Richard is an Associate Solicitor in our Private Client team with over 5 years’ experience.

Richard works closely with private individuals, business owners, farmers and trustees on all aspects of private client work including:

• Advising on and drafting Wills;
• Advising clients on how to mitigate Inheritance tax on death by considering the destination of life policies and pension death benefits;
• Advising clients on lifetime gifts (both those to individuals and in to trust);
• Preparing powers of attorney – including Lasting Powers of Attorney and General Powers of Attorney;
• Registering Lasting Powers of Attorney and Enduring Powers of Attorney with the Office of the Public Guardian;
• Advising Deputies and Attorneys acting in the administration of the affairs of incapacitated individuals;
• Advising clients on estate and succession planning to ensure that assets, both those owned personally and in businesses, pass to the next generation;
• Advising on Inheritance Tax planning, in particular on the reliefs and exemptions available to individuals;
• Advising clients in the administration of estates to ensure Personal Representatives fulfil their responsibilities and obligations, including obtaining Grants of Probate/Grants of Letters of Administration and accounting to H M Revenue and Customs for Inheritance Tax;
• Advising beneficiaries of estates regarding their entitlement and in particular in redirecting entitlements under Deeds of Variation;
• Advising on and drafting trusts, including trusts to protect assets from attack, trusts to utilise Inheritance Tax reliefs and trusts to earmark assets for the next generation;
• Advising existing Trustees on their obligations and responsibilities and assisting in the administration of on-going trusts, including Disabled Beneficiary Trusts.

Richard is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and is a member and the current Secretary of the STEP North East and Cumbria branch committee.

Richard was recently shortlisted for ‘Young Practitioner of the Year’ at the STEP Private Client Awards 2017.

Richard also delivers guest lectures at local Universities to both undergraduate and postgraduate students studying Equity and Trusts.