Helen Freely > Druces LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Druces LLP Offices
SALISBURY HOUSE
LONDON WALL
LONDON
EC2M 5PS
England
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Helen Freely
Work Department
Private Client
Position
Partner in the Private Wealth department, Helen’s background and specialisms include incorporating Wills, probate including UK and foreign domiciliary estates, trusts, court of protection work, lasting powers of attorney, tax planning and charity law. She also leads Druces’ Charities and Philanthropy practice.
She has written articles for the Financial Times and Daily Telegraph and has appeared on BBC TV and Radio to discuss a range of private client topics. Helen speaks fluent German and has experience taking on cases with a German or Austrian element.
Career
Trained W H Matthews & Co qualified 2004. Solicitor at Matthew Arnold Baldwin, 2004-07; partner at Ambrose Appelbe 2007-11; partner at Druces LLP 2011-to date.
Reported Cases
Eade v Hogg [2021] EWHC 1057 – acted successfully for the widow in this rectification / construction case.
Clark v World Wildlife Fund & Others [2011] WTLR 961 – acted as Independent Administrator in this case.
Languages
German (fluent), French (basic) and Spanish (basic).
Memberships
STEP; Holborn Law Society; Mencap; Solicitors for the Elderly; British German Jurists Association.
Education
St Mary’s School, Ascot; University College, London (2001); College of Law (2002).
Leisure
In her spare time, Helen enjoys the theatre, tennis and arranging charity fundraising events.
Lawyer Rankings
London > Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
The team at Druces LLP continues to be busy advising a large volume of charities, including a significant number of household name clients, across a range of charitable sectors, including the animal, medical, religious and education spaces. Led by Helen Freely, the team has advised a number of charities on various political activities, and is increasingly providing charity real estate advice. Roy Campbell is another key figure who advises wealthy individuals on their philanthropic plans.
London > Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
Paul Levy now heads the department at Druces LLP, which has seen a significant increase in disputes over the mental capacity of testators when making wills or lifetime gifts. Both Helen Freely and Matthew Duncan act as professional deputies. This multi-disciplinary team draws on the strength of its private wealth and dispute resolution colleagues to help clients such as entrepreneurial families/individuals and City professionals. Various team members have also been appointed to act as independent executors/administrators for a number of contested estates.
London > Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
Druces LLP has a particular specialism in family offices. Under the direction of Robert Macro, the group covers all areas of wealth planning, international tax structuring and multi-generational advice for mobile and international families. Matthew Duncan is registered as a will draftsman in the Dubai International Financial Centre’s Wills and Probate Registry. Helen Freely does a broad range of private client work covering tax and trusts as well as advising charities. Paul Levy works with many UK and international families and entrepreneurs.
Lawyer Rankings
- Personal tax, trusts and probate London > Private client
- Charities and not-for-profit London > Private client
- Contentious trusts and probate London > Private client
Top Tier Firm Rankings
Firm Rankings
- Finance > Islamic finance
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Smaller Deals, £10m-£100m
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Real estate > Residential property
- Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- Industry focus > Emerging markets
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – small-mid cap
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Real estate > Property finance
- Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency
- Real estate > Construction: non-contentious
- Real estate > Construction: contentious