Private wealth lawyers

Private wealth lawyers

Helping you protect what matters most

Our specialist private wealth lawyers help individuals, families and business owners protect assets, make future plans and make informed personal financial decisions. Whether you're making a will, planning for later life, protecting family wealth, administering an estate or resolving an inheritance dispute, we can provide clear, practical advice tailored to your needs.

With straightforward advice, in person or via video call, and fixed-fee pricing wherever possible, you can make positive plans for the future.

How we can help 

Asset protection 

Protect your wealth and secure your family's future. Whether you're planning for the next generation, safeguarding business assets or looking to minimise future risks, taking the right legal advice is essential to protecting your wealth and securing your family's future. Our specialist asset protection solicitors can help you put the right legalities in place and give you confidence that your assets will be passed on in line with your wishes.

Business succession planning 

Being a business owner means important considerations are needed as to what will happen to your business in the future.  Our business succession planning solicitors will help you put effective plans in place for retirement, transferring ownership or ensuring continuity if there are unexpected changes to circumstances. We can provide tailored advice on succession structures, business continuity, wills and Lasting Power of Attorney, helping you protect the value of your business. 

Court of Protection 

Our experienced Court of Protection solicitors are here to help during times of uncertainty. If a family member has lost the mental capacity to make decisions about their finances, property or personal welfare, we can help you with deputyship applications, ongoing deputy responsibilities and other capacity related matters. 

Estate planning 

Our estate planning solicitors will help you put appropriate arrangements in place to manage, protect and pass on your wealth in line with your wishes. They'll provide tailored advice to help you make the right decisions about your assets, family circumstances and long-term objectives, including succession planning and tax considerations. 

Family investment companies

If you're looking for ways to hold and manage assets whilst supporting long-term succession and inheritance tax planning, a family investment company could be the answer for you. Our private wealth solicitors can advise on whether if this is the right route, depending on your circumstances, and help you structure it to meet your family's financial goals. 

Family law services 

Our family law solicitors will help you understand your options whether you're facing divorce, concerns about your children, disputes over property or complex financial arrangements.  

Combining expert legal advice with practical solutions, we can help individuals, families and business owners resolve family law issues professionally and comprehensively. 

Family office 

For high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, our family office brings together expertise across private wealth, family, corporate and commercial law to provide a coordinated service tailored to help you plan, protect and manage your wealth, business and family affairs with a clear understanding of your wider objectives.

Inheritance tax 

Our private wealth solicitors provide tailored advice around inheritance tax to help you understand your options, consider available exemptions and reliefs, and put effective plans in place as part of your wider estate planning strategy. We'll look at your circumstances as a whole, including family, business and personal objectives, to help you make the most comprehensive decisions. 

International private wealth

If you're managing personal wealth across different countries, it can present complex legal, tax and succession considerations. Our international private wealth lawyers can provide clear, tailored advice to high-net-worth individuals, families and business owners with cross-border interests, helping to confidently protect their wealth and manage multiple legal systems. 

By working closely with our team of accountants, wealth managers and other professional advisers, we can deliver advice that reflects your personal circumstances and objectives 

Landed estates and rural affairs

Farming families, landowners and rural businesses often need unique legal, financial and family considerations. Our experienced landed estates and rural affairs solicitors can advise on succession planning, rural estate management, asset protection and family matters, to help protect the future of your estate. 

Lasting power of attorney 

Looking at the future, if there comes a time, you are unable to make decisions for yourself, a Lasting Power of Attorney allows you to choose who you trust to make decisions on your behalf. Our specialist solicitors will guide you through the process and provide clear, practical advice to help you understand your options and put the right arrangements and documentation in place for your finances, property and personal welfare. 

Owner managed businesses

Whether you're starting a new business, making plans for growth, managing a family business or making plans for succession, an owner managed business means balancing the needs of the business with your own personal and financial interests. Our owner managed business solicitors can help you make informed decisions and protect what matters to you by providing practical, joined up advice considering both your business and personal affairs. 

Probate

During challenging and emotional times, dealing with Probate and the administration of a person's estate can be difficult. Our probate solicitors  will work with you to take the strain and make the process as straightforward as possible. 

