Next Generation Partners

Personal tax, trusts and probate in East Midlands

Browne Jacobson LLP

The private client practice at Browne Jacobson LLP acts for business, farm and estate owners on wealth structuring, trust structuring and succession planning mandates, specialising in complex tax issues. Lucy Worwood leads the team and regularly advises family businesses on trusts and estate planning. Imogen Holmes drafts wills and trusts and handles the administration of landed estates. Scott McKittrick joined the team in March 2024 from Freeths LLP and is an expert in inter-generational trusts.

Praxisleiter:

Lucy Worwood


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Imogen Holmes; Scott McKittrick; Wenna Thompson; Koren Holbourn


Referenzen

‘They have deep expertise in their team and can be trusted with the most complex of personal tax and trusts circumstances. They have a collaborative approach which works well.’

‚Lucy Worwood, Koren Holbourn and Wenna Thompson are the key people that stand out. They are always calm, reassuring and pragmatic.‘

‘Discretion and attention to detail.’

HCR Law

HCR Hewitsons‘ private client team is a top choice for estate executors and trustees. The firm regularly handles probate grant applications, tax planning and the administration of estates with assets across the UK. The Northampton group is led by Kerri Woodrow, a full STEP member, who is praised for her ‘excellent knowledge’ of estates. Tonina Ashby specialises in assisting vulnerable clients in contentious and non-contentious court proceedings.

Praxisleiter:

Daniel Curtis; Alex Taylor; Kerri Woodrow


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Tonina Ashby


Referenzen

‘I have been very satisfied with the advice and service I have received from all members of the team. ’

‘I am currently instructing Kerri Woodrow (a partner in HCR Hewitsons) in an estate where I am one of the executors. I have known Kerri for many years and know her to have excellent knowledge of the issues involved. In addition, Kerri offers very practical advice and has quickly established an excellent working relationship with my co-executor and myself.’

Roythornes Solicitors

Succession planning and capital tax advice for farmers and business owners in the agricultural industry is a mainstay of Roythornes Solicitors‘ private client department. The team’s succession planning expertise is spread across the Nottingham and Spalding offices. Based in Spalding, Jarred Wright heads up the team. Also in Spalding, Robert Webb regularly acts for families and is a go-to for handling issues related to intergenerational wealth.

Praxisleiter:

Tim Galloway; Joanna Grewer; Elizabeth Young; Jarred Wright; Robert Webb


Referenzen

‘The strength and depth of their team means they can offer bespoke advice and solutions, providing practical advice to families, developing solutions that are workable and meet the clients‘ objectives.’

‘They are a highly experienced team who understand the region and the objectives of their clients. Jarred Wright is approachable, very experienced and practical. Robert Webb is equally approachable and delivers an excellent service.’

‘Roythornes have a wide spectrum of lawyers with a breadth of experience. I have worked with the agricultural team and private client lawyers and have been impressed with the experience in these areas. They are very good at collaboration and keeping us in the loop when working on projects. ’

Shakespeare Martineau LLP

The private client team at Shakespeare Martineau LLP acts for farming clients and family businesses on trust and estate administration and tax planning issues. Suzanne Leggott leads the team and regularly advises family businesses and charity executors and beneficiaries. Sarah Brack has extensive expertise in Court of Protection matters and leads major Deputyship matters. Lilly Toop and Emma Carr are also notable practitioners.

Praxisleiter:

Suzanne Leggott


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Sarah Brack; Lilly Toop; Emma Carr


Referenzen

‘Sarah Brack was outstanding, helpful and incredibly knowledgeable.‘ 

‘I specifically approached Sarah Brack to assist with a power of attorney issue for my mother. As always, Sarah was extremely helpful and professional. Sarah has a great client manner and has an excellent level of knowledge of her work area.’ 

‘I work mainly with Lilly Toop, who is friendly, knowledgeable and talks plain English. She is open and easy to trust.‘ 

Flint Bishop

Flint Bishop‘s Derby-based wills, probate, tax & trusts department has a core focus on estate administration, particularly those with assets abroad, including across Europe and the US. Claire Rudkin heads up the team and is a specialist in advising on the administration of trusts for both foreign and UK-domiciled clients. William Harper regularly acts for individuals, handling relief claims and the preparation of wills.

Praxisleiter:

Claire Rudkin


Weitere Kernanwälte:

William Harper


Referenzen

‘Each individual dealt with appears to have specialist knowledge with clients who can have a unique and complex set of circumstances.’

‘Personable, approachable and clear.’

‘Having a dedicated person with whom to deal was a definite advantage. The prompt responses were much appreciated and resulted in a seamless process from start to finish in a timely manner.‘

Highlight-Mandate


  • Advising on winding up of £300m+ trust fund.
  • Advising on wills and estate planning for clients worth £17m.
  • Dealing and advising on trusts for sibling owners of private company shares in £1,200m in turnover company.

