Next Generation Partners

Personal tax, trusts and probate in Wales

Hugh James

At Hugh James, the 'empathetic and professional' Matthew Evans spearheads the firm's overarching private wealth group which has the strength-in-depth to advise individuals, financial institutions, charities and trust corporations across tremendous range and volume of contentious and non-contentious work. The 'very accomplished' Eleanor Evans heads up the firm's trusts and estates administration offering, providing a 'cost-effective and professional' service to the firm's impressive roster of financial institution and trust corporation clients. Senior associate Austin Gill  is also engaged in administration work, although his workflow is more aligned to individual clients (as opposed to fiduciary ones); he is particularly adept at ensuring IHT exemptions are properly applied and that death duty taxes are structured in an efficient manner. Led by the 'incredibly commercial' Gareth Wisdom, the firm has a traditionally strong reputation handling volume will writing for financial institution clients, while the arrival in September 2022 of Catrin Griffiths  from Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice strengthens its capacity to provide a bespoke service to high-net-worth-individuals. For litigation, Roman Kubiak is a market-leading contentious probate practitioner, whose 'charming charisma combined with a first rate intellect, and tough negotiation skills’ ensure that he is a formidable opponent both locally and nationally.


Practice head(s):

Matthew Evans


Other key lawyers:

Roman Kubiak; Eleanor Evans; Gareth Wisdom; Alun Jones; Catrin Griffiths; Austin Gill; Samantha Roberts; Ceri Webster; Kirsten Franklin; Lianne Jones


Testimonials

‘The team provides a cost-effective, responsive and solutions-oriented service.’

‘They demonstrate their technical experience and understanding of complex legal issues, and put forward practical solutions.’

‘Longstanding, professional team with great reputation and relationship with their clients. The client is at the heart of what they do.’

Mathew Evans is professional and empathetic, traits which are imbued within members of the wider team.’

Gareth Wisdom – excellent private client lawyer who is incredibly commercial, excellent at building relationships in the sector, and is ambitious and innovative.’

Eleanor Evans – very accomplished trusts and estates lawyer. She has an excellent manner with clients, fully understands the issues and has an excellent working knowledge of the law, and seeks to use this to find pragmatic solutions to assist clients.’

‘Roman Kubiak is one of the best there is! A charming charisma combined with a first rate intellect, and tough negotiation skills.’

Work highlights


Blake Morgan LLP

The ‘experienced and very professional’ team at Blake Morgan LLP has ‘a great depth of knowledge’ across succession and tax planning matters. ‘Extremely proactive’ team head Lisa Davies shows ‘real technical expertise along with practical experience‘, often drawing upon resources from complementary practice areas at the firm, to ensure that clients receive a holistic service in relation to their wealth preservation needs, in particular. Senior associate Nicky Sherrard is also recommended for estate planning matters and administration, as is ‘very professional, yet compassionate’ senior solicitor Holly Jones , including as it relates to the preparation of wills and Power of Attorney.


Practice head(s):

Lisa Davies


Other key lawyers:

Nicky Sherrard; Holly Jones


Testimonials

‘It is an experienced and very professional team with a great depth of knowledge who react quickly and efficiently to client queries. They display a willingness to think outside the box.’

‘The practice is very professional and exceptionally thorough.’

‘Lisa Davies is extremely proactive, responsible and knowledgeable. She showed a real technical expertise along with practical experience.’

‘Lisa Davies has a no-nonsense approach which the clients like – they know where they stand and have the upmost confidence that she always knows what she is talking about.’

‘Holly Jones was extremely helpful in preparing our wills and advising on POA. ’

Holly Jones was very professional, yet compassionate.’

Work highlights


Geldards LLP

Led on the wealth planning front by Anne Taylor and for trusts and estate administration work by Gillian Crouch, the ‘technically excellent’ team at Geldards LLP provides a comprehensive offering to a varied mix of clients, both on a standalone basis, as well as work which is sourced from professional referrals both inside and outside of Wales. A significant proportion of instructions flow from high-net-worth individuals, including local business owners seeking effective succession planning, as well as newly wealthy individuals as a result of the firm’s panel appointment to the operator of the UK national lottery Camelot. On the probate/administration side, the firm generates a significant amount of work from its extensive will bank as well as in a referral capacity, including from other solicitors. Senior associate Andrew Jones, who joined the firm from Hugh James in November 2021, is also recommended, and has a particular specialisation in the affairs of clients with overseas aspects to their estates.

Practice head(s):

Anne Taylor; Gillian Crouch


Other key lawyers:

Andrew Jones; Anne George; Laura Ikin; Hannah Jean


Testimonials

Geldards are first-class at listening to people concerns and explaining legal requirements in an accessible and supportive way. They are technically excellent and build good relationships and work closely with IFAs from other businesses.’

