Hall Of Fame

Personal tax, trusts and probate: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 in South East

Blandy & Blandy LLP

Praised by clients for its 'knowledge, communication and professionalism', Blandy & Blandy LLP works with a number of clients on a host of matters, ranging from wills and estate planning to proceedings taken before the Court of Protection. 'Professional, discreet, and knowledgeable', Jonathan Gater is known for his expertise in trust and estate administration, Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection work. Department manager Caroline Casagranda regularly advises on the preparation of Wills, estate and Inheritance Tax planning, probate and estate administration and lasting powers of attorney, while Elizabeth Short 'excels at making complex probate matters easily understood'. Other names to note include Louise Nelson and Kelly Chandler. All named lawyers are based in Reading.

Practice head(s):

Jonathan Gater; Caroline Casagranda


Other key lawyers:

Elizabeth Short; Louise Nelson; Kelly Chandler


Testimonials

‘Timely and clear communication. Human approach.’

‘Louise Nelson is a wonderful partner. She is efficient, provides very comprehensive information and very personable.’

‘The team are a pleasure to work with and are very much part of the business community.’

‘All excellent lawyers and a pleasure to work alongside for our clients long term needs.’

‘Jonathan Gater is my main contact, I find him professional, discreet, knowledgeable and always up to date with rule changes. He is proactive and would get in touch from time to time to keep me update with changing rules.’

‘Their knowledge, communication and professionalism is the best I have come across in nearly 40 years of working in a connected industry.’

‘Elizabeth Short excels at making complex probate matters easily understood, is readily contactable and proactively contacts clients to keep them updated on progress.’

‘Caroline Casagranda, Jonathan Gater, Elizabeth Short and Louise Nelson are all approachable, clear and knowledgable, providing a personal service.’

Work highlights


Boodle Hatfield LLP

Boodle Hatfield LLP‘s Oxford-based private client practice is renowned for representing high-end clients on a range of complex mandates, specialising across landed estates, arts and luxury assets, philanthropy, international high-net-worth individuals, family businesses and probate work. Natasha Hassell leads the team alongside Andrea Zavos, with the former focusing her practice on highly complex long-term estate planning, handling both onshore and offshore trusts, tax planning, and wills. Eleanor Sepanski deals with all aspects of onshore UK tax, private client and trust work.

Practice head(s):

Andrea Zavos; Natasha Hassall


Other key lawyers:

Eleanor Sepanski; Sally Harlow


Work highlights


Field Seymour Parkes LLP

Highly experienced private client lawyer Rob Crowther heads the team at Field Seymour Parkes LLP, which  has a demonstrably strong track record across the entire spectrum of lifetime advisory and tax issues. Crowther focuses his own practice on providing specialist asset protection and intricate tax planning advice. Tax comprises a core pillar of the group’s work – specifically inheritance tax and capital gains tax planning. Partner Ben Oliver is a go-to name for such matters, as a member of both the Association of Taxation Technicians, and the Chartered Institute of Taxation. Sue Vandersteen also comes highly recommended, known for guiding clients through complicated lifetime planning and advising in relation to wealth preservation and inheritance tax mitigation.

Practice head(s):

Rob Crowther


Other key lawyers:

Sue Vandersteen; Ben Oliver; Mandy Clarke; Olly Davidson


Testimonials

‘They are a small and nimble team with real expertise and strategic vision. They work together well and offer excellent client service.’

‘Rob Crowther and Ben Oliver work very well together. They are a strong team – two very good private client lawyers with a sense of humour and a true passion for the clients.’

‘The team at Field Seymour Parkes LLP is an efficient and extremely knowledgeable department. They are a safe pair of hands for any standard matters but can equally find pragmatic and valid solutions to more complex issues including at an international level.’

‘The wills, tax and trusts team at Field Seymour Parkes LLP has an in-built human dimension with, at the helm of this exceptional quality, Rob Crowther and Ben Oliver always treating their clients with respect and kindness.’

‘Very caring and professional team with wide range of experience able to deal with complex estates.’

‘Always on top of their game with very broad and deep knowledge of matters and clients.’

Work highlights


Freeths LLP

Freeths LLP‘s private client service division specialises across all aspects of trusts, estates and tax, Court of Protection, private litigation and residential conveyancing. Oxford-based Sarah Foster  heads up the team. Nigel Roots is well known for managing complex inter-generational wealth structures and trust reorganisations, while Louise Lewis undertakes estate planning for high-net-worth individuals as well as on administration post-death. Lisa Mark-Bell is another important port of call, receiving client praise for being ‘practical, pragmatic and dedicated to finding solutions for her clients’, and specialising in providing bespoke trust advice to HNW trusts, including landed estates.

