Druces LLP

Private Client 

Helen is a Partner in the Private Wealth team. Her background and specialisms include Wills, probate including UK and foreign domiciliary estates, trusts, court of protection work, lasting powers of attorney, tax planning and charity law. She also leads Druces’ Charities and Philanthropy practice.

She is a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS); Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Association of Lifetime Lawyers (formerly Solicitors for the Elderly), Mencap, The Thomas More Society, British German Jurists Association and the National Association of Independent Administrators – (NAIA). She has written articles for the Financial Times and Daily Telegraph and has appeared on BBC TV and Radio to discuss a range of private client topics. Helen speaks fluent German and has experience taking on cases with a German or Austrian element.

In her spare time, Helen enjoys the theatre, and arranging charity fundraising events.

Helen has regularly been commended in Legal 500 for her work in several areas and is known to be a ‘highly trusted advisor’ who is ‘excellent, competent and efficient’.

• “Helen Freely has unravelled a complicated trust set up in a will. She handled it quickly, efficiently and successfully. She is extremely impressive with an eye for detail and an impressive grasp of trust and tax law”.
  “Helen Freely is excellent with clients and a very good lawyer. She dealt with a monstrously difficult case with calm and compassion but also fought hard for her clients”
• “High level and wide range of knowledge, very friendly to deal with, sensible and commercial approach. Helen Freely and Caroline Cropley are the key names”
• “Helen Freely is an excellent lawyer who really goes the extra mile for her clients in order to secure a good outcome for them”.
• “Helen Freely – very experienced and with good judgment. Keeps focused on client’s best interests even when they struggle to themselves’”.
• “From a barrister’s perspective, considered one of the very best contentious private client firms. Sterling reputation. Helen Freely and Paul Levy are both superb. Very hardworking, thorough, pragmatic, the complete package. Congratulations to Paul on his recent and well-deserved promotion to Partner”.

  Reported Cases

Eade v Hogg [2021] EWHC 1057 – acted successfully for the widow in this rectification / construction case.

Clark v World Wildlife Fund & Others [2011] WTLR 961 – acted as Independent Administrator in this case.

German (fluent), French (basic) and Spanish (basic).