Murray Beith Murray LLP

murraybeith.co.uk

Senior Solicitor - Asset Protection & Estate Planning Areas of work: Trust Law | Tax Planning | Asset Protection | Wills | Powers of Attorney | Succession & Estate Planning Adam regularly advises individuals and their families on a broad range of private client matters, with a particular focus on the preparation of Wills, Powers of Attorney, and the creation, administration and taxation of Trusts.

Alec Stewart

Partner - Asset Protection & Estate Planning Areas of work: Estate and succession planning (including taxation issues) | Wills | Powers of Attorney | Trusts | Company partnerships | Scottish & English Law Alec is a dual qualified solicitor (Scotland and England/ Wales) and advises on succession, inheritance, and tax planning. Alec works with all types of clients, including estate and land owners, on tax planning, the use and administering of trusts, partnerships and other tax-efficient structures. Alec has significant experience in Wills, executries and Powers of Attorney.

Andrew Stephen

Partner and Head of Residential Property Areas of work: Residential purchases | Residential sales | Estate agency | Re-mortgages | Repossessions | Commercial land use and leasing | Executry conveyancing | All aspects of the Edinburgh property market Andrew specialises in the purchase and sale of Scottish residential property whether for clients relocating or buying for investment. Andrew is particularly experienced in acting for high-net worth individuals, ex-pats and foreign nationals seeking knowledge of the market and guidance with the Scottish system.

Andrew Linehan

Partner and Head of Rural property & estates Areas of work: land and property | agricultural law | land reform | leasing rural property | sporting rights | servitudes | registration | rectification of title Andrew has many years of extensive experience in the Rural sector, including advising a wide range of farms and estates on property matters, both at transactional and strategic levels. Liaising closely with Murray Beith Murray LLP Private Client Partners, Andrew recognises the importance of understanding both ‘upstream’ and ‘downstream’ consequences of any instruction before instructions are put into action. Given ever rising asset values and tax complexities, getting the tax planning and succession aspects of any instruction right adds real value for clients. Andrew also brings a particular interest in ensuring that the structural aspects of both transactions and the operational and trading side of clients’ affairs are optimised. Andrew works with a range of other advisers including land agents, accountants and bankers across Scotland to deliver the best outcomes possible for clients. Andrew is always keen to meet clients on their property to better understand their affairs. As one of a small number of lawyers in this Sector who are Accredited as specialists in Agricultural Law by the Law Society of Scotland, Andrew has significant experience in agricultural tenancies – acting for both landlords and tenants – and has advised extensively in this practice area. In 2024 Andrew was appointed vice-president of the Scottish Agricultural Arbiters and Valuers Association (SAAVA) following his continued appointment as Legal Advisor in 2021, and a previous role as Secretary and Legal Advisor of the regional South of Scotland and Border Valuers Association for 11 years. In 2022 Andrew became the first lawyer in Scotland to qualify for Fellowship of the Association of Agricultural Valuers. Acting for a number of farming families and rural businesses, Andrew works closely with Murray Beith Murray's private client teams to advise on partnership and succession issues. Andrew acts for clients across Scotland and beyond. Andrew is Legal Advisor to the Scottish Agricultural Arbiters and Valuers Association (SAAVA), having previously acted as Secretary and Legal Advisor to a regional Agricultural Valuers body for 11 years.

Andrew Paterson

Partner - Asset Protection and Estate Planning & Head of Executry Areas of work: Will drafting | Tax | Estate planning | All aspects of the Adults with Incapacity legislation (particularly Powers of Attorney and Guardianship Orders) | Complex trust queries (particularly trust reorganisations and the taxation of trusts) | Administration of complex and valuable executry estates Andrew also advises in relation to all aspects of Charity Law including establishment, reorganisation, governance issues and the duties of charity trustees. As Head of the Executry group, Andrew has assisted numerous families with the legal issues arising following the death of a relative and clients appreciate his sympathetic and pragmatic approach.

Anna MacLeod

Senior Solicitor - Rural property and estates Areas of work: Agricultural | Rural Property transactions Anna qualified in 2015 and is interested in the use of land and property, agricultural law and land reform. She deals with farms, sporting estates, forests and minerals, with a particular focus on the purchase and sale of high-value farms and estates.

Ben Montgomery

Solicitor - Asset Protection Areas of work: Wills | Powers of Attorney | Trust Law | Asset Protection Ben advises individuals on a number of private client matters, including Wills, Powers of Attorney and the creation, administration and taxation of Trusts.

Bill Meldrum

Partner and Head of Commercial Property Areas of work: Property Investment | Property Development | Commercial Leasing | Property Finance Murray Beith Murray LLP takes a holistic approach in providing clients with multi-disciplinary legal and financial expertise, including advising those with commercial property interests, and as Head of Commercial Property, Bill is a specialist in commercial property law and the current commercial property market. He provides practical legal advice and innovative solutions to his clients, which include, individuals, family businesses, commercial and residential developers and investors, across a range of sectors; and he is very experienced in advising landowners, funders and developers in transactions affecting rural property. His long-term relationships with clients are a testament to his attentive personal service, modern approach and tenacity in dealing with commercial property matters to a satisfactory conclusion.