Practice head(s):

Sarah Foster


Other key lawyers:

Nigel Roots; Louise Lewis; Lisa Mark-Bell


Testimonials

‘I feel that Louise Lewis and her team are immensely supportive and caring about the position that their clients are in and incredibly kind. She is an exceptional person and that radiates through her team. All very smart and diligent practitioners who make sure that the work is explained and gets done with sympathy and speed.’

‘I know that I am supported and cared about whilst making rather difficult decisions with my family.’

‘Louise Lewis clearly has a strong academic interest in the law she practises and I am aware that she has spoken at and led conferences. She will say if she wants to consult a colleague on a particular question and will tell me if she has new advice to offer as a result. Perhaps above all she brings to what are often difficult topics great human sympathy and understanding of family life.’

‘Dedicated, committed team. Creative and thoughtful, highly responsive, clear and transparent billing, very solutions oriented, great personal touch, and passionate about supporting their clients.’

‘Louise Lewis, an outstanding, highly articulate and dedicated lawyer who is passionate about supporting her clients and providing solutions and value, is a thoughtful and a collaborative problem solver, generous with her time, and very approachable in her working style. Louise is a complete pleasure to work with and a stand-out lawyer working in a very strong partnership.’

‘Lisa Mark-Bell was very professional and knowledgeable in advising me on my will, which had several international aspects. She was also very personable and listened to my questions and responded to them in a way I could, as a lay person, understand. The will was done and dusted within a week and I would highly recommend her.’

‘The Oxford office has a good team of experts able to help potential private and rural clients with all their personal and property needs whether that be a well drafted will, some specialist trust advice or a property transactions ranging from the simple house sale to a more complex transaction involving development or commercial land. They are fast and efficient.’

‘Lisa Mark Bell is very approachable and easy to work with. Practical, pragmatic and dedicated to finding solutions for her clients. She is friendly and efficient.’

Work highlights


Gardner Leader LLP

Gardner Leader LLP is well-known for its capacity to handle complex wills, tax, and estate administration work. Advising high-net-worth individuals on tax planning strategies to minimise potential inheritance tax, and administering significant family trusts are the core specialisms of the team. Jolyon Barton continues to head the inheritance protection team, which is also well-known for its work with vulnerable clients. Penny Wright is a key name for such matters, and focuses her practice on tax planning, wills, incapacity issues and trusts. Elsewhere, Niamh Minihane's strength lies in will drafting and associated issues, especially on matters that involve elderly clients.

Practice head(s):

Jolyon Barton


Other key lawyers:

Penny Wright; Richard Mead; Niamh Minihane; Lucy Butcher; Marie Verney; Hannah Walbridge


Testimonials

‘Well-rounded regional practice able to cover all aspects of private client work in a professional and efficient manner.’

‘This team are very professional and knowledgeable, but balance this with humanity. They are extremely kind and empathetic in dealing with vulnerable clients in the appropriate way for each circumstance. They key capabilities are their ability to equally deal with complex and technical, but also simple and straight forward, adapting their style to suit each circumstance.’

‘Penny Wright and Marie Verney particularly stand out. Both have superb technical knowledge and a strong ability to adapt their styles with patience and compassion to the client in question. Both are extremely good with vulnerable clients and circumstances, moving at a pace to suit the client and the circumstance.’

Work highlights


Blake Morgan LLP

Blake Morgan LLP is known for having the bandwidth to handle the full spectrum of traditional succession and tax services, particularly those involving multiple jurisdictions and overseas assets. Practice leader Susannah Treherne is a go-to name for estate planning and estate administration, and is an expert on cases involving diminished mental capacity. James Greig is a key contact for trusts, high-end probate and inheritance tax planning, whilst senior associate and notary public Kathryn Woodward continues to focus her practice on inheritance tax planning and administering high-net-worth estates.

Practice head(s):

Susannah Treherne


Other key lawyers:

James Greig; Kathryn Woodward; Mary Mulhern; Stephen Evans; Andrew Lane


Work highlights


Irwin Mitchell

Sarah Phillips leads the Thames Valley private client offering at Irwin Mitchell and, as the point of contact for all things related to inter-generational wealth, has a robust track record for representing high-net-worth individuals, alongside business and C-suite executives. ‘Brilliant legal mind’ Stewart Stretton-Hill  focuses on advising high net-worth individuals on legal, tax and practical issues in diminished mental capacity cases – he is the firm’s national lead for Later Life and chairs the elderly and vulnerable client technical committee. Sarah Paton advises on complex wills, trusts and wealth protection matters.

Practice head(s):

Sarah Phillips


Other key lawyers:

Stewart Stretton-Hill; Sarah Paton; Alistair Robertson-Gopffarth


Testimonials

‘Everyone from the team with whom I have had contact, and who has worked on my behalf has been friendly, positive, encouraging and efficient.’

‘Sarah Phillips and her team have a breadth of knowledge and a well-resourced team. They are approachable, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with delivering the best outcomes for our clients.’

