Private Client: The South

This venerable Tunbridge Wells firm acts for high net worth individuals (HNWIs) throughout the South East and beyond. In addition to tax, trusts and estates planning, the team advises on family charitable trusts, family foundations and other sophisticated asset structuring vehicles. The team also has a strong contentious capability, more than equal to complex, multijurisdictional trusts disputes.

Client Service "Effective, efficient and great listeners."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Simon Leney leads the team. In addition to his "excellent" work assisting HNWI and families with their tax and trusts planning, he is a noted expert on charities law. Mary-Anne Gribbon draws accolades for her "exceptional client management skills." Anne Lewis handles a range of private client services including high-value Court of Protection work, often involving offshore assets. Peter Scott focuses on asset protection and capital tax planning. He takes a particular interest in family charitable trusts and philanthropy, in his role as head of the charities team.

This growing Guildford-based team boasts expertise across nearly all facets of private client law. A large proportion of its work is referred by leading City private banks, and the team has an excellent pedigree in handling matters relating to non-domiciliaries and offshore tax and trusts structures.

Commercial Awareness "A City firm away from the City."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Nick Acomb acts for high net worth clients with assets in the UK and overseas. He is also sought after for his knowledge and experience of heritage and landed properties held in trust. Stuart Skeffington leads the team. His focus lies mainly in complex capital tax, family office and succession planning.

This firm, with offices across the region, is one of the South's most dynamic. The private client group advises high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients on UK and offshore tax and estate planning, as well as financial institutions and private banks. The firm has a specialist team devoted to contentious trusts and probates work. The group also handles high-value personal injury trust and deputyship matters. 

Commercial Awareness "Consummately professional."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Leader of the Gatwick team Richard Thornely is adept at the full range of complex private client work, including care for the elderly and Court of Protection proceedings. Anthony Nixon is the regional head of private client. He is described as being "technically very strong but also able to speak in a language his clients can understand." James Quarmby is expert at international trust law, the creation and administration of cross-border family trusts and handling Inland Tribunal investigations. Patricia Woolgar, heading up the Worthing team, is admired for her care for the elderly and retirement planning practice.

With offices in major Channel ports Portsmouth and Southampton, it is fitting that this firm has perhaps the most celebrated expertise in French private assets and tax law in the region. Other areas of excellence include probate and tax and succession planning for a client roster ranging from professionals through entrepreneurs to old money families.

Client Service "They make you feel welcome – a very sympathetic atmosphere."

KEY INDIVIDUALS The "kind, quick and effective" Rachel Brooks excels at Court of Protection, probate and estate reorganisation matters.

This compact Guildford team has an esteemed cross-border probate and estate management practice, and has won many admirers with its creativity in establishing asset structures better tailored to tax mitigation than conventional trusts. The team has extensive experience in handling thorny inheritance disputes where challenges are levelled on grounds of testamentary capacity and undue influence. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sally Ashford leads the team. 

Based in Southampton, the team at Paris Smith thrives on complicated capital and inheritance tax planning instructions. Acting for entrepreneurs and wealthy landowners, the team administers a number of high-value trusts, and has an effective contentious arm. The firm's Court of Protection practice is also singled out for mention. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Crispin Jameson focuses mainly on wills, probates and trusts work - contentious or otherwise. David Bird specialises in tax planning and asset reorganisation for business owners.

Penningtons has a good name for its distinguished client roster of old money and landed families, but this should not obscure its popularity with closely-held business owners and HNWIs. In addition to its advice on tax, trusts and estates issues, the team's care for the elderly and retirement planning services are very highly thought of. 

Commercial Awareness "A consistently impressive all-round practice."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Julie Burton specialises in Court of Protection proceedings and the administration of personal injury trusts. Michael Cash leaves clients "delighted with the results" of contentious trusts and probate matters he is instructed in.

