James Wallace > Aaron & Partners LLP > Chester, England > Lawyer Profile

Aaron & Partners LLP
5-7 GROSVENOR COURT
FOREGATE STREET
CHESTER
CH1 1HG
England

Work Department

Wills, Trusts and Tax Law

Position

Contested Wills, Trusts & Estates Partner

Career

James specialises in the resolution of disputes involving Wills, Trusts and Estates. He has particular expertise in dealing with challenges to wills, often on grounds of lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence or fraud. He also represents individuals and estates in respect of claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975.

James also specialises in the resolution of trust disputes, both between trustees themselves and with beneficiaries. This includes advising executors and trustees of estates where a dispute has arisen in the course of an estate administration and beneficiaries of estates who might be unsatisfied with the conduct of the executors and trustees.

James uses a creative and collaborative approach to finding common ground between parties involved in estate disputes and where possible seeks to find a satisfactory resolution without having to involve the courts. Where the involvement of the court is required, he advises clients as to the most appropriate method of achieving their objective as quickly and as cost effectively as possible. He has a network of highly specialist mediators and barristers practising in this area and is able to draw on their additional expertise as and when required. With his in depth knowledge of tax law, James is also able to structure settlements in a tax efficient manner for the benefit of all parties involved.

James also advises high net worth individuals with regards to tax and estate planning, wills and powers of attorney.

Memberships

James is a member of ACTAPS (The Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists).

Education

James is a fully qualified member of STEP (Society of Estate & Trust Practitioners).

Lawyer Rankings

North West > Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate

Characterised as ‘always thinking outside of the box and leaving no stone unturned‘, the seasoned private client team at Aaron & Partners LLP in Chester advises high-net-worth clients on high-value tax and estate planning, and has particular expertise in handling cases involving business and farming assets. Leading the group, the ‘friendly, pragmatic and knowledgeable‘ Clive Pointon is an expert in Court of Protection work and has extensive experience assisting clients with solutions to inheritance tax problems. The group also includes James Wallace, who advises clients on a broad range of issues surrounding wills, tax, and estate planning, and Rowena Ridgway, who focuses on estate planning and estate administration. The ‘technically brilliant‘ Paul Caslin, who has expertise in estate planning advice, is also a key contact.

North West > Private client > Contentious trusts and probate

Praised as a ‘first-class team with genuine specialism in this field’, Aaron & Partners LLP in Chester has a seasoned private client team that advises on the full range of contentious trusts and probate work. James Wallace leads the wills, trusts, and estates team, and he has extensive experience with both contentious and non-contentious private client work, with particular expertise in high-value claims and cross-border matters. He is also increasingly instructed in contentious probate settlements that failed to take into account tax implications. Another key lawyer is the ‘exceptional‘ Vlad Macdonald-Munteanu, who has particular expertise with complex Inheritance Act claims, executorship disputes, and proprietary estoppel issues, and is also frequently sought after by agricultural clients.