Sally Ashford > Charles Russell Speechlys LLP > Guildford, England > Lawyer Profile

The Guildford-based team at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP is ‘empathetic’ and ‘well-organised’ in its advice to clients. Leveraging the full-service nature of the firm, the team is equipped to handle issues that arise across the spectrum of family, immigration, corporate and property mandates. Practice head Sally Ashford leads the non-contentious private client team and has expertise advising high-net-worth individuals and family business owners on estate and family succession planning issues. The ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Richard Honey regularly advises on complex trust and tax matters, particularly with cross-border elements. Lauren Clarke is a full STEP member and ‘is delightful to work with’, and Harriet Betteridge is also recommended.

The ‘experienced’ team at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP has ‘particular expertise in dealing with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth cases’. The full-service Court of Protection team is an integral part of the firm’s wider private wealth practice. The group frequently acts on complex multi-jurisdictional disputes. Suzanne Marriott garners a lot of praise; she is a member of Solicitors for the Elderly, and the STEP special interest group on mental capacity, as is Sally Ashford. Marriott often acts as trustee, executor, deputy, attorney, and charitable trustee for many well-known clients, and is often appointed by the Court in these roles where there are disputes. Ashford frequently advises on deputyship matters, statutory will applications, and other complex capacity issues.