‘Sarah Phillips and Stewart Stretton-Hill are not only lovely people but very much at the top of their game and a pleasure to work with.’

‘Excellent legal knowledge particularly of complex legal issues.’

‘Stewart Stretton-Hill has a brilliant legal mind combined with a rare compassion and understanding for his clients and of their wider welfare requirements.’

Work highlights


RWK Goodman

RWK Goodman is well known for its high-end tax and estate planning offering, in addition to expertise in off-shore tax planning and agricultural sector-specific know-how. Tom Gilman heads up the team, with his practice emphasising estate planning and complex trust structures whilst also acting as a trustee of family and charitable trusts. Chris Wilson is also an important port of call at partner level – he excels on complicated tax planning matters and increasingly handles sophisticated trust arrangements on behalf of high-net-worth families.

 

Practice head(s):

Tom Gilman


Other key lawyers:

Chris Wilson


Work highlights


SE-Solicitors

The private client team fielded by SE-Solicitors comes recommended for its ability to provide ‘niche expert advice' and a 'realistic commercial feel'. Private wealth, court of protection, and contentious trusts and probate are among the team’s niche specialties in the space. Lucy Gordon is an expert on matters pertaining to agriculture alongside representing high-net-worth individuals. Founding partner David Endicott is a pre-eminent practitioner in the Thames Valley, and handles all aspects of wills, trusts, charity and tax issues.

Practice head(s):

Lucy Gordon


Other key lawyers:

David Endicott; Tom McInerney


Testimonials

‘Very knowledgeable, yet able to make this knowledge very accessible to lay person. Very personable professionals who are also friendly and warm and show real empathy.’

‘Lucy Gordon is a standout and runs a good team. You get niche expert advice without incurring London prices. All work is done efficiently and with a realistic commercial feel.’

‘Lucy Gordon has a wealth of experience and is a good communicator. Her pragmatic approach to trust and estate matters mean that the client can expect to receive sound advice and roll out at a competitive price. Because Lucy and her team will action the advice the client is not left wondering how they should act on the advice received. Thus they will receive an end-to-end solution.’

‘Lucy Gordon provided invaluable professional expertise with her advice and practical guidance throughout the process.’

‘Lucy’s approach and manner were always highly professional and proficient, though warm and empathetic. She and her team ensured that all the stages of the administration process proceeded smoothly and as swiftly as possible.’

‘The team had excellent client engagement from start to finish, explaining options and directing us to the service most appropriate for our situation. They had a very personal approach, understood our needs and were extremely responsive.’

‘Lucy Gordon is always excellent in her standard of advice, her manner and the efficiency in which the work is produced. An excellent service.’

‘Well established and knowledgeable team. Good communications and understanding of customer requirements.’

Work highlights


The Burnside Partnership

Boutique firm The Burnside Partnership comes recommended as ‘highly esteemed, with a national reputation for the quality of their work’ and handles the full-range of private client work, with particular emphasis on tax, trusts, wills and estate planning. Team leader and co-founding partner Anna Burnside is highly experienced in the space and is a full member of STEP. Alison Craggs is a key contact for trusts, probate and power of attorney work.

Practice head(s):

Anna Burnside


Other key lawyers:

Alison Craggs; Daniel Vernede; Kate Allred; Joanna Ensor


Testimonials

‘The practice is highly esteemed, with a national reputation for the quality of their work. They provide a high-end service to rival any other private client practices.’

‘The Burnside Partnership is committed to growth, with a dedicated and dynamic management team. As a female-led firm, they are leading the way in terms of innovation, with particular focus on apprenticeships and a passion for encouraging and supporting social mobility.’

‘The team is superbly put together, showing professionalism and personality in equal measure, whether at their Oxford or Marlow offices. We have been thoroughly impressed with their level of expertise, responsiveness, understanding and attention to our clients’ needs and goals.

Work highlights


  • Advising multiple generations of the same family in relation to a multi-million pound estate and their own personal tax affairs.
  • Acting as administrator in a complex multi-million pound estate with highly technical tax issues, sensitively managing numerous beneficiaries with differing needs.
  • Advising in relation to a complex trust for a client soon to become UK domiciled and overseeing the trust’s creation.

BDB Pitmans

BDB Pitmans' private client practice sees frequent advisory work across will structures and lasting power of attorney matters, alongside probate and trust administration on behalf of ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Sheilagh Magee heads the team, focusing on estate administration, powers of attorney, wills and trusts. Alexander Morgan runs a broad practice and is a go-to name for managing exposure to inheritance tax.

Practice head(s):

Sheilagh Magee


Other key lawyers:

Alexander Morgan; Sarah Giles; William Jonathan Andrews


Testimonials

‘The individuals put the client at ease. Sheilagh Magee has a great personality and is very approachable.’

