Overseen by the 'top-notch'  Matthew Evans, as part of the overarching private wealth offering, Hugh James has the strength-in-depth to provide a degree of specialisation and expertise unmatched by other firms in the Welsh market. The 'outstanding' Eleanor Evans heads up the trusts and estates sub-group  and is responsible for managing the administration of the estates of institutional clients, work which often includes complex financial assets as well as issues relating to foreign jurisdictions. Senior associate Austin Gill  handles  the administration of estates for private individuals, including high-net-worth matters involving complex issues; he is also very adept at advising on onward succession planning for beneficiaries, including in the context of drafting Deeds of Variation, as well as ensuring that lifetime gifts are effectively utilised to minimise IHT burdens on the estate. One of several in the team with Welsh language skills, Catrin Griffiths  can handle matters in English and Welsh and leads the estate planning group that has a strong reputation representing high and ultra-high-net worth clients, in particular, with the preparation of their wills, trusts, Powers of Attorney documents, succession planning and estate planning advice. For the more commoditised work, under the guidance of Gareth Wisdom and utilising some very effective internal legal technology, the firm also excels in handling volume will writing for financial institution clients. Clients also benefit from access to a market-leading litigation offering which is headed up by the 'totally brilliant' Roman Kubiak, who excels in complex contentious probate matters, including promissory estoppel cases in the farming sector.

 

The 'experienced' team at Blake Morgan LLP demonstrates 'great attention to detail' across a myriad complex private client matters from referring professionals, as well as directly from often high-net-worth individuals. Much of the work is marked out by its complexity, whether it be succession planning for clients with business and/or agriculture assets or on estate administration involving multi-jurisdictional considerations, where it is distinguished by a willingness to 'think outside the box'. 'Pragmatic' team head Lisa Davies sets the tone for the rest of the practice, displaying a 'very thorough' approach that combines the personal touch of a high street firm, with the commercial instincts and ability to leverage the broader expertise of a full service offering. Senior associate Nicky Sherrard is also a pivotal member of the team and provides 'thoughtful and considered advice' on both lifetime trust and will planning matters, as well as on the administration of estates.

Now with two partners focused on work in the space following Anne Taylor and Gillian Crouch's promotion in January 2024, as well as effectively being able to leverage resources in other associated practice areas, including corporate, charities, property and family, Geldards LLP provides 'outstanding advice and an excellent customer service' to a varied mix of clients, both on a standalone basis, as well as work which is sourced from professional referrals both inside and outside of Wales. Taylor, who heads up the wealth planning sub-group, 'combines a technical mastery with a personable approach', ensuring that she is well-positioned to advise high-net-worth individuals, including those with newly found wealth through her work for recent lottery winners (on the Camelot panel). Crouch takes the lead on estate and trust administration work and is recognised as a 'very safe pair of hands', including on the management of trusts for vulnerable beneficiaries, and an increasing amount of advice to charities on the legacies they receive. 

The 'extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and client centric' team at Howells Solicitors has an excellent reputation in the market across a range of lifetime planning, will drafting and estates administration work, where it stands out for its skill at 'looking after their clients in a personalised, caring and professional way'. This approach is typified by the work of 'exceptional' team head Sarah Cash whose 'empathetic' approach to will writing is appreciated by elderly and vulnerable clients, work she also combines with advice to high-net-worth individuals on complex lifetime planning and on estate/trust administration. Laith Khatib  is also a key member of the team and has 'a highly thoughtful and considered approach towards careful will and trust planning', informed as much by his contentious prowess as his advisory expertise.

Drawing upon an 'exceptional' depth of knowledge throughout the team, Hutchinson Thomas provides a 'professional, efficient and value for money service' to local clients across a broad spectrum of work relating to lifetime planning and the administration of estates. Swansea-based team head Louise Williams exemplifies the firm's overarching depth of knowledge and provides 'peace of mind when dealing with complex or complicated matters’. Based out of the firm's Neath head office, Rhian Williams is also a key member of the team, providing 'very informative, helpful and friendly' advice to clients on wills and power of attorney drafting as well as in her capacity as a professional executor and deputy for clients lacking in mental capacity.

