In the latest round of private client appointments, senior appointments have been made at Knights, Stevens & Bolton, Payne Hicks Beach and Thomson Snell & Passmore.
At Knights, Daniel Harris (main picture) joins the Bristol as a partner in Private Client, specialising in international and cross-border law.
Bringing almost 20 years of experience to the business, Harris is ranked by both Chambers and Legal 500 and is recognised as an expert legal advisor to international clients. He provides specialist advice to UK clients with foreign assets and foreign nationals with UK assets on the most complex tax and succession matters across all jurisdictions.
Harris is also well known for advising charities and other solicitors on succession and taxation issues around the world, and is a full member of the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP) and the Law Society of England and Wales Cross Border Special Interest group.
“It’s an incredibly exciting time to be joining Knights, who are undoubtedly the leading professional services business nationally,” Harris said.
“I’m particularly excited to help grow our specialist, premium international and cross border services into the strongest in the country, and to do this together, as one team in this highly collaborative and supportive working environment.”
Independent law firm Stevens & Bolton appointed of Alexa Payet (right) as a partner in its Private Wealth Disputes practice.
Payet joins the firm from Michelmores, where she built a significant practice and strong reputation in trusts and estates litigation, specifically in contentious probate. She has nationally recognised expertise in cases involving assisted dying and relief from forfeiture applications and has helped shape this area of law.
Her practice also includes extensive work in the UK Court of Protection, advising on complex financial and property matters, including the appointment and removal of deputies and attorneys, statutory will applications, lifetime gifting and property and affairs disputes.
Payet said: “This is an exciting time to be joining Stevens & Bolton, which is on an ambitious growth trajectory. The team’s expertise in handling complex contentious private client matters, both in the UK and internationally, is well-known, and I am really looking forward to working with the team to grow the practice further, particularly against a changing legislative backdrop.”
The firm has also recently appointed Abigail Palmer-Page as head of probate and estate administration within the Tax and Trusts team, where Adam Creasey, Alice and Amelia Talfourd-Cook have all been promoted to senior associates.
At Chester-based Aaron and Partners, James Wallace (left) has taken the top role in the Wills, Trusts and Tax team, while former head of department Clive Pointon has moved into a new role supporting private clients across all divisions.
Wallace moves into the role having already led the firm’s contentious trusts and probate work, managing a team that has grown significantly and seen increasing demand in recent years. His move to head of the wider team places both the contentious and non-contentious arms of the team under his leadership.
Wallace joined Aaron & Partners in 2010 and has become one of the region’s most prominent specialists. With over 15 years of experience, he is widely known for his expertise in complex, high-value estate and trust matters, often involving cross-border elements.
He is an active member of STEP and the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists.
Wallace said: “It’s a huge privilege to take over the leadership of such a talented and dedicated team. Having been part of Aaron & Partners for such a long time, I have seen first-hand the incredible results we achieve for our clients during some of the most challenging times of their lives. “
The move is part of a wider strategic restructure at Aaron and Partners, with Pointon, who has led the WTT department for three decades, taking on the newly created role of head of private client services.
In his new role, Pointon will focus on high-level strategy while still providing bespoke legal solutions for wills, trust and tax clients across the firm’s various departments.
Payne Hicks Beach has announced a series of leadership changes which the firm says reflect both continuity and a focus on sustained growth.
Robert Brodrick has stepped down as chair of the management board after a seven-year tenure which saw him oversee modernisation and a period of record financial growth. He will continue to play a key role in the firm as a partner in the Private Client team, where he will focus on further developing his highly regarded international practice.
Lucas Moore will assume the role of chair and Kathryn Bradbury has renewed her tenure on the management board, where she will be joined by private client partner Freddie Bjorn. Both will assume the title of managing partner.
Thomson Snell & Passmore has made 21 promotions and appointments across the firm, including the appointment of Alan Kitcher, head of trust and tax management, to equity partner.
The appointment is subject to the regulatory requirements being completed to enable a non-lawyer to become an equity partner. Once complete, certified chartered accountant Kitcher will be the first non-lawyer to become an equity partner at the firm.
Elsewhere, Sarah Nettleship (Wills, Estate and Tax Planning) and Sarah Lister (Probate) have been promoted to salaried partner. In Will, Trust and Estate Disputes, Nick Buckle becomes a senior associate and Vicky Coxon has been appointed as a paralegal.
Joanna Pratt, senior partner at Thomson Snell & Passmore, said: “Congratulations to everyone on these well‑deserved promotions. Each reflects the calibre of our people and the meaningful contribution they make to the firm, our clients, and each other.
“As a strong, independent firm, our success is largely built on the quality of our people and the culture we create around them. These promotions are not only recognition of individual achievement, but also a clear signal of our commitment to investing in our talent, and ensuring they have the right tools, opportunities and environment to develop and excel.”
