Areas of Practice
Track Record
Advising family business clients on wills and wider estate planning, taking into account their complex asset base. This included advice on the devolution of shares subject to permitted transfer provisions in the company’s articles of association and drafting trusts to fall within those parameters.
Lifetime planning in respect of the devolution of shares in family businesses, including advice on Inheritance Tax, Business Property Relief (and clawback provisions), and Capital Gains Tax.
Advising clients on creating bare trusts as a mechanism for gifting cash to grandchildren to fund school fees. Advice on gifting using nil rate band trusts to defer a Capital Gains Tax Charge and to utilise the beneficiaries’ annual exemptions.
Advice to a wealthy family in relation to lifetime tax planning for land with potential for development which qualified for Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property relief to “bank” the relief.
Assessing capacity in an elderly client and preparing a deathbed will on short notice
Advising on an individual’s domicile status after the loss of capacity and advising on the UK tax implications in relation to a large offshore trust structure
Advising on lasting powers of attorney for a donor with complex capacity issues
Advising the Trustees of a disabled person’s trust
Advising on several applications to Court under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958
Undertaking a strategic review of existing family settlements and suggesting proposals for restructuring
Providing ongoing advice to large landed estates, including advice on business, agricultural, and heritage property
Advising Executors on the administration of a complex estate with a broad range of assets and liaising with HMRC in respect of lifetime Inheritance Tax planning undertaken by the deceased
Advising the Trustees of a large and complex trust in respect of 10 year anniversary and exit charges and working with accountants in respect of the tax calculations and filings.
Advising Trustees of a large offshore structure on the UK tax position in respect of UK resident beneficiaries and UK situs assets
Providing trust and tax advice to our family team in relation to the provisions of a divorce settlement and drafting Wills to ensure compliance with the terms of a Court Order.
Advising on setting up a new UK charity and registration at the Charities Commission
Advising a client on the donation of her body to medical research and organising the appropriate paperwork.
Awards & Rankings
EprivateClient Top 35 Under 35, 2017
Memberships
Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP)
Education & Qualification
University of Warwick
Qualified as a solicitor in 2011
Recommended by Anna
Changes to the “non-dom” regime which took effect from 6 April 2025 will significantly impact African individuals relocating to or already living in the UK. In the fourth instalment of our ‘Out of Africa’ series, Partner, Julie Howard and Associate, Annabella King explore how families and individuals can navigate the new rules – including the favourable four-year FIG regime and transitional reliefs – and highlight the importance of careful pre-arrival and ongoing planning.
Read more 5 min read 03 Jun 2025 A New Investor Visa – Why Now?The UK has a critical opportunity to restore its appeal to HNW individuals by reintroducing an investor visa route. In WealthBriefing, Immigration Partner, Zoe Jacob, argues that such a visa is essential to complement the new Foreign Income and Gains (FIG) regime and attract much-needed global investment.
Read more 2 min read 02 Jun 2025 Clare Stirzaker speaks at the Family Business UK Annual Conference 2025This Thursday at the Family Business UK Annual Conference, Partner, Clare Stirzaker joins James Wates at Wates Group to reflect on the core purpose at the heart of the Wates Principles and how family businesses can report authentically to build stakeholder trust.
Read more 6 min read 27 May 2025 Silver linings in replacement for UK non-dom regimeFollowing a flurry of criticism of the previous ‘non-dom’ tax regime, a new ‘foreign income and gains’ system is now being introduced. Senior Associate, Laura Cullinane suggests there may be a silver lining to this change, as it could encourage greater investment in the UK.
Read more