Residential property

Our residential property solicitors can provide clear, practical advice at all stages of home ownership, whether you're buying, selling or transferring property.   We can also draw on specialist advice for other related legal matters such as property disputes and business relocations.

Trusts 

Trusts can be a valuable tool for managing, protecting and passing on wealth in a way that reflects your wishes. Our private wealth solicitors can advise on the different types of trusts available and whether a trust is the right solution for your circumstances. 

UK-French tax and estate planning

If you have connections in both the UK and France, managing your estate can involve complex legal, tax and succession issues. Our specialist estate planning lawyers can advise British expats in France, French nationals living in the UK and individuals with assets in both jurisdictions, providing tailored guidance to help you plan effectively and protect your wealth for the future. 

US-UK tax and estate planning

Having to manage wealth across the UK and US can involve complex tax, succession and compliance considerations. Our US–UK estate planning solicitors can provide advice to individuals, families, trustees and fiduciaries, helping them understand their options and structure their affairs efficiently. With expertise in both jurisdictions, we help clients navigate between the UK and US legal and tax systems. 

Wills

Having a professionally prepared will ensures that your wishes are clearly set out and helps provide clarity for the people that matter most to you. Our experienced Wills solicitors can help you make a new will or review an existing one, providing tailored advice based on your circumstances.

Why choose us?

Our specialist private wealth solicitors provide trusted advice to individuals, families and business owners on all aspects of wealth planning, asset protection and succession. We understand that every client's circumstances are different, which is why we take a personal and holistic approach, combining technical expertise with practical advice to help you protect your wealth and plan confidently for the future.

Estate planning tool

Not sure where to start with your estate planning? Putting plans in place for the future can feel daunting, but taking the first step doesn't have to be complicated. Our free estate planning questionnaire is tailored to your circumstances and highlights key areas to consider, helping you better understand your estate planning needs.

Take the questionnaire

How much does it cost to make a Will?

This will vary depending on what assets you have and how you want to leave them to your family, friends and/or charity.

In our first discussion with you, we can set out your options based on your circumstances and give you a fixed price which will include storing your will for you.

What happens if someone dies without a Will?

The estate will pass to or be divided between the nearest blood relative(s) of the person who has died in accordance with a fixed set of rules known as the intestacy rules. A relative will need to apply to the court to be appointed as the Administrator to have authority to collect in and sell assets.

How do I protect my assets from a divorce?

Wills and trusts are often drafted to take account of a possible matrimonial or relationship breakdown. Trusts can be flexible and can be used to provide for an individual without giving that person a legal entitlement.

A pre-nuptial or co-habitation agreement should also be considered as a way of minimising future disputes.

How do I contest a will?

There are various ways to contest a will or question how an estate is being dealt with

This may involve checking whether a will is technically valid or whether appropriate provision has been made for a family member or dependant.

Our Disputed Wills,Trusts and Estate team will be able to assist.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need advice about your wealth and future planning?

Whatever your circumstances, whether you are making a will, planning for the future, protecting your assets or dealing with a complex family wealth matter, our experienced private wealth lawyers can provide clear, tailored advice to help you make the most comprehensive decisions.

Testimonials

Recognised as leaders in our field in all major directories

Accredited by Chambers and Partners, Spear's 500 and the Legal 500

Our private wealth lawyers

  • Richard Bate
  • Jonathan Shankland
  • Patrick Malone
  • Sarah Louise Walker
  • Michele Wightman
  • Naomi Woods
  • Sally Cook
  • Caroline Doyle
View all experts
Photo of Richard Bate

Richard Bate

Partner

About Richard:

Richard advises clients on all aspects of estate planning including wills, trusts, family investment companies and probate matters. He has a particular specialism in tax mitigation and assisting business owners and those with more complicated family arrangements and asset structures with succession planning and wealth protection.
View profile
Photo of Jonathan Shankland

Jonathan Shankland

Partner

About Jonathan:

Jonathan heads the International Private Wealth offering at Weightmans. Jonathan is a trust, tax and estates lawyer and deals with all aspects of personal estates, wills and tax planning for UK-based and international clients. Jonathan specialises in offering international private wealth advice.

View profile