Will Preparation

A properly drafted will is important for a number of reasons, the two most important ones being that it can ensure that your assets are transferred to the recipients that you intend, and it can also help to reduce Inheritance Tax.

Your circumstances may be suitable for a simple will. Alternatively, your affairs may require a more detailed arrangement to protect your assets against tax, divorce and other claims. In any event, you should review the provisions of your will regularly.

When preparing your will we will also provide advice regarding the exemptions, reliefs and planning opportunities available to enhance and protect your estate.

Recent experience

Advice to Individuals:

Working with the owners of significant privately owned family companies to ensure an effective succession to the control and capital value of the business.

Regulatory nuptial arrangements to protect family assets, both before and after a marriage.

Advising non-domiciliaries how best to structure assets before becoming UK resident.

UK advice:

We act for more than 30 landed estates and act as trustees of a considerable number of these.

We have recently provided family constitution advice to a client with a £15m family business and a disparate successor generation.

Our Tax Compliance team has worked with our tax planning Lawyers to develop a comprehensive tax compliance and mitigation service.

Advice to trustees:

We are the sole legal advisers to the trustees of a group of eight family trusts that own significant City property interests and investment portfolios.

Have developed with the trust beneficiaries an agreed understanding of the future for the family wealth and related interests.

Advice to institutional trustees:

Advice regarding the availability of the ‘motive defence’ to mitigate significant beneficiary tax liabilities.

Managing a £50 million distribution of limited partnerships interests.

Negotiating warranties, indemnities and advice as to the conditions on assignment.

Advice to non-UK law firms:

Advising as to best practice for a Liechtenstein Foundation in view of the recent UK/Swiss tax agreement.

Advising as to how best to structure the tax efficient receipt by a UK resident (US citizen) of capital distributions from an existing offshore structure.

Areas of focus

KEY CONTACTS
James Frampton
James Frampton
Partner
TEAM
Richard Hedger
Richard Hedger
Partner
Georgie Carter
Georgie Carter
Associate
Gemma Shepherd
Gemma Shepherd
Associate
Daisy Peskett
Daisy Peskett
Solicitor
Matthew Hiatt
Matthew Hiatt
Associate
Elinor Crosbie Dawson
Elinor Crosbie Dawson
Senior Associate