Overview

Burges Salmon is the leading choice for complex and specialist advice in private wealth.

We act on some of the highest value and most complicated succession, tax planning and trust restructuring work in the UK and internationally. Our sector approach and culture has expanded our core 40+ private client lawyers to a collaborative, private wealth team, supporting individuals, families, entrepreneurs, landed estates, private banks, family businesses and family offices.

We have a deep understanding and experience of complicated, cross-jurisdictional work for individuals and trusts. As one of only a few truly independent UK law firms, we have non-exclusive relationships with independent overseas law firms who share our high standards. Our independence is an essential part of our client offering and we are able to work with the firm best suited to our clients’ needs and budget.

We have invested in a comprehensive portfolio of legal technologies to support and augment our client service delivery model, including AI and document automation.

Awards

Winners:

  • STEP Private Client Awards: Legal Team of the Year – Large Firm (2022/23, 2021/22, 2019/20, 2017/18, 2015/16)
  • STEP Private Client Awards: Employer of the Year (2022/23)
  • Wealth & Finance International Fintech Awards - Best HNWI UK Law Firm (2022)
  • Citywealth Powerwomen Awards: Company of the Year – Female Leadership (2020, silver award)

Finalists:

  • eprivateclient Excellence Awards: Private Client Law Firm (large): (2022, commended)
  • Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Awards: Private Client Team of The Year (2022)
  • Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Awards: Residential Property Team of The Year (2022)
  • Legal Week Innovation Awards: Client Management Innovation (2022)
  • The Lawyer Awards: Best Client Service Innovation (2022)
  • STEP Private Client Awards: Contentious Trusts and Estates Team of the Year (2021/22, 2020/21)
  • Citywealth Magic Circle Awards: Law Firm of the Year – London (2020)

 Areas of focus

Our private wealth services include the following:

  • Contentious estates.
  • Contentious trusts for UK and international trustees.
  • Dispute resolution.
  • Family and divorce issues.
  • Finance and funding issues.
  • Immigration.
  • Private wealth matters, international wealth structuring.
  • Real estate for individuals and investment for UK and international investors.
  • Tax advice and planning UK and international.
  • Trusts UK and international.
  • Wills, probate, UK and cross border estate planning.
Experience

Advising on the transfer of trust/wealth business internationally, including trust, compliance, and legal advice.

Analysing a client’s UK tax position following the termination of an offshore trust and advising on possible claims against former professional advisers who had advised incorrectly on her UK tax position in the past.

Advising international clients on the requirements to become non-UK resident and on the tax implications of ceasing UK residence.

Advising and helping clients and their families with the relevant Visa application, and giving pre-immigration tax and legal advice before becoming UK resident.

Advising clients in relation to their estate planning using family investment companies and partnerships following the successful sale of their business.

Acting for families in relation to the split of their UK and overseas businesses, one of the largest farming partnership partitions ever carried out.

Advising clients on the UK tax implications of complex offshore trust and company structures including (involving many offshore trusts and offshore companies) on divorce from the settlor of the structures.

Advising on the legal and tax consequences for trustees or families across the world on the creation, amendment and termination of trusts, their duties and rights and on UK trust litigation issue.

Providing an arrangement to improve clients’ IHT exposure and bringing the next generation into the business.

Advising on the cross border succession law applicable to multijurisdictional estates, with assets and family members often in numerous different countries.

Advising financial institutions on UK tax consequences of financial products for international clients.

Advising clients on all aspects of the purchase, structuring, development, of luxury hotels in the UK and overseas.

Advising on the UK tax and legal consequences for UK and non-UK purchasers or investors in purchasing, selling, developing and structuring residential or commercial real estate.

Meet the team

Suzanna Harvey Partner

  • Head of Private Wealth
  • Private Client Services
  • International Tax
Headshot John Barnett

John Barnett Partner

  • Head of Partnerships
  • Private Client Services
  • Tax
Emma Heelis-Adams

Emma Heelis-Adams Partner

  • Private Client Services
  • International Tax
  • HNW and UHNW Individuals
catherine-de-maid

Catherine de Maid Partner

  • International tax and trusts
  • Head of Philanthropy
  • Succession Planning and Wills
Jim Aveline

Jim Aveline Partner

  • Private Client Services
  • Family Offices and Family Businesses
  • Food and Farming
Tom Hewitt

Tom Hewitt Partner

  • Private Wealth
  • Head of Estates and Land
  • Head of Food and Farming
Sarah Hoskinson 1

Sarah Hoskinson Partner

  • Family Law and Divorce
  • Private Client Services
  • Private Wealth
Richard Handel website

Richard Handel Partner

  • Family Law and Divorce
  • Private Client Services 
  • Private Wealth
Justin Briggs

Justin Briggs Partner

  • Trust Disputes
  • Tax Negligence
  • Pension Disputes
Kevin Kennedy

Kevin Kennedy Partner

  • Estates and Land
  • Private Wealth
  • Agricultural Disputes
Richard Spink

Richard Spink Partner

  • Corporate
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Private Equity
Dominic Davis

Dominic Davis Partner

  • Corporate M&A
  • Private Wealth
  • Entrepreneurs
Matthew Sims

Matthew Sims Partner

  • Real Estate Services
  • Retail
  • Real Estate
Alison Hawes

Alison Hawes Consultant

  • Family Law and Divorce
  • Private Client Services 
  • Food and Farming 
     
Headshot of Edward Hayes

Edward Hayes Director

  • Private Client Services
  • Private Wealth
  • Tax
Tim Williams

Tim Williams Partner

  • Private Client Services
  • Food and Farming
  • Tax
Julie Book

Julie Book Director

  • Corporate M&A
  • Private Wealth
  • Entrepreneurs

What others say...

The level of technical competence of the team is outstanding. Coupled with its practical application makes it a formidable team. It is our 'go to' firm of solicitors.

Legal 500 2022

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