The private client team at this Tunbridge Wells firm continues to impress interviewees from London and the Kent countryside. The team handles tax, trust and estate planning and often rather complex probate work. The firm has one of the region's leading Court of Protection and care for the vulnerable practices.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Head of department Jeremy Passmore engages in estate planning and trust administration for high net worth clients, often with assets in multiple jurisdictions. Simon Brown does similar work, and has a large following of agricultural and landed clients.

Based in Lewes, Adams & Remers has an enviable record serving the needs of business owners, farmers, landed estates and old money clients. The team handles the full range of private client work, including tax, trusts and estate planning, probate and Court of Protection proceedings. The firm opened a London office in September 2010.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Francis Nation-Dixon acts for a number of landed estates, including the Glyndebourne and Firle estates. "Highly efficient" head of department Christopher Walker advises on tax planning and trust administration, with a bias towards owner-managed businesses. 

The team at this Kent firm helps manage the affairs of farmers, landowners and wealthy families. In addition to orthodox tax, wills and succession work, the team handles contentious probates and trust disputes. It also has a highly regarded Court of Protection practice. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Simon Palmer is head of the department. His clients are mainly farmers, landowners and wealthy families from London and the Home Counties.

Based in Bournemouth, Southampton and London, this group is well known for the quality of its contentious trusts and probate work, much of which has an international dimension. The firm has a distinguished specialism in the creation and administration of family partnerships as a wealth preservation strategy. 

Client Service "Matters are exercised in a very prompt manner and conducted with sensitivity, fairness and sound judgement."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Barry Glazier is well liked by landed and entrepreneurial families, who find him "charming and highly intelligent." Geoff Thomas, a "litigator to his fingertips," handles much of the team's complex contentious work.

This firm, with offices in Crawley and Maidstone, performs the full spectrum of tax, trusts and estates planning and will drafting. A particularly strong suit for the team is its work in the Court of Protection arena, such as personal and catastrophic injury trust administration, and professional deputyships for the elderly. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Glen Miles is a key contact.  

This leading Surrey firm has offices in Godalming, Guildford and Woking - the former two being devoted exclusively to private client services. The team gets tax and wealth planning instructions from HNWI from London and the Surrey 'stockbroker belt'. Further, the firm has a widely respected retirement planning and care for the elderly practice. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Tim Adams is a key contact. 

This "ultra efficient" small, traditional practice in Winchester caters to a local clientele, advising them on all facets of private client work, including equity release, trust administration, tax planning, support for the elderly and powers of attorney. The lawyers also undertake contentious probate and trust matters. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Alan Cowgill has a wide-ranging private client offering, which includes contentious work, and is described as "sensible, straightforward and personable."

This Brighton firm offers a comprehensive private client service. In addition to the high calibre of legal advice on offer, the firm is associated with GSFW Wealth Management, made up of Certified or Chartered Financial Planners. The team's clients include the Private Secretary to HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

Client Service "A very personal, attentive service." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Nadia Cowdrey heads the tax, trusts and estates department. Clients warm to her "charming and relaxed manner."

The quality and efficiency of trust and probate dispute resolution at this Southampton firm is singled out for accolades by interviewees. It has a similarly good reputation for its personal injury trusts management, capital and inheritance tax mitigation work too.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Carla Brown advises clients on family trusts, tax and wills. She pleases interviewees with her "efficiency and consummate professionalism."

This Surrey institution is well liked by clients and third party professionals for the varied and in-depth knowledge harboured in its private wealth department. The team's capability extends to the full range of tax, trusts, estates and succession planning. The firm also has a team devoted to probate work.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Mehboob Dharamsi is valued by clients for his "sound technical knowledge and his friendly and open attitude." His practice covers more or less the full spectrum of private wealth management and planning.

The team at this Tonbridge firm has a good name in Kent for its capital tax planning expertise, and especially for the depth of knowledge and experience on hand for probate and trusts matters. Its clientele includes eminent professionals, landed and wealthy rural families.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Charles Warner is a key contact.