Based in the South of England, law firm Thrings has appointed a new private client, succession and tax specialist, Douglas Smith as Partner.
Douglas brings with him a wealth of experience in the sector. He boasts over 30 years of experience of acting for UK and non-UK domiciliaries on tax planning, drawing up Wills and trusts, and probate work involving the administration of large complex estates.
Moving from Blake Morgan, Douglas’ new role will see him provide tailored advice to aid new and existing clients to capitalize on their tax-free allowances and reliefs with regard to inheritance tax, capital gains tax, income tax, and stamp duty land tax, and also allows them to reap benefit from domestic and offshore tax mitigation structures.
He will also build on his proven track record in resolving clients’ technical tax issues with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), as well as advising on heritage property-related tax work – including making applications to obtain conditional exemption from tax through dealings with HMRC’s Heritage team.
Douglas’ sizeable existing client caseload will be brought over to substantially enhance Thrings’ private wealth services – in particular, his clients include high-net-worth individuals with business interests in the UK, the Middle East, and the United States.
Douglas Smith said of his appointment with Thrings:
“The rapid pace of change within tax law, set against a backdrop of ongoing economic and political uncertainty, means it is arguably more essential than ever that individuals with specific personal and commercial objectives manage their legal affairs at the correct time and in a way that reflects their personal and financial circumstances.
“Thrings recognises the value that a private client presence can add to its commercial client base. As a result, I am tremendously excited to be contributing to the ongoing expansion of the firm and providing legal advice which adds value and allows clients to make informed decisions about their tax and succession affairs.”
Fiona Kellow, Head of Private Client at Thrings in Swindon added:
“We are delighted to welcome Douglas to Thrings and look forward to seeing him add his vast knowledge and expertise to the firm’s highly regarded succession and tax team.
“Douglas’ advisory skills will not only compliment our private individuals’ needs, but he will also be able to provide much more in-depth specialist advice for individuals in business structures. Private client is a growth area which we recognise and our teams are well placed to deal with the needs of clients from all fields.”
