Firm Profile > Aaron & Partners LLP > Shrewsbury, England

Personal tax, trusts and probate Tier 3

Lynda Richards at Aaron & Partners LLP is known for her expertise in dealing with taxable estate issues and capital tax planning and is also a full member of STEP. Richards advises business owners, landowners and high-net-worth individuals on organising their estates to minimise exposure to inheritance tax. The team is well-regarded for its work in a number of particular areas including drafting complex wills and advising on the establishment and administration of family trusts. It also advises on various charitable trusts and acts on behalf of farmers and landowners. The practice is especially skilled at advising rural families on succession planning and business planning.

Banking and finance Tier 4

Aaron & Partners LLP undertakes an equal split of borrower and lender-side work, under the leadership of Hugh Strickland. Although corporate banking (including acquisition finance) makes up the overwhelming majority of mandates, property secured lending transactions are another strength.

Corporate and commercial: elsewhere in the West Midlands Tier 4

Family: elsewhere in the West Midlands Tier 4

Richard Barge at Aaron & Partners LLP was joined by Neil Hobden in January 2020 from Shoosmiths LLP. The skilled team is vastly experienced in high-value financial remedies and children cases. Hobden’s particular expertise is in the financial aspects of relationship breakdown. He acts for clients from across the UK and overseas from his base in Shropshire and many of his clients enjoy a high profile. A sizeable number of his cases involve business valuations, significant inherited wealth and ‘hidden assets’. Barge is collaboratively trained and does a lot of complex financial work. Sandy Edwards is no longer at the firm.

Employment Tier 5

Aaron & Partners LLP is a Shropshire-based team that advises leading employers locally as well as some national and international clients on a broad range of issues. It is also skilled at providing employment support to its corporate colleagues. The department through Ben Mason has been instructed by the Professional Footballers Association to guide footballers through their playing contracts and the termination of any such contracts. The practice advises a Welsh Premier League club too on various matters and advises several local football associations. Department head Helen Watson is an experienced tribunal advocate with Higher Rights of Audience and is particularly skilled in discrimination cases.

Agriculture and estates Tier 1

Led by Simon Ellis, Aaron & Partners LLP specialises in acting for partners and shareholders in farming and other agriculture-related businesses in partnership and shareholder disputes, as well as handling succession planning issues, basic payment scheme entitlements, agri-environment agreements, and sales and purchases of land and farms. The team also has a track record in agreements for the development of land for mineral exploitation, waste management, and renewable energy projects. Other names to note are David Harries and Shrewsbury-based associate Ben Brassington.

Commercial litigation: elsewhere in the North West Tier 1

Clients praise Aaron & Partners LLP for its ‘ability to handle any litigation matter without research time’. Among the team’s core fields of expertise are disputes relating to shareholder issues, corporate transactions, partnerships and restrictive covenants; it also handles contractual disputes, particularly those pertaining to the IT and logistics sectors. Nick Clarke heads the team, which includes John Devoy, hailed for his ‘superb attention to detail’ and David Mann who has a track record of handling cross-border disputes.

Corporate and commercial: elsewhere in the North West Tier 1

Aaron & Partners LLP's workload includes equity and debt investments, corporate finance transactions, restructurings and sales and acquisitions. Stuart Scott-Goldstone, an expert in the technology, support services and renewable energy sectors, heads the department which also includes Jamie Hawley; his key strengths encompass join ventures and general company law issues, among other corporate matters. The firm is a member of the International Advisory Group and is active on a range of cross-border matters, including many which relate to the US. In a recent highlight, the team acted for the shareholders of Roadway Civil Engineering & Surfacing Ltd on its £13.5m sale to Breedon.

Commercial property: elsewhere in the North West Tier 2

Aaron & Partners LLP's practice delivers a 'fantastic service' on development projects, covering residential, commercial and industrial, as well as agricultural holdings and estates. Simon Ellis heads up the team with a 'formidable grasp' of his areas of focus. He is noted for his expertise in the charity sector, especially in regard to ecclesiastical charities. Emma McGlinchey contributes to the practice with her experience in the retail and food retail work, acting for major regional clients such as Aldi.

Family Tier 2

Headed up by the 'excellent and dedicated' Richard Barge, Aaron & Partners LLP’s family practice primarily deals with the financial aspects of relationship breakdowns, acting for a variety of business owners, professionals, sportsmen, landowners, beneficiaries of trusts and wealthy retirees. The team specialises in drafting and advising on complex marital agreements, including pre-nuptial, post-nuptial and separation agreements. Lorraine Saunders and senior associate Simon Mawdsley are also noted for their expertise in this space.

Contentious trusts and probate Tier 3

Wills and trusts specialist Clive Pointon and litigator James Wallace jointly head up the contentious trusts and probate team at Aaron & Partners LLP. Alongside its contentious trusts work, the team specialises in Court of Protection disputes. The department also acts for a large number of high-net-worth individuals and offers clients alternative funding options.

Employment Tier 3

Aaron & Partners LLP handles a broad range of instructions, focusing on work such as restructurings and employment disputes. The 'extremely knowledgeable and high-energy' Helen Watson, a qualified workplace mediator who has Higher Rights of Audience, heads the practice, which acts for clients in the logistics, education, recruitment, leisure, travel and tourism sectors. The team is seeing an increase in instructions in relation to zero-hour contracts and other atypical contracts, as well as contracts for well-known individuals in the media and sports industries. Another name to note is Claire Brook.

Energy Tier 3

The team at Aaron & Partners LLP is praised for its ability to ‘find solutions to complex environmental, technical and planning policy issues’. The team mainly represents non-plc energy developers, especially those backed by venture finance, on everything from land and rights acquisitions through to planning advice, regulatory requirements, power purchase agreements and disposals. The ‘exemplary’ David Harries  heads the practice, leveraging his experience in renewable energy matters.

Personal tax, trusts and probate Tier 3

Aaron & Partners LLP focuses on providing capital tax advice to its high-net-worth clients, and also has a track record of assisting charitable trusts with administrations. Inheritance tax planning, estate restructuring, and wills and estate planning issues are also core areas of expertise. Court of Protection deputy Clive Pointon also has notary public status, which enables the team to deal with an increasing array of matters with multi-jurisdictional issues.

Planning and environment Tier 3

Aaron & Partners LLP's planning and environment team is 'approachable and provides solutions'. Its practice is led by David Harries, who has a strong track record in energy projects. Richard Forrester advises clients on waste-related planning matters, environmental regulations and compulsory purchase law. Recently promoted partner Keith McKinney, who is 'meticulous in his preparation', has expertise in renewable energy development. David Delaney is also recommended.

Transport Tier 3

Aaron & Partners LLP advises on regulatory issues, provides representation at public inquiries, and gives strategic compliance guidance. Key areas of expertise include warehousing and the carriage of goods, waste and passengers by road; contracts and disputes, particularly those involving liens; operator licensing applications; and vehicle recovery after seizure. Tim Culpin leads the team.

Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 4

Aaron & Partners LLP act as advisers to the boards of directors of companies facing financial distress, utilising its bench of experienced practitioners. Nick Clarke and Mark Davies jointly lead the team. The duo have notable contentious and non-contentious expertise in insolvency and restructuring matters; Davies particularly acts on personal insolvency issues for a national client base.