Michael Derrick > DMH Stallard LLP > Guildford, England > Lawyer Profile

DMH Stallard LLP
1ST FLOOR, WONERSH HOUSE
THE GUILDWAY, OLD PORTSMOUTH ROAD
GUILDFORD
GU3 1LR
England

Work Department

Private Client

Position

Michael is a Partner and Head of the Guildford Private Client department.

Career

Michael’s practice focuses on estate administration, wills, trust administration and Court of Protection work.

With nearly 20 years’ experience Michael ensures that his clients, both new and returning, are given the best possible advice and service.

Michael works primarily in our Guildford office, but also collaborates closely with colleagues in our other locations.

Michael’s approach to each client, particularly those who are dealing with stressful and sensitive matters, is to deliver advice in a way that calms their initial worries while ensuring that such advice achieves the client’s objectives.

Michael’s particular expertise is in the administration of both simple and complex estates, and of high value and intestate estates.

He also advises on and drafts wills (mirror wills, life interest wills and discretionary trust wills), inheritance tax planning, trust administration, powers of attorney (general, lasting and trustee), receivership applications and other Court of Protection applications.

Work highlights

  • Administration of ultra-high high value  estate (£60 million +) including extensive investment and property portfolios and including urgent, and successful, application for Grant of Administration Ad Colligenda Bona to deal with the same.
  • Administration of high value intestate estate after the sudden and unexpected death of testator involving employment benefits and assets in the Middle East.
  • Advising on new wills, IHT planning and asset protection in anticipation of second marriage including the use of a series of trusts.
  • Successfully claimed the transfer of Inheritance Tax Allowance from an estate where the late husband of the deceased died in 1946.
  • Administered a high value estate with national Charities  as Residuary Beneficiaries  so as to include dealing with the requirements of s119 of the Charities Act.
  • Advised clients on the formal requirements of the law applicable under the HCCH convention on the conflicts of laws relating to the form of testamentary dispositions 1961 (Hague Testamentary Dispositions Convention).

Languages

English

Memberships

  • The Law Society
  • Affiliated member of STEP, with an advanced certificate in the administration of estates

Education

Michael qualified as a solicitor in 2004.

Lawyer Rankings

South East > Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate: Kent, Surrey, Sussex

Following the firm’s merger with Griffin Smith in 2022, DMH Stallard LLP has a broad capability covering inheritance tax planning, wills, trusts, Power of Attorney, estate administration and contentious probate. The private client department across the South is headed up by Lorna Fairbairn, who is active in estate planning and trust work; she is also director of the firm’s trust corporation, and a STEP affiliated member. Nadia Cowdrey leads the Sussex-based team in Brighton, and specialises in wills, trusts and IHT. Michael Derrick is at the helm of the Surrey team based in Guildford and is well regarded for his expertise in the administration of high-value and intestate estates. Sara McGrigor is noted as ‘exemplary’ by clients.