Praised for its ability to ‘understand the unique needs of owner-managed family businesses’, the Manchester-based private client team at Mills & Reeve LLP provides a broad range of private wealth legal and tax advice to high-net-worth clients, including on succession and tax planning, complex estates and trusts, and family investment companies. Clients benefit from the firm’s full-service offering, with expertise in related areas such as property, agriculture, and commercial law. The practice is co-led by Deborah Clark, who specialises in estate planning for business owners, entrepreneurs, landed estates, and individuals, and is also an expert in family businesses, and Christopher Noel, who joined from DWF in September 2023 where he was the former head of the private capital team in the north west. The group also includes Zahra Siddiqui, who provides ’a helpful, efficient and knowledgeable service' in protective wills, trust structures and various other lifetime tax planning measures, and is also experienced in assets involving multiple jurisdictions, and Charlotte Shaughnessy, who advises on estate planning and business succession, and has particular expertise in tax planning issues.
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0161 234 8862
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Profile

Profile

Work Department

Private tax.

Position

Zahra has been instrumental in growing the wills and estate planning team significantly and it is now a major player in the Manchester market place. Zahra’s particular area of expertise is advising on complex and innovative tax planning, including sophisticated wills and trusts. She acts as a trustee for many family trusts and has a particular niche in advising doctors and retired doctors on their estate planning affairs.

Career

Trained Dootson Eckersley Hope; qualified 1997; Dootson Eckersley Hope 1995-2000; Gorna & Co 2000-01; George Davies Solicitors LLP 2001-13; Mills & Reeves LLP 2013 to date.

Memberships

Law Society.

Education

Smithills Sixth Form College, Bolton; University of Wolverhampton (1995 BA (Hons) 2(1) Economics); CPE (Pass with commendation); LPC (Distinction).

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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘An ability to understand the unique needs of owner-managed family businesses.'

  • ‘Lots of experience with high-net-worth and complex clients.'

  • ‘Zahra Siddiqui provides a helpful, efficient and knowledgeable service, and is aptly assisted by Charlotte Shaughnessy.’

  • ‘Knowledgeable. Deborah Clark is particularly strong in client interactions.'