Personal tax, trusts and probate

Partner and Barrister specialising in estate planning for high net worth individuals, including advising on Wills, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and probate matters. Deborah has particular experience advising clients with business interests where understanding of both corporate and private tax issues is key.  Deborah has a national reputation for advising on the design and formation of family investment companies especially when used as an estate planning tool and regularly lectures on this area to accountants, lawyers and financial advisers nationally.  She also has significant experience in advising on the transition to employee ownership structures and succession planning.

Hugh Jones is a nationally recognised leader in his field of Court of Protection and Private Client work.  He has worked in this field for over 30 years and his expertise as a Court of Protection Deputy is such that he now has a very substantial expert witness practice, where he is regularly asked to provide advice and statements on all aspects of Court of Protection practice, costs and mental capacity issues by more than 35 specialist PI and Clinical Negligence firms, nationally. In September 2019, Hugh was awarded the prestigious lifetime achievement award by the judges of the STEP Private Client awards. Hugh Jones Solicitors opened in March 2013. Chambers Legal Directory commented after the move: ‘He retains a significant proportion of his clients and now focuses exclusively on mental incapacity cases.  Commentators describe Jones as ‘an impressive public speaker who can be tough with clients when necessary,’ and he is recommended as a particularly strong advocate.   Clients also emphasised his supportiveness and empathy.’ Hugh was named Manchester Law Society's Partner of the year in 2014. In Chambers 2015 to 2022,  Hugh is named every year in the 'Ranked Lawyer' list as a Band 1 'Leader in the Field', in Court of Protection Property and Affairs work Chambers 2022 'Hugh Jones often acts as a professional deputy for vulnerable adults, frequently advising on financial matters as well as acting as an expert witness. "Hugh Jones has fantastic knowledge and is always ready to think outside the box. He is very down to earth and approachable."' Chambers 2021 'Hugh Jones often acts as a professional deputy for vulnerable adults, frequently advising on financial matters as well as acting as an expert witness. "He is very personable, engaging and informative in his approach. "He is a longstanding expert, an experienced and strong practitioner."'  Chambers 2020: 'Hugh Jones is hailed as "one of the leading Court of Protection financial deputyship lawyers in the UK," known to be "very knowledgeable and pragmatic in his approach to solving problems." He routinely undertakes professional deputyship work on behalf of vulnerable adults, often advising on cases involving applications for statutory wills and complex financial abuse. He is also adept at advising on health and welfare matters.' In the Legal 500 2017 to 2022, Hugh is named as a leading individual In the Legal 500 2019, - Hugh Jones  has a ‘depth of experience that is outstanding; he always ensures that his clients’ capacity is addressed’. In the Legal 500 2020, - 'Practice head Hugh Jones' 'breadth of knowledge and common sense' set him apart from competitors' ‘We have been involved with this firm for over 30 years and Hugh Jones has been nothing less than outstanding. The team supporting him have picked up the baton and have been of the highest quality.’ ‘Hugh Jones is a leader in his field – a great jovial personality with a wealth of knowledge and expertise which he shares with all of his personnel.’ - client testimonials, Legal 500 2021 Hugh is a member of the panel of Deputies appointed by the Court of Protection to manage the affairs of someone who has lost capacity.  Hugh assists many special interest groups for children with learning disabilities and many local and national charities.  He provides help including a large number of Wills for parents of learning disabled children. Hugh is a nationally recognised expert and eminent speaker on all aspects of provisions for the learning disabled, mental incapacity and the Court of Protection. He is a member of: Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) Office of the Public Guardian’s panel of Deputies      

Richard leads the Private Wealth team nationally. He is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and the Law Society private client section. He has broad experience of working with clients from various backgrounds having worked in large commercial practices and smaller high street firms. 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. He is a professional trustee on numerous family trusts, acts as an attorney for elderly clients and has been appointed by the High Court as an independent administrator in complex contentious Probate matters. Richard works closely with the firm's Owner Managed Business and family teams and often with accountants and independent financial advisors to ensure that clients receive broad based holistic advice. Richard is a regular presenter of estate planning and asset protection seminars. He is used to working with lawyers in different jurisdictions to achieve clients’ objectives in terms of their worldwide estate.

