England - London • Private client

Wedlake Bell

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Wedlake Bell LLP fields a ‘strong team’, which covers the full range of issues facing UHNW and HNW individuals in the UK and overseas. Its UK and internationally focused team provides excellent advice to families and private business owners. The group is well placed to advise on numerous complex, cross-jurisdictional matters involving tax and tax regularisation, corporate and contentious issues as well as complicated trust structures. Other areas of expertise include providing tax planning advice for UK and international private collectors, charities and landed estates. In addition, it frequently acts for artists and galleries with heritage assets and other collectibles. Camilla WallaceJenny Cutts and Matthew Braithwaite are the practice heads. Andrew O’Keeffe excels in a broad range of contentious matters.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘In short, the team provide a comprehensive tax advisory service in the context of private clients. There is strength in depth and ready access to senior lawyers/partners'.

  • ‘Matt Braithwaite is technically sound and highly responsive'.

  • ‘Antoaneta Proctor has a lot of experience with international clients'.

  • ‘Victoria Mahon De Palacios and the team were very precise in their explanation and very prompt in acting upon our request. Even though the service was offered on pro bono basis at the generosity of the firm, we felt like VIP clients all the way through'.

  • ‘The private client team has depth and breadth to handle comprehensively the needs of individuals, families and their businesses'.

  • ‘Kate Johnson is extraordinary. Her insight brings order to chaos, promptly recognising the practical impact of complex rules. She inspires confidence'.

  • 'Camilla Wallace is impressive. She communicates marvellously, with humour and compassion, grounded in abundant practical experience and technical acumen'.
  • 'Camilla Wallace and Math Braithwaite – they are combined a real force of nature, they are a great team. Matthew is very thoughtful and very clever'.

Work highlights

  • Advised (on a pro bono basis) and put in place the structure to set up the charity, Svitlo Education. The aim of the charity is to provide online education and English language classes to children who have been affected by the conflict in Ukraine.

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Andrew O'Keeffe

Andrew O'Keeffe

Wedlake Bell LLP

Andrew advises on a wide range of contentious trust and probate matters with particular expertise in disputes concerning the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, where he has acted for spouses, partners, both adult and minor children as well as dependants. He has also acted for and advised executors in relation to such claims. Andrew is regularly asked to advise on issues regarding the validity of Wills including issues relating to testamentary capacity, lack of knowledge and approval, undue influence, fraud as well as lack of due execution and revocation. He also has considerable experience in disputes relating to the administration of both trusts and estates where he has advised trustees, executors and beneficiaries on matters such as allegations of breach of trust, actions for an account and disclosure of trust documents. He has also acted in claims relating to the removal of personal representatives or trustees. Andrew also undertakes Court of Protection work and has a particular interest in the professional negligence side of contentious trust and probate matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Camilla Wallace, Jenny Cutts, Matthew Braithwaite

Other key lawyers

Andrew O'Keeffe, Antoaneta Proctor, Victoria Mahon de Palacios, Kate Johnson