The Legal 500

United Kingdom > Wales > Private client

Editorial sections

Other

All countries

Agriculture and estates: Mid Wales

Gabb and Co offers ‘good advice’ on commercial, planning and development issues. David Lloyd and David Vaughan handle agricultural property matters.

Margraves’ Clive Margrave-Jones specialises in trusts and estates matters, handling planning and management issues as well as disputes.

Morris & Bates advises on a range of agricultural issues, including commercial tenancies, licensing and the establishment of farming partnerships.

Agriculture and estates: South Wales

‘Developing an excellent reputation’, JCP Solicitors’ recent work has focused on SPS (Single Payment Scheme) appeals, with a successful representation at a high-profile appeal brought by the Assembly Government. Practice head Rory Hutchings and associate Dr Nerys Llewelyn Jones are ‘approachable, understand clients’ needs and will go that “extra mile” to be of assistance’.

Morgan LaRoche Limited has ‘strong technical ability’, with William Waters noted for his ‘extensive local knowledge’ and experience advising on large estate portfolios. Recent instructions include SPS entitlement claims, and a High Court security of tenure 
case.

Ungoed-Thomas & King advises on management and commercial issues for large estates. The Hon Adam Bruce is well regarded, and acts for business owners and farmers. The practice continues to advise The St Davids Diocesan Board of Finance.

Edward Harris Solicitor is ‘an expert in the field, giving fantastic advice and a very thorough service’, and recently won a rights of way dispute at appeal.

Harding Evans LLP is led by Welsh speaker Wyn Williams. It recently advised on land transfer matters relating to local authority road building schemes.

Hutchinson Thomas advises landowners and farming clients. Huw Jones advises on commercial issues, including renewables. Consultant Ieuan Morris’ expertise includes common land and village green matters.

Agriculture and estates: North Wales

Gamlins utilises its partnership with the FUW to advise on commercial issues.

Richard Williams leads the team at Walker Smith Way, acting on land and estate transactions. Recent matters include renewable planning developments, partnership disputes and landlord/tenant issues.

Chester-based Aaron & Partners LLP acts for owners and tenant farmers on commercial and property matters. Clients include Denbighshire Council and NatWest. Richard Forrester leads the team.

Charities

Geldards LLP is ‘recognised by the voluntary sector/charities across Wales to be the best in its field’. Charity law specialist Giselle Davies is ‘clearly expert in her area, providing knowledgeable and sound advice as required’. Clients include the Assembly Government, the Arts Council for Wales, Age Cymru and Children in Wales. Recent work includes mergers, incorporations and the establishment of new charities.

Gamlins’ John Blakesley advises local and regional charities on applications and commercial issues.

Hugh James’ cross-departmental team is led by managing partner Alun Jones. It advises on contentious and non-contentious matters, including establishing new charities and trustee duties. Clients include churches, housing associations, Wales Air Ambulance Charitable Trust, and Carmarthen Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

Hutchinson Thomas advises ecclesiastical charities on property-related issues as well as local charitable bodies such as Mencap and Hafal.

Aaron & Partners LLP’s Simon Ellis handles non-contentious charity matters.

Family: Cardiff

Hugh James’ ‘very strong and experienced team’ is led by Malcolm Stevens, who specialises in matrimonial finance and has an ‘excellent, client-focused attitude, and is commercial: a very safe pair of hands’. Stevens recently acted in a complex case involving multimillion-pound overseas assets. The ‘very experienced and very well-respected’ Alun Thomas specialises in abduction work.

‘Proactive’ and ‘professional’, Wendy Hopkins 
Family Law Practice acts for high-net-worth clients including business and sports professionals. Melanie Hamer is ‘practical yet compassionate’, advising on complex divorces for high-profile clients; Thea Hughes specialises in financial issues; and Rhian Howells and David James ‘provide extremely prompt, clear and practical advice’ on children issues. Newly promoted partner Sarah Wyburn handles civil partnership issues.

Berry Smith’s Katie McColgan acts for Cardiff-based clients, and has experience in high-value matrimonial issues.

At Hopkins Law, divorce specialist Wendy Hopkins acts for high-profile clients, and Kerry Mordey is an accredited specialist in domestic violence, cohabitation and child law matters.

Howells Solicitors’ Margaret Phillips has experience in high-value, complex cases.