Megan joined JMW in September 2020 as Partner and Head of Court of Protection (COP). She acts as deputy, trustee and attorney and is also a director of JMW Trust Corporation Limited. Megan manages one of the largest and fastest-growing COP teams in the country.    She also: Handles the team’s most complex cases (10% pro bono) involving multi-million-pound estates, international assets, contested legal proceedings and fraud allegations.  Supports clients with the most profound disabilities, reduced life expectancy and challenging behaviours. She builds trust with clients, their families and their support network. Provides free training/seminars to care providers, local authorities and charities, promoting awareness and collaboration to support vulnerable children/adults. 

Partner & Head of Private Client Joe joined JMW in July 2019 in the Private Client Department, having spent ten years at Addleshaw Goddard. His expertise relates to providing tax, estate and succession planning to ultra-high net worth individuals, institutional clients and entrepreneurs, with a focus on owner-managed businesses and corporate vehicles. He also has extensive experience advising on trust formation and administration, high value and international estate administration, and contentions trusts and estates.

Liz Hughes  joined Hugh Jones Solicitors when we started in 2013.  She was appointed Managing Director in 2022, following 7 years as the Head of Court of Protection at Hugh Jones Solicitors. As Managing Director, Liz works collaboratively with the firm's management team and board of directors, to run the firm on a day to day basis.  On her appointment Liz said: 'I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to take the firm forward as it enters a new era. The support I’ve received from our employees and clients has been overwhelming and I’m excited to continue to work closely with everyone within the firm’s network to deliver the outstanding work it has become renowned for.' Liz has a national reputation as a specialist solicitor with a great deal of experience in Court of Protection and mental capacity work in which includes: Management of the professional deputyships of a large number of vulnerable people including those who have lost capacity due to traumatic accidents, birth injury, illness or learning disability Advising and drafting all types of Court of Protection applications including those for the appointment of a lay or professional deputy, statutory will applications, gift applications and applications for the discharge of a Protected Party All kinds of contested applications including alleged financial abuse, challenges to deputyship appointments and has represented lay deputies who have exceeded the authority they have under a deputyship order Acting as an expert witness, on the instruction of both defendants or claimants in high value clinical negligence and personal injury litigation. Liz has extensive experience of acting on behalf of claimants who lack capacity in pre-settlement catastrophic injury litigation. This commonly involves the management of interim funds which are used to fund extensive rehabilitation packages, specialist equipment and adapted property purchases. Liz enjoys visiting clients regularly and working closely with their relatives, case managers, carers and others involved in their care. She feels it is important to ensure that clients receive the appropriate level of support whilst remaining independent and confident to make those financial decisions that they are able to make for themselves. Interview with Liz, from Realm Recruit in February 2022 In the Legal 500 2022, Liz is again listed as a 'Next Generation Partner' - client testimonials: 'Elizabeth Hughes is extremely knowledgeable but at the same time approachable and personable.  Elizabeth is pragmatic in her approach and in my experience has always reached the outcome before others have got there' In Legal 500 2021 - client testimonials: ‘Elizabeth Hughes is committed to her clients and strives to provide the best possible service. She is communicative and receptive to suggestions to resolve complex issues, giving possible solutions balanced and fair consideration. Liz is friendly and approachable to her clients and other professionals and will seek advice from her colleagues to ensure that as much information is available when required and the client receives a positive and supportive service.’ ‘Liz Hughes provides robust pragmatic advice and opinions, in a cost-effective and always timely manner.’ ‘Elizabeth Hughes has a very caring nature and is very empathetic.’ In the Legal 500 2020, Liz is acknowledged as a 'Next Generation Lawyer - 'Elizabeth Hughes is recommended by clients as a 'trusted pair of hands' with clients commenting 'Liz Hughes has provided excellent service. She is calm and knowledgeable.'           In Chambers 2022 Liz is ranked in Band 3: 'Elizabeth Hughes is well versed in matters involving substantial foreign property and assets as well as statutory will and gift applications. She has further experience acting as an expert witness. "Elizabeth Hughes is very friendly, professional and approachable."' In Chambers 2021 'Elizabeth Hughes is well versed in matters involving substantial foreign property and assets as well as statutory will and gift applications. She has further experience acting as an expert witness. "She is very helpful and always supportive of the client.' September 2019 - Elizabeth Hughes has also been recognised by Barclays as one of 2019’s Women of Achievement as part of the bank’s Women of the Year initiative. Recent cases in which Liz has been involved.  