Chloe Ramsay

Solicitor – Rural Property & estates Areas of work: Agricultural | Rural property transactions Chloe’s current focus is primarily for land estate owners in relation to land disposals. Chloe joined Murray Beith Murray LLP after completing her traineeship at a firm in the Scottish Borders, during which she focused primarily on residential conveyancing and private client work.

Emma Walker

Solicitor Areas of work: Agricultural and rural property transactions Emma qualified in September 2023 and has experience in dealing with the purchase and sale of farms and estates.

Fraser Scott

Partner - Asset Protection & Estate Planning Areas of work: Trust law | Tax planning | Asset protection | Wills | Powers of Attorney | Guardianships Fraser joined Murray Beith Murray in 2015 and he specialises in private client work, advising individuals and their families on a broad range of matters including wills, powers of attorney, succession and tax planning. Together with expertise in family protection trusts, Fraser is widely recognised for advising farming families and small business owners on succession planning. Clients appreciate his clear, practical advice and insightful guidance.

Kara McCormick

Solicitor - Asset Protection Areas of work: Wills | Powers of Attorney | Trust Law | Asset Protection Kara deals with a range of private client matters, including the preparation of Wills, Powers of Attorney, and the creation, administration and taxation of Trusts.

Kathryn Johnston

Associate - Asset Protection & Estate Planning Areas of work: Trust law | Tax planning | Asset protection | Wills | Powers of Attorney | Guardianships Kathryn joined Murray Beith Murray LLP in January 2022 and specialises in advising individuals and their families on a broad range of private client matters. Kathryn enjoys building relationships with clients and guiding them through what may be difficult situations. Kathryn advises on all private client issues but has a particular interest in contentious trusts and estates and high net worth clients with an international aspect. Kathryn has valuable experience in preparing domicile reports for clients and advising on complex tax matters.

Nicola Roberts

Associate - Rural property and estates Areas of work: Agricultural | Acquisitions | Disposals | Rural Property Nicola joined Murray Beith Murray LLP in 2015, having previously specialised in commercial property. She has extensive experience dealing with clients and is interested in all aspects of rural property work, dealing with farms, estates and land. Her focus to date has been working primarily for land estate owners.

Peter Shand

Partner - Estate Planning and Head of Asset Protection Areas of work: Estate and succession planning (including taxation issues) | Family Business Advice | Wills | Powers of Attorney | Trusts/Companies/Partnerships | Scottish & English law Peter is responsible for meeting the legal, financial and administrative needs of individuals and families, family trusts, charities and private companies. Having worked previously with one of Scotland’s largest commercial law firms he combines private client expertise with a broader knowledge and perspective, offering specialist advice in relation to wills, succession, estate planning, asset protection and tax mitigation including inheritance tax and capital gains tax advice. As a dual qualified solicitor (Scotland and England/Wales), Peter is able to act for clients who have interests both North and South of the border. He also advises a number of clients with international portfolios. Peter is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). He holds the STEP Advanced Certificate in Trust Disputes which equips practitioners with the expertise needed to anticipate, and consequently avoid, the common pitfalls that can lead to trust disputes. He acts for family business owners as well as private individuals and, building on his corporate background, he has strong credentials in advising business owners on wills and succession planning.

Sally Scott Lintott

Senior Solicitor - Commercial Property Areas of work: Commercial Property | Property finance | Investment | Commercial leasing development | Energy | Acting for corporate clients, SMEs & family businesses and private individuals Sally joined Murray Beith Murray LLP in September 2018, having qualified as a solicitor in August 2016. She is also a Notary Public. Sally advises on all areas of commercial property including acquisitions, disposals, leasing, refinancing and renewables.

Sophie Napier

Partner - Asset Protection & Estate Planning Areas of work: Trust Law | Tax planning | Asset protection | Wills | Powers of Attorney Sophie joined Murray Beith Murray in 2011 after qualifying as a solicitor in 2009. She specialises in private client work and advises on a broad range of matters including in tax and estate planning for individuals, families and trusts. Sophie also has experience in advising high net worth individuals in complex legal matters with cross border interests. Most recently, Sophie has assisted a number of our clients who have been passing significant, valuable and varied assets to younger generations. That work requires in-depth knowledge of succession, property and tax law together with the co-ordination of other advisors assisting with the project.

Susan Leslie

Associate - Dispute Resolution Areas of work: Disputes relating to commercial and residential property contracts including those concerning missives, leases and development agreements | Agricultural tenancy disputes in terms of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Acts 1991 and 2003 | Crofting matters including the resumption of croft land and disputed entries in the Crofting Register | Applications for rectification of the Land Register for Scotland | Applications for removal or variation of title conditions | Compensation claims following the compulsory purchase of land | Servitude disputes | Professional negligence claims | Regulatory advice in terms of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 With over 25 years litigation experience, Susan has most recently specialised in property litigation and contentious planning matters on behalf of private individuals, SMEs and government departments. Susan enjoys working collaboratively with clients to achieve their aims, recognising that litigation should be a last resort in relation to any dispute. To that end, Susan is experienced in all forms of alternative dispute resolution methods including negotiation and mediation. Murray Beith Murray is a highly collaborative multi-disciplinary practice and Susan’s expertise enables us to provide a ‘joined-up’ service for a variety of legal issues across the firm, including contentious executries.

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