Freeths LLP

Led by Rahul Kotecha regionally and Mark Keeley nationally from Nottingham, Freeths LLP‘s trusts, estates and tax practice spans the firm’s tax and estate planning, trust administration, probate, and wills teams. The group’s client roster encompasses vulnerable individuals, owner-managed businesses, high-net-worth clients and independent administrators, and the practice has increased its cross-border work. Kotecha is a key contact for international estates, while Marie Cooper handles estate administration and grant work.

Praxisleiter:

Mark Keeley; Rahul Kotecha


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Marie Cooper


Referenzen

‘The practice is a friendly and personable office. I deal with Rahul Kotecha and he has always been good to work with.’

‘Trustworthy, open communication, knowledgeable.’

‘The practice covers all bases from a proposition point of view.’

Nelsons Solicitors Limited

The practice at Nelsons Solicitors Limited handles the full spectrum of wills, with a particular niche in surrogacy wills. Team lead Jane Sutherland splits her time between Nottingham, Derby and Leicester. Other notable individuals include Catherine McCannah and Amanda Voakes, who joined in July 2024, in Nottingham, Nadia Faki in Leicester and Helen Salisbury in Derby.

Praxisleiter:

Jane Sutherland; Catherine McCannah; Amanda Voakes; Nadia Faki; Helen Salisbury; Gemma Ann Hopper


Referenzen

‘Catherine McCannah – really takes time to get to know clients and understand what they are trying to achieve.’

‘Having worked closely with Nadia Faki in Leicester, I can confidently say that they both stand out as exceptional legal professionals in the private client sector. Their expertise in wills, probate, and lasting powers of attorney is matched by their ability to handle sensitive situations with empathy, professionalism, and efficiency. What truly sets Nadia apart is her ability to make complex legal matters straightforward for clients. ’

‘Helen was very professional, friendly and knowledgeable about all the services the practice had to offer. Everything was fully explained to us in terms of what would happen next, what was expected of us, the costs of each service, etc. ’

Highlight-Mandate


Sills & Betteridge LLP

Jointly led by Andrew Durkan and Richard Bussell, Sills & Betteridge LLP‘s Lincoln-based wills trusts and probate practice acts for businesses and landowners. Singled out as a ‘powerhouse of trust knowledge’, Durkan is well versed in family estate planning. Bussell is a specialist in succession planning and regularly advises clients in the agricultural sector.

Praxisleiter:

Andrew Durkan; Richard Bussell


Referenzen

‘Richard Bussell has excellent knowledge and is approachable and provides practical advice.’

‘The individuals that I have dealt with are everything you would hope for. Responsive, knowledgeable, empathetic and understanding of difficult family decisions. Richard always presents the facts clearly, with all options laid out then encourages me in my decision making process.’

‘Their knowledge is next to none, they understand what I need before I even know! Excellent knowledge, and genuinely have an interest in you.’

Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised local HNW family with complex family dynamics on tax planning in the lead up to and following the Budget.
  • Advised with only 6 weeks to the deadline to vary the estates of two deceased family members to maximise IHT reliefs and allowances and achieve the detailed restructuring of the family assets for the longer-term benefit of the client’s family.
  • Advised local farming and haulage company owners in respect of IHT planning on £14m estate. Devised plan to afford maximum flexibility on the distribution of assets to avoid a claim against the estate whilst ensuring that the family farm will not be split up on the deaths of the clients.

Wilkin Chapman Rollits

Wilkin Chapman Rollits‘ private client team handles estates with land and agricultural assets, including those with farmhouse properties. Louth-based practice head Lucy Butterfint, a full STEP member, has extensive experience in tax planning and estate administration. Located in Lincoln, Lisa-Jane Howes is instructed on estates with foreign assets.

Praxisleiter:

Lucy Butterfint


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Lisa-Jane Howes


Referenzen

‘Lisa Jane Howes had been particularly attentive. Following up quickly and putting out fires before they arise.’

‘The team’s fashioned family kindness and approach engenders a sense of security in all dealings, which are delivered with patience and care.’

‘Classy, well-positioned, friendly, calm and very approachable, sensitive and driven.’

Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised on tax and estate planning for husband and wife with assets in excess of £10 million.
  • Advised on complex estate involving claims for APR / BPR on unusual farming assets and the execution of Deed of Variation to maximise IHT reliefs available.
  • Advised on complicated estate which included assets in Canada and an interest in an insolvent company.

Actons

Actons’ private client team handles the full scope of matters, covering wills, trusts and probate issues. The team is regularly involved in court applications for the appointment of directors. Heather Parker heads up the department. Acting for older and vulnerable people is core to Parker’s practice. Bindiya Patel is well versed in estate planning and Court of Protection matters.

Praxisleiter:

Heather Parker


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Bindiya Patel


Referenzen

‘Bindiya Patel is impressively knowledgeable, communicative, efficient and professional.’

‘We have enjoyed exceptional support from Bindya. Her positive, knowledgeable, empathetic approach has been refreshing and has enabled us to finally bring long-standing generational debates surrounding crucial hereditary decisions to a mutually positive conclusion. This positive outcome can largely be attributed to the positive ‘can-do’ attitude of partners and associates alike and the seamless integration between business and personal departments.’