Hutton’s focuses on children law issues. It also has experience in forced marriage and domestic violence issues.

At Leo Abse & Cohen, associates Anne Broughton and Matthew Johnson handle international family and child abduction matters.

Martyn Prowel’s Bob Edwards undertakes privately funded work.

Family: South and Mid Wales

Berry Smith’s practice head Katie McColgan is now an accredited specialist in domestic violence issues. The Bridgend team serves clients across South Wales on high-value matrimonial finance disputes and international children law 
issues.

Douglas-Jones Mercer’s practice is led by Nicola Conley, who came from The Gwyn George Partnership following Beverley Webb’s departure to JCP Solicitors, and focuses on privately funded cases. Associate Richard Scott handles cohabitation disputes.

Harding Evans LLP’s ‘very knowledgeable’ team is led by Ceri Price, who acts on multimillion-pound settlements and property issues. The childcare team advises on complex issues such as illegal child removal.

Hutchinson Thomas is ‘good, proactive and responsive, with a strong support team’. Robert 
Williams is ‘a lawyer you want on your side: very experienced, positive, very focused and honourable’, and acts for high-net-worth individuals. Newly 
promoted partner Debbie Richards leads the childcare team, and ‘in court demonstrates her superior knowledge and skill – more than matching barristers’. The firm hired children law specialists Fay Griffiths from The Gwyn George Partnership and Rachel Pudner from Avery Naylor.

JCP Solicitors focuses on high-net-worth individuals, cohabitation disputes and Children Act private law proceedings. Practice head Sali Jackson-Thomas mediates on property and finance issues. Consultant Beverley Webb joined from Douglas-Jones Mercer.

‘The equal of most city centre practices in Wales’, Watkins & Gunn’s main focus remains vulnerable children and adults. Practice head Sophie Hughes is ‘always on the ball and thinking ahead, rather than letting events dictate her approach’. Hughes is a collaborative lawyer and remains the only accredited specialist in Wales for small and large financial cases.

Avery Naylor focuses on public and private children law issues. Lynne Naylor provides ‘good service’ on care proceedings.

Gabb and Co undertakes privately funded work.

Goldstones handles public and private children law matters. Pamela Bateman handles privately funded work.

Graham Evans & Partners’ practice is led by Gaynor Dickens and handles general family law matters.

Howells Solicitors has strong links with local police authorities, offering advice to members on divorce issues.

Larby Williams Solicitors’ practice head Frances Williams advises on property-related issues.

Passmores Solicitors handles publicly funded work with a focus on childcare. It is the only Wales firm with accreditation to the Child Abduction Panel, with work led by Catherine Roblin. Collaborative lawyer Sally Matthews is ‘knowledgable, professional, helpful, and never flustered’, and a well-regarded specialist in domestic violence issues.

Red Kite Law’s Rhian Davies specialises in privately funded financial matters.

Valerie Henley leads at Rubin Lewis O’Brien LLP, which partially rebranded under the ‘QualitySolicitors’ 
name.

Sally Goldstone Family Law acts for high-net-worth local clients, and recently handled a range of complex children law issues, including international abduction matters.

Smith Llewelyn Partnership’s Graham Jones is recommended for public law childcare matters.

Ungoed-Thomas & King’s Huw Owen handles contentious matrimonial matters. The team acts for a number of high-net-worth individuals.

Family: North Wales

Allington Hughes Solicitors is led by collaborative lawyer Alison Brebner, advising on finance and contentious children law matters.

John Hoult leads Gamlins’ practice from Rhyl. Sally Henderson handles children law and domestic violence issues.

At Walker Smith Way, collaborative lawyer Rachel Wynn Jones is ‘extremely professional and well prepared, and a strong advocate’, and specialises in agricultural divorces.

Aaron & Partners LLP’s well-regarded team advises on complex farming partnerships. Associate Elisabeth Pugh is a Welsh speaker.

Personal tax, trusts and probate

Geldards LLP’s Sian Williams and trusts and estates specialist Helen Downes are appointed to the Camelot Advisory Panel for lottery winners. The team recently acted on a number of complex, high-value estates involving overseas and business assets.

