Overview
I am a Partner in Michelmores’ Tax, Trusts and Succession team. I deal with all aspects of estate and succession planning and have extensive experience of advising high net worth individuals and business-owning families in relation to a wide range of succession and tax matters.
In particular, I work closely with landed estate owners, their trustees and professional advisers in relation to a range of taxation, trust and succession planning advice – it is always a privilege to be part of an advisory team that can help guide, preserve and enhance hugely significant and historic estates.
I also advise rural business owners and wealthy entrepreneurs on tax and estate planning issues, including passing assets to the next generation tax efficiently while retaining proper provision and control for the current generation. My practice has grown significantly in recent years to encompass specialist taxation and succession planning advice for landowners engaging in natural capital and BNG schemes – I much enjoy helping my clients plot a course through thorny issues in this evolving sector.
I am proud to say that I was named one of eprivateclient’s Top 35 Under 35 in 2020 and that I was awarded the Silver award in the “Lawyer of the Year – Partner” category at the Citywealth Future Leaders Awards 2022.
I am named as a key lawyer in Legal 500 2023 for Agriculture and Estates, ranked as Recommended in the 2023 Spear’s Tax Lawyers Index, and I am a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
Recent experience
Advising extensively on the establishment and ongoing management of several “Balfour” style partnership arrangements and the restructuring of both rural and urban estates to maximise tax efficiency.
Acting in relation to a “once in a generation” transition of a landed estate, dealing with underlying strategy (including in relation to sophisticated trust arrangements and asset protection requirements), tax, funding issues, structuring and implementation.
Advising on complex issues arising in relation to the administration of a matriarch’s estate, including on issues relating to Business Relief, Agricultural Relief, heritage assets and the effect of the death on the wider family’s succession strategy.
Guiding trustees in relation to the devolution of assets on the expiration of trust periods, and the possibility of extending perpetuity periods and reigniting trustee powers through Variation of Trust Act applications.
Leading on some very time critical trust planning for the majority shareholder of a global software company and devising a tax efficient strategy for transferring assets into both discretionary and bare trusts before exchange.