Geldards is 100% reliable and treats their clients with respect and professionally.’

Work highlights


Howells Solicitors

The ‘approachable, knowledgeable and professional’ team at Howells Solicitors has a strong reputation among individuals and wealthy families for lifetime planning and advice relating to the administration of trusts and wills. Sarah Cash heads the team that also includes the ‘very personable, considerate and diligent’ Laith Khatib, whose contentious probate background adds value in relation to complex wills and lifetime trusts designed to protect assets and/or reduce inheritance tax.

Practice head(s):

Sarah Cash


Other key lawyers:

Laith Khatib


Testimonials

‘Howells Solicitors are personable, approachable, knowledgeable and professional and have a good supporting team. Their communications are excellent and are always approachable.’

‘Laith Khatib provides first class advice.’

‘Laith Khatib is very personable, considerate and diligent guiding you through the process with skill and good judgement.’

Work highlights


JCP Solicitors

One of the largest teams in the market, JCP Solicitors has the resources to handle a significant volume and range of work for local clients throughout its growing phalanx of offices throughout South West and South East Wales which have, in recent years grown its will bank, and consequently the volume of estate administration work. Cowbridge-based head of lifetime planning, Chris Shaw ‘sets the tone for the running of the department’, adept as he is at dealing with administration of estates, as well as tax planning work for professional sports men and women, musicians and high-net-worth-individuals/business owners. Lynne Morgan  heads up the Court of Protection team and in her role as a Deputy ‘advocates the best for her clients’, which include many that the firm represented in relation to catastrophic personal injury and clinical negligence matters.


Practice head(s):

Chris Shaw; Lynne Morgan


Other key lawyers:

Michael Downey; Beverley Bowen; Sean Boucher; Arwel Davies; Ian Fudge; Joanna Fenoulhet; Jac Staddon; Rebecca Danks; Sophie Davies; Alice Rowlands


Testimonials

Straight forward talking with excellent service.’

‘They are approachable and professional. They make a complex situation simple for clients to understand.’

‘The leadership shown by Chris Shaw, really sets the tone for the running of the department.’

Work highlights


Douglas-Jones Mercer

The ’professional and approachable’ team at Douglas-Jones Mercer is adept at handling a range of estate/succession planning work, including for a ‘significant number of high-net-worth-individuals’. Team head Jonathan Powell ‘has a great way of taking very technical matters and explaining them in an easy to understand way’, ensuring that he is a popular choice in relation to complex estates, as well as succession planning for corporate clients.


Practice head(s):

Jonathan Powell


Other key lawyers:

Natalie Thomas; Jonathan Cudd


Testimonials

‘The team is professional and approachable.’

‘The team has a wealth of experience in estate planning and acts for a significant number of high-net-worth individuals. They have always been extremely knowledgeable, friendly and professional in my dealings with them.’

‘Jonathan Powell has a great way of taking very technical matters and explaining them in an easy to understand way.’

Work highlights


Harding Evans LLP

With a strong following from its Newport headquarters and a growing one in Cardiff, Harding Evans LLP provides a 'very personalised service' to clients in South East Wales on their will and Power of Attorney requirements, as well as in the subsequent administration of their estates. With the 'ability to be empathetic, yet practical', Newport-based team head Laura Selby provides 'exceptional advice' to clients, ranging from high-net-worth local business people through to vulnerable clients, where she acts in her capacity as a Professional Deputy. Associate Afonwy Howell-Pryce  spearheads the work flowing from the Cardiff office and is noted for her 'helpful, approachable and professional' service.


Practice head(s):

Laura Selby


Other key lawyers:

Afonwy Howell-Pryce


Testimonials

‘The very experienced team provides a very personalised service.’

‘The team is approachable, they put you at ease, they are professional and swift with their actions.’

‘Friendly, helpful, listened to what I wanted achieved and carried this out in a timely manner.’

Work highlights


  • Advice and preparation of a personal injury trust to receive substantial compensation due to a minor.
  • Advising a company shareholder in connection with his will, drafting will containing discretionary trust in respect of business property
  • Application for Grant of Probate in relation to an estate holding agricultural property

Harrison Clark Rickerbys

Led by the ‘responsive and well-liked’ David King and recently strengthened by the recruitment of several associates, Harrison Clark Rickerbysknowledgeable and very efficient’ team continues to grow its presence in South Wales and is frequently sought out directly by clients, as well as in a referral capacity, to advise on wealth and estate planning matters. King ‘displays excellent technical ability when involved in complex estate planning matters’, including the creation of family investment companies and lifetime trusts.