‘Sheilagh Magee is a very nice person who is pragmatic and robust in her approach, which is appreciated by us in our dealings with her.’

‘The Reading office is very innovative in its use of technology and offers a comprehensive service for its lay and professional clients.’

‘Sheilagh Magee is very impressive. Very customer focussed and she has excellent oral and written communication skills. Totally committed to the ongoing needs of her Court of Protection patients.’

‘Very prompt at answering client’s questions and concerns.’

‘Alexander Morgan is particularly proficient in the complex area of foreign law. Highly recommended and very “tech-savvy”.’

Work highlights


Boyes Turner

Paul Lowery leads an ‘exceptional’ wills, trusts and probate team at Boyes Turner, focusing on landed estate administration, onshore trusts – particularly trusts for vulnerable persons – and general estate planning on behalf of high-net-worth individuals. Senior associate and chartered legal executive Ally Tow is another key point of contact.

Practice head(s):

Paul Lowery


Other key lawyers:

Ally Tow; Sophie Martin; Hemisha Patel


Testimonials

‘Boyes Turner is an exceptional firm: demonstrating not just competence and knowledge, yet also personal communication indicating true care and interest in their clients.’

‘All individuals whom I worked with, inclusive of Paul Lowery and Sophie Martin, were highly capable, deeply versed in law, and understanding of each individual’s needs.’

‘The personal touch was also a unique part of the excellence in this firm, where I felt that my own case was given the same priority as large wealthy clients. I always felt supported and that my case would be concluded with success.’

‘Paul Lowery was an excellent solicitor from the start of my case. Paul took time for our intake call: never rushing or indicating any time pressure and walked me through the parameters of my case and set expectations for the future.’

‘Sophie Martin was highly competent and knowledgeable: she clearly set expectations of what my case involved and whenever I asked a question, took time to carefully email with clarity and precision. I deeply appreciated the fact that I could ask basic questions and would have them answered.’

Work highlights


Brethertons LLP

Brethertons LLP handles high-value estate administration, trust creation, court of protection work and will drafting. Three lawyers head the team: tax specialist Emma Stewart handles complex estate administration out of the Bicester office. She leads in conjunction with Sarah Horton, a key name for wills, trusts and powers of attorney. In the Rugby office, Laura Stuart assists clients in managing all aspects of their estates.

Practice head(s):

Sarah Horton; Emma Stewart; Laura Stuart


Other key lawyers:

Holly Waddelow; Annabel Burchett


Testimonials

‘This firm has a very caring attitude towards their clients in my experience. They are very approachable and deliberately avoid the pretentious language and austere image often associated with the legal profession. They have moved away from a more transactional style of work to rebuild the more traditional values of building supportive and long term relationships with their clients.’

‘Emma Stewart genuinely cares about each of her clients and leads her team well.’

‘The advice-giving practitioners are all well educated, bright and perceptive. They’ve consistently demonstrated an ability to listen where appropriate, rather than overwhelm the client by dominating the conversation. I like the fact they deliver advice in an accessible way, using language that is proportionate to the client circumstances and background. I value that approachability because it gives confidence to clients that it’s not a short-term transactional relationship.’

Work highlights


Harrison Clark Rickerbys

Harrison Clark Rickerbys excels when it comes to inheritance tax planning and estate administration, providing counsel to both domestic and global clients, including non-domiciled and non-UK resident clients, as well as landed estates. Emma McCarthy is the key name in the Thames Valley with her practice emphasising wills and lasting powers of attorney, alongside estate planning and administration.

Other key lawyers:

Emma McCarthy


Testimonials

‘Emma McCarthy was marvellous. She is very professional, knowledgeable, precise and extremely kind.’

‘Excellent service.’

‘Emma McCarthy offers clients reassurance and confidence in every instance.’

‘Emma McCarthy is professional, knowledgeable and listens to clients needs.’

Work highlights


Winckworth Sherwood LLP

Winckworth Sherwood LLP has seen a flurry of activity across trusts, high-net-worth estate planning, probate and high-net-worth residential matters. Philip Collins is the stand-out practitioner as head of practice, and is an expert on contentious work involving estate administration, trusts and challenges to wills.

Practice head(s):

Philip Collins


Other key lawyers:

Alison Talbot; Samantha Warner


Testimonials

‘We are confident that we have a firm of solicitors we can trust in Winckworth Sherwood, who will give us the time to explain things clearly and who will be there to support our children if necessary in carrying out our wishes.’

‘Samantha Warner has seen us through the updating of our wills and putting in place Powers of Attorney. Relevant background information was collected via an online form, face to face meetings helped to clarify our wishes and the process of P o A was explained clearly. Fees for the work were always clearly presented beforehand and the payment process worked efficiently.’

Philip Collins is a particularly able litigator who is loved by clients.

Work highlights