Zahra has been instrumental in growing the wills and estate planning team significantly and it is now a major player in the Manchester market place. Zahra’s particular area of expertise is advising on complex and innovative tax planning, including sophisticated wills and trusts. She acts as a trustee for many family trusts and has a particular niche in advising doctors and retired doctors on their estate planning affairs.

Head of WTP and Partner

Partner in the Tax and Estate Planning Team, Graham specialises in tax and trusts law and on a daily basis handles high value estate planning work. Graham is also experienced in tax disclosures, advising on offshore tax issues for UK Resident non-domiciliaries and offshore trust work, as well as trusts in relation to high value awards obtained for children and patients. He is also experienced in establishing trusts for individuals with serious personal injury (with awards on average circa £2 million) and mental capacity issues. Graham also advises on all aspects of Court of Protection and Office of Public Guardian, advising on the process and dealing with applications for Powers of Attorney. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). To learn more about Kuits please click here.

Chris is the Head of the Court of Protection team and a Director of Hugh Jones Solicitors in the Court of Protection team. Chris is heavily involved in the  management of deputyships of our clients who lack capacity. He works closely with the team at HJS and other professionals involved in the clients' financial, legal, care and welfare matters. He has much experience in working with brain injured clients and their families to try and ensure their property and affairs are managed as effectively as possible and he also regularly advises family members who are lay deputies, in their duties. He regularly makes all manner of property and affairs  applications to the Court of Protection,  including applications for the appointment of both lay and professional deputies, gift applications, statutory wills and application to vary the authority of the deputy. He also has experience investigating the financial affairs of clients where there have been allegations of financial abuse or misappropriation of funds made against former attorneys or deputies. Chris is experienced in working on a range of complex contested Court of Protection cases including issues surrounding foreign property and jurisdiction, challenges to the validity of Enduring and Lasting Powers of Attorney and challenges to the appointment of and/or removal of deputies. Additionally, Chris also advises on social and healthcare funding disputes for protected parties, including bringing applications for judicial review in the Administrative Court. Chris is a graduate member of the Institute of Legal Executives. Chris has been listed as a 'Rising Star' in the Legal 500 2022 and for the previous 2 years: ‘Christopher Gallagher provides a very high level of service and is very well respected by his peers.’ ‘Chris Gallagher and Hugh Jones genuinely care about our family and take away all of the hassle relating to running a care team. They have also helped us deal with problems with our local healthcare providers and always look for practical solutions to our problems.’ '

Partner

Partner in the Private Client Team specialising in Estates, Trusts, Wills and Inheritance Tax. Work includes dealing with complex and taxable estate, advising on tax efficient Wills, advising and drafting trusts, and managing trusts. A full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

Senior Associate Tasoula has over 10 years of experience in dealing with a wide range of tax and estate planning matters, including complex Wills, trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and the administration of estates. Tasoula is also able to provide advice on matters affecting elderly and vulnerable clients, the protection of disabled beneficiaries, and Court of Protection applications.

Senior Associate Solicitor

Sally is a Legal Director in the Private Wealth team at Weightmans LLP and is based in the Manchester office. Sally is a fully accredited member of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), the Law Society Private Client Section and The Association of Lifetime Lawyers (formerly Solicitors for the Elderly). Sally also sits on the Manchester Law Society’s Private Client section committee. Sally qualified as a solicitor in 2008 and joined Weightmans LLP in 2018, having left her role as Head of the Private Client department at her previous firm. Sally has practised solely in the field of Private Client since qualification and she has extensive experience in advising clients in relation to their estate planning, including the preparation of Wills, Inheritance Tax planning, the creation of and the onward administration of trusts and the preparation of Lasting Powers of Attorney. Sally has a particular interest in the administration of estates, and often deals with high value, complex estates on behalf of both professional and lay executors.