‘Bindiya Patel was a great support. She dealt with matters in a kind but businesslike manner.’

Highlight-Mandate


  • Advising on the administration of a lifetime trust and subsequent court application to have it set aside based on the principle of mistake.
  • Advising on a cross-border estate administration whereby the deceased was the sole director of a company which required a court application for the appointment of other directors to enable it to continue trading.
  • Advising on a cross-border estate administration whereby the deceased was the sole director of a company which required a court application for the appointment of other directors to enable it to continue trading.

Chattertons

Chattertons has a wide presence across the East Midlands, with offices throughout Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. The team is experienced in advising clients in the agricultural and farming industries. Practice head Chris Ellison joined the team in September 2024 from Irwin Mitchell, while Anna Howat spearheads the trusts practice and specialises in the full gamut of trust types. Claire Clarke is another integral member of the team.

Praxisleiter:

Chris Ellison


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Anna Howat; Claire Clarke


Referenzen

‘Their breadth of experience and non-judgmental bedside manner were most welcome.’

‘Communication skills are excellent. Virtually all contact has been at partner level and the manner and tenor of telephone and written (electronic or paper) communication is highly commendable.’

‚Impressed with how different specialist teams work together to produce results for clients.‘

Howes Percival LLP

Alexandra Hornsby and Tom Lawrence jointly lead the Howes Percival LLP private client team, which advises families and family businesses on wealth and succession planning. Based in Leicester, Hornsby is praised for her ‘incredible technical knowledge’ and is particularly active in estate and tax planning issues. Stuart Maggs is another key practitioner.

Praxisleiter:

Alexandra Hornsby; Tom Lawrence


Referenzen

‘Alexandra Hornsby not only shows incredible technical knowledge, but also provides fantastic solutions. Alexandra’s ability to convey issues and solutions to clients is professional, kind and considerate.’

‘Alexandra Hornsby in particular was able to guide us through a particularly difficult situation at a time of great personal stress.’ 

‘Their knowledge is second to none. Their commitment to keeping you up to date with progress is excellent. The way the lead contact has the ability to pull in expertise in related areas means that you can be confident that you are getting the very best service where all options and solutions are available to you.’ 

Lawson West Solicitors

Lawson West Solicitors‘ probate wills and trusts team has expertise in tax, trusts and estates. The team is led by Phoebe Skarlatos who was promoted to legal director in December 2024 and is experienced in advising on cross-jurisdictional estates. Vicky Jones is a key client contact for estate administration and routinely acts for family businesses.

Praxisleiter:

Phoebe Skarlatos


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Vicky Jones


Referenzen

‘When I needed help with dealing with the Will of a family friend Phoebe Skarlatos came to my rescue! I cannot praise Phoebe enough for her availability and engagement and expertise. Truly exceptional in every way.

‘Very good knowledge of the services I required.’

‚Very quick to act and pleasant to deal with.’

Rothera Bray

Rothera Bray‘s private client expertise spans across the drafting of wills, asset protection and trust and estate administration. Team lead Kirsten Wood is skilled at will preparation and tax planning, while Jeremy Allen leverages over three decades of experience on the administration of trusts. Andrew Hitchon also comes recommended and is active in advising on trusts with assets abroad.

Praxisleiter:

Kirsten Wood


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Jeremy Allen; Andrew Hitchon


Referenzen

‘This practice provided me with a high standard of personal attention.’

‘The team has a wealth of experience in all the areas I was looking for legal support. This is a much valued service to me personally with the assurance that my estate will be disposed of correctly.’

‘Everyone I have met from Rothera Bray comes across as intelligent, highly competent, friendly and down to earth – quite a rare combination. Andrew Hitchon and his team have got the best Private Client set up I have ever come across. They have got department sub departments in place for each area of Private Client.‘

Wilson Browne Solicitors

Wilson Browne Solicitors‘ private client practice has a bench of ‘complete experts’, covering matters across wills, probate and estates. Northampton-based Vicki Pearce and Kettering-based Neelam Maher jointly lead the team. Maher advises on the preparation of Lasting Powers of Attorney, while Pearce is a Court of Protection specialist.

Praxisleiter:

Victoria Pearce; Neelam Maher


Referenzen

‘A strong feeling of competence by the team immediately gave me confidence that the path being followed to resolve a probate/inheritance issue would lead to a successful outcome. The initial explanation of likely costs was frank and realistic. Communication by the team throughout was reassuring.’

‘Wilson Browne’s willingness to help and offer support where required has been very useful in helping deal with client queries. They are always at the other end of the phone if needed and I am always happy to recommend clients.’

‘Very thoughtful and caring and work well with other professionals, e.g. accountants and financial advisers.’

Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised on an estate for which the executor had died prior to administering the estate. Instructions taken from those entitled to take out the grant in both Estates, and dealing with administration for both.