The Ipswich office of Birketts LLP is the lynchpin of its private client practice and is home to some of its most experienced partners. The firm hired tax specialist Gavin Birchall from accountancy firm Scrutton Bland in 2023 to co-lead the group along with firm-wide head of private client Louise Long and local lead private client advisory partner Lorna Spear. Senior associates Jessica Godfrey-Withey and Rhiannon Russell as well as legal director Claire Tenwick also play key roles in the firm's tax and estate planning work. The firm has 'a really strong team, full of very capable and approachable people', who handle the full range of tax, trust, lifetime planning and Court of Protection matters.
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Testimonials
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‘Professional and engaged. I have dealt with Lorna Spear, Louise Long and Jessica Godfrey-Withey, all of whom I have found to be knowledgeable and responsive.’
‘Lorna Spear is very easy to talk to and listens to my concerns. She is extremely knowledgeable and suggests things that are relevant for me. She is efficient and professional.’
‘The team is full of competent lawyers who know their subject and can give advice competently without sitting on the fence. I have no direct experience of other firms practising in the private client area but the general reputation of Birketts is such that I would expect them to be better across the whole range of matters.’
‘Louise Long is extremely competent and pleasant to deal with.’
‘The team provides top-level practical advice and work very well with client's other professional advisors’
‘Having referred Claire Tenwick to a client, it was incredibly pleasing that the client then gave her really good feedback regarding her manner, advice and the implementation of the advice.’
‘A really strong team, full of very capable and approachable people. Great strength in depth.’
‘A really great team headed by Louise Long. Jessica Godfrey-Withey has been a delight to deal with.’
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Practice head
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Louise Long, Lorna Spear, Gavin Birchall