Sills & Betteridge LLP has expanded its Yorkshire wills, trusts and probate offering following the Bell & Buxton merger, with Josh Fenton-Hawkes leading the Sheffield team. The practice handles estate administration, succession planning and cross-border probate matters, supported by the firm’s wider private client bench.
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Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Work highlights
Advised administrators on the management of a multi-million-pound estate comprising a large portfolio of illiquid investment properties, significant shareholdings in a trading business, and assets located in multiple jurisdictions.
Acted in the administration of two linked estates with a combined value of several million pounds. The assets included a substantial investment portfolio, high-value cash holdings, and specialist collectible items requiring expert valuation. Both estates were left entirely to charitable beneficiaries, necessitating transparent reporting and careful, tax-efficient realisation of diverse assets.
Advised in a complex estate where the deceased had executed a late-stage Will abroad, giving rise to questions regarding validity and competing claims under inheritance legislation. The matter also involved assets across the UK, mainland Europe and the United States and included assessing potential claims, addressing foreign law implications, gathering information on overseas assets, and advising on the appropriate route to a negotiated outcome while safeguarding the estate’s value.
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Practice head
Andrew Durkan; Richard Bussell; Josh Fenton-Hawkes