Associate and practice head Deborah Clark provides complex personal tax and estate planning advice to entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals.
Liz Braude heads the practice at Pannone LLP. The core wills, trusts and probate team has a sizeable and dedicated Court of Protection practice led by Hugh Jones, and also benefits from a small group of experienced independent financial advisers, as well as Lindsay Kinnealy’s expertise in international property matters.
Recent additions to the ‘superior’ team at Weightmans LLP include two associates from George Davies Solicitors LLP, and associate Jane Gray.
Practice head Ian Howard and associate Victoria Motley at Forbes ‘empathise well with clients’, and are ‘very approachable, without using excessive jargon’. The team offers advice on smaller matters as well as larger, more complex cases.
Gorvins offers a full service and works closely with local organisations to provide advice to elderly clients, younger people with capacity issues, and bereaved families. David Cooney joined the team from Aaron & Partners LLP.
London-based Ian Burman leads the team at Laytons and specialises in estate planning for high-net-worth individuals, and probate and succession including contentious probate and trust management.
Neil Myerson LLP has been particularly busy advising on the administration of high-value estates. Amanda Freeman joined the team to work alongside practice head Virginia Taylor.
SAS Daniels LLP is known for its work for elderly clients. Other recent work includes advising on estate administrations; and deputyship applications. Clients describe the team as ‘first class’ and ‘large enough to cover all areas of private client work’.
Olwen Williams at Stephensons Solicitors LLP has seen an increase in mental incapacity work, and has a dedicated specialist dealing with inheritance tax disputes.