Practice head(s):

David King


Other key lawyers:

Nia Griffiths; Georgia O’Reilly


Testimonials

‘A capable team with a growing presence in South Wales.’

‘Knowledgeable and very efficient.’ 

‘They are very responsive and communicative.’ 

‘David King is responsive and well liked by clients.’

‘David King displays excellent technical ability when involved in complex estate planning matters.’

 

Work highlights


NewLaw Solicitors

The ‘technically excellent’ team at NewLaw Solicitors is a ‘safe pair of hands’ for a range of referral providers, including the Royal College of Nursing, across will writing and estate administration services (including grant only services). As well as the expertise of the individual lawyers, key to the success in some of this more commoditised work relies on the firm’s excellent use of technology to streamline the process, including an internal case management system. Katie-Anne Edwards is ‘very experienced, responsive and commercially aware’, traits which she deploys to good effect, both in a commoditised as well as a more bespoke individualised setting, including for higher-net-worth clients. Edwards is one of several within the team, including the ‘incredibly calm and patient’ Robert Thomas, who are regularly appointed as Professional Deputy to look after the finances of vulnerable clients, with many of these mandates flowing internally from the firm’s clinical negligence department.


Practice head(s):

Katie-Anne Edwards


Other key lawyers:

Robert Thomas; Amy Gray; Daniel Price; Arianne Maharg


Testimonials

The team displays a calm, measured and sympathetic approach.’

‘The team at NewLaw is technically excellent. In addition to their knowledge and expertise they are approachable and considerate of their clients. They provide an excellent service and are reliable. They are experts in a number of areas of law and a safe pair of hands.’

‘Bright, intelligent and knowledgeable. Unencumbered by tradition.’

Key clients

Royal College of Nursing


Farewill


Affinion


Work highlights


  • Receive up to 100 referrals per month from the Royal College of Nursing membership base to prepare Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Estate Planning advice.
  • Continuing to receive a significant flow of work from Farewill Ltd in the context of the administration all of their Grant only and full estate work.
  • Receiving referral work from Affinion Probate to include all of their grant only fast track and full probate case.

Red Kite Law LLP

Continuing to grow its presence throughout West Wales, as a result of organic growth and law firm acquisitions, the ‘very helpful and efficient’ team at Red Kite Law LLP has the resources and geographical breadth to handle a range of estate planning and administration matters for local clients. In this context, the firm has effectively gained trusted adviser status among the local community and is thereby instructed on the panoply of their wills and estate planning matters. Carmarthen-based team head Mathew Bowen is ‘a great non-contentious probate lawyer’ and excels in handling work for local high-net-worth individuals including many with estates with agricultural and business interests.


Practice head(s):

Mathew Bowen


Other key lawyers:

Rhodri Owen; Leanne Tremain; Rebecca Caswell; Emma Priest; Sophie Titley


Testimonials

The team is very helpful and efficient.’

‘Always pleasant to talk to, available and willing to meet face to face which does not appear to be favoured by other firms.’

Mathew Bowen is a great non-contentious probate lawyer. Always on top of his cases.’

 

Work highlights


  • Appointed by the High Court as an independent administrator following an application to have another Executor removed.
  • Instructed on a complex £4m agricultural estate with seven children beneficiaries.
  • Acted on the administration of a complex estate comprising shares and investments as well as numerous charitable gifts.

Berry Smith

At Berry Smith, 'exceptionally personable' team head Chris Beames 'imbues trust and relaxation among clients', including high-net-worth-individuals, across a range of wills, estate planning and administration matters. Beames also handles Court of Protection work and acts as a Deputy for vulnerable individuals and their families.

Practice head(s):

Chris Beames


Other key lawyers:

Georgia Evans


Testimonials

‘Chris Beames especially has an exceptionally personable manner. This imbues trust and relaxation among clients.’

Work highlights


RDP Law

The ‘friendly and approachable’ team at Newport-based firm RDP Law has a strong reputation among local clients, including high-net-worth-individuals, who have complex financial or family circumstances. Much of the estate planning and administration work originates from farming clients, where ‘highly skilled’ team head Sioned Thomas is able to advise clients through the medium of Welsh, if required.


Practice head(s):

Sioned Thomas


Other key lawyers:

Katie Love


Testimonials

They have used all their experience and cases they have dealt with to give a simple explanation of some very complex situations.’

‘The friendly and approachable team is extremely client focused. They respond to queries in a timely manner and attention detail is first class.’

Sioned Thomas is a credit to the firm in her calm and highly skilled approach.’

Work highlights