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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.

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