Hugh is part of the Private Client team and specialises in estate planning, capital preservation, private and charitable trust administration, family equity issues, resolution of disputes over wills and trusts, capital tax advice and compliance, probate and related residential property services. The department represents high net worth individuals and families, entrepreneurs, landed estates, UK and foreign domiciled trusts and individuals, executorships, charities, and a range of agents acting on behalf of incapacitated individuals, such as attorneys and deputies.

Recent Experience

• Advising UK beneficiaries of a Swiss Anstalt on the Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility and tax considerations relating to the termination and distribution of a Liechtenstein anstalt to a UK resident beneficiary
• Advising UK resident trustees of a discretionary trust on the merger of two classes of shares in a well-known private company and the accompanying consequences for the beneficiaries of the trust
• Implementing and advising on an estate planning programme involving the gift into various settlements of a substantial portion of a country estate
• Provision of advice for a widow and beneficiary of a will trust of business assets on the trust law and inheritance tax consequences of her disclaiming her interest
• Providing fiduciary services for a substantial residential and agricultural estate with responsibilty for all accompanying advice, accounting and tax compliance
• Considering the implications of marriage breakdown with a UK resident and domiciled life tenant of a non-resident settlement of valuable private company shares
• Advising non-resident trustees of a substantial trust based in Geneva on their powers of appointment and the creation of transitional serial interests under the Finance Act 2006
• Managing the expectations of a diverse group of resident and non-resident beneficiaries of an estate and aggregable settlement during the recession, and advising on IHT issues created by falling asset values
• Considering with prospective testators, executors and beneficiaries the implications of the new rules for the aggregation of the nil-rate band for married couples
• Acting for the beneficiaries of an estate containing heritage property of national interest on which conditional exemption from inheritance tax is being claimed