Hugh James’ ‘efficient, highly skilled team offers an extremely competent service’. Clients include high-value, high-profile and vulnerable members of society. Managing partner Alun Jones advises high street banks; and Lynn Wheeldon and senior associate Sarah Cash handle high-value, complex trusts and estates. ‘Experts in their field’ on the contentious side, Wiljo Salen and senior associate Matthew Evans act for various trust corporations and charities.

Hutchinson Thomas has ‘very sound business acumen, gives thorough advice and employs a sensitivity which is very much appreciated’. Practice head Jennifer Melly has ‘a fine technical knowledge of and a sound instinctive grasp of issues’, and advises a number of London-based high-net-worth clients. The highly regarded Rhian Williams became a STEP member in 2010, and ‘has a very gentle and human nature that makes it easy to relate to her’. ‘Extremely knowledgeable’ ACTAPS member Simon Thomas recently acted in a ‘leave to swear death’ case.

Gabb and Co’s specialist team, led by consultant Mike Stock, undertakes a wealth of private client matters, including contentious probate, and has experience representing high-profile clients.

JCP Solicitors is led by Court of Protection specialist Amanda Rees. Tax and trusts specialist Allison Kent advises business and agricultural clients, while Neil Jacobi handles contentious work. The practice hired associate Chris Shaw from Neath-based Probert & Gray Solicitors, who handles estate administration matters.

Morgan Cole acts for public and private sector clients. The practice is now led by Claire Johnson, who joined from Leo Abse & Cohen, with former head Richard Hale now a consultant. Jean Abell supports on wills, probate and inheritance tax matters.

Allington Hughes Solicitors’ senior partner David Parry leads on private client matters. Steve Davies heads the estates administration team.

Berry Smith’s practice head Chris Beames focuses on estate planning and trusts for commercial property clients.

Dolmans Solicitors focuses on wills and inheritance tax planning matters.

Douglas-Jones Mercer’s team is led by Jonathan Powell, with areas of focus including powers of attorney, Court of Protection matters, and Islamic wills.

Francis & Co focuses on elderly client issues.

Gamlins advises on powers of attorney, inheritance tax planning, wills and probate.

Harding Evans LLP’s Paul Lindsey is ‘a very capable lawyer, with an in-depth knowledge of the Trustee Acts and the legal system in probate’. The team has experience advising business and agricultural clients. Former practice head Bethan Owen left to set up her own practice.

Hopkins Law particularly focuses on elderly client issues.

Claire Davis leads Howells Solicitors’ practice, with Alison Huggins specialising in advising elderly clients.

Leo Abse & Cohen’s team is led by Lisa Davies, who came from Rubin Lewis O’Brien LLP and replaced Claire Johnson, who left for Morgan Cole.

Niche practice Margraves offers a depth of expertise, drawing clients from within and outside the region.

Passmores Solicitors offers expertise in elderly client issues.

Red Kite Law provides ‘first-class service, and industry knowledge that is second to none’; Tim Haggar ‘always goes the extra mile and has good all-round knowledge’, and the highly regarded Steve Meredith advises high-net-worth clients.

Smith Llewelyn Partnership’s practice is led by Peter Smith, and handles wills, probate and trusts.

The well-regarded team at Ungoed-Thomas & King is led by The Hon Adam Bruce and Welsh speaker Carys Owen. Clients include large local business owners and farming clients.

Walker Smith Way is well regarded for its knowledgeable team and personable client service. Lisa Jones advised on Court of Protection applications.

At Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice, Dianne Evans’ client base includes vulnerable people and high-net-worth individuals, with a focus on elderly care. The practice assists with trusts for minor and disabled beneficiaries as well as probate matters.

Search News and Articles

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • COUNCIL TAX

    In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.
    - 11KBW

  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

    Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.
    - 11KBW

  • Standards

    In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.
    - 11KBW

  • A justified retrospective

    Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation
    - 11KBW

  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

    In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:
    - 11KBW

  • Public Sector Equality Duty

    Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.
    - 11KBW

  • Judicial Review

    The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.
    - 11KBW

  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

    After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
    - 11KBW

  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue:
    - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

  • Premium service for tier 2 and 5 sponsors to be launched

    A premium service for sponsors will be launched by the UKBA on 6 April 2012. The service is designed specifically for companies that sponsor international employees under tier 2 and 5 of the points based system and aims to provide them with enhanced support.
    - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
© 2012 www.legal500.com