With its base in Swansea but having expanded substantially in recent years through organic growth and law firm acquisitions to include key offices in Cowbridge, Caerphilly and Carmarthen, the 'fantastic' team at JCP Solicitors is able to provide 'empathetic and client focused' advice across a full range of private client matters throughout Southeast and Southwest Wales. The 'very attentive and helpful' Chris Shaw leads the lifetime planning function which continues to gain instructions on a referral basis and through word of mouth across a wide range of matters, including in the context of tax planning for sports people and musicians, as well as probate work emanating from the firm's extensive will bank. The team also handles a significant amount of agricultural succession planning work, an area that Carmarthen-based partner Sean Boucher is particularly skilled. At an associate level, Alice Rowlands  in Swansea is well-liked by elderly and vulnerable clients, in particular, as a result of her 'friendly and empathetic' nature. Swansea-based partner Lynne Morgan, who is noted for her ability to 'make quick and effective decisions', heads up the firm's well-resourced Court of Protection team, which is a crucial element of the firm's overarching offering, not only on the management of the financial affairs of victims of traumatic brain injuries (much of which flows from the firm's well-respected personal injury/clinical negligence offering) but also increasingly for elderly clients who have lost capacity.

The 'very friendly and approachable' team at Harding Evans LLP provides an 'impeccable level of service' to local clients across a broad range of lifetime planning matters, including will and LPA drafting, as well as the administration of estates. The tone is set by 'very skilled and knowledgeable' team head Laura Selby, whose 'empathetic, friendly and professional' nature is appreciated by clients, including high-net-worth-individuals, on conventional lifetime planning matters, as well as in her capacity as a professional Deputy for Court of Protection work. The firm also continues to grow its presence in Cardiff, with 'exceptional' senior associate Afonwy Howell-Pryce  being pivotal to that office's success, as a result of her 'excellent advice on wills and powers of attorney and estate administration', which often sees her 'going above and beyond' in the service of the client.

Led by David King , Harrison Clark Rickerbys continues to grow its private client offering since opening its Cardiff office in 2020, offering clients a wide range of services, from will and lifetime trusts drafting, through to estate administration. Particular areas of expertise include work for agricultural clients, as well as owners of digital assets and cyber businesses, where the team can effectively lean into the firm's market-leading commercial practice for clients in the space.

 

NewLaw Solicitors provides a versatile service to a range of clients, running the gamut from relatively commoditised volume-based will writing and estate administration, through to more bespoke and complex work for high-net-worth individuals. 'Focused on delivering excellent customer service whilst adopting new technology to move with the times', the firm has developed a very cost-effective case management system which is particularly useful for clients wishing to secure the grant of Probate Services only, helping them to ensure that costs are kept to a minimum. A significant number of these instructions flow from the firm's ties with Farewill and Affinion Probate, while the firm's ongoing work for Royal College of Nursing members also includes a myriad estate planning and will drafting matters. Praised for her ability to think 'in a strategic and commercial way', Katie-Anne Edwards is key to the firm's success in the market, both on the fee-earning and broader operational front. She is also one of several within the team, including the 'calm and thoughtful' Robert Thomas, who are regularly appointed as a Professional Deputy to look after the finances of vulnerable clients, with many of these mandates flowing internally from the firm’s clinical negligence department.

With a strong and ever-expanding presence throughout South and West Wales, including key offices in Carmarthen, Cardiff and Haverfordwest, Red Kite Law LLP has excellent traction throughout the region, with clients appreciative of the firm's 'knowledgeable and always professional' approach across a range of lifetime planning and probate work. Recognised by one barrister as 'the stand out non-contentious probate lawyer in West Wales', Cardiff-based team head Mathew Bowen has a strong following among high-net-worth individuals, often with significant agricultural and business interests. Promoted to partner in 2023, the 'exceptional' Emma Priest continues to gain market share in Bridgend and Porthcawl, with a strong following amongst an elderly client base who are appreciative of her 'very compassionate and practical advice'. Cardiff-based  Louise Irvine 'is careful, organised and experienced' and heads up the firm's Court of Protection team that also includes the 'empathetic and skilled' Tim Haggar in Haverfordwest, who excels at helping brain injured clients manage their own finances.

Spearheaded by the highly experienced Chris Beames, the small team at  Berry Smith is particularly skilled at advising high-net-worth clients on lifetime planning issues and on the administration of estates. In this context, the team is also able to leverage resources within the property and corporate/commercial practice areas, in particular, should the need arise. Beames also handles Court of Protection work and acts as a Deputy for vulnerable individuals and their families.

Newport-based firm RDP Law provides 'very responsive and clear' lifetime planning and estate administration advice to clients referred to it by professional services firms as well as in a standalone fashion.  'Warm and friendly' team head Sioned Thomas is an 'expert in her field', and is particularly skilled at advising clients with significant business and/or agricultural assets, which she is able to do so through the medium of Welsh, if required.