Private Wealth Law - Reading and surrounds
Band 1
What the Team is Known For
The team at Blandy & Blandy has a long-standing reputation for the strength of its private client work. The lawyers advise on high-value estate administration and provide a range of planning advice for high net worth clients. The firm also advises clients on contentious probate, including 1975 Act claims.
Strengths
Blandy & Blandy have exemplary communication when it comes to ensuring their clients receive the service expected. This ensures the probate process is as seamless as possible for the client.
Blandy & Blandy have consistently shown a high degree of personal engagement and an excellent sensitive approach with vulnerable clients, allowing additional time wherever required to ensure that our clients understood the processes involved.
Blandy & Blandy are very efficient and have extensive knowledge of estate administration. The team were always very responsive and an absolute pleasure to work with.
The team have in-depth knowledge of tax, trusts, wills and estate planning. They have a good understanding of family wealth and financial structures, and provide clear, plain‑English explanations of complex matters.
Blandy & Blandy are highly supportive of their clients. The team have great communication both with us and with their clients, and they are proactive.
Notable practitioners
Graham Benwell is a senior practitioner and consultant to the team. He has considerable experience advising private clients on a range of matters, including trust administration.
Graham Benwell is always excellent, prompt and focused on the right issues.
Graham Benwell's work is outstanding.
Graham provides first-rate customer service.
Graham has great experience and knowledge.
Caroline Casagranda is an experienced practitioner in high-value estate administration matters, particularly wills and LPAs. She is well regarded in the Reading area.
Caroline Casagranda is highly experienced at what she does. She knows how to handle client situations, is highly proactive with advice and is keen to get results for her clients.
I find Caroline knowledgeable and she really puts clients at ease, explaining complex ideas in an understandable way.
Caroline Casagranda is extremely easy to work with, and while being approachable to clients, she is also very knowledgeable in her expertise.
Jonathan Gater advises private clients on wills, estate administration and trusts.
Jonathan is knowledgeable, approachable and really puts clients at ease.
Jonathan is commercially minded, bringing practical, business‑focused judgement to private client issues. His blend of expertise, accessibility and pragmatic insight distinguishes him from peers.
Jonathan has a fantastic ability to break down complicated matters into easily digestible steps, giving clients the ability to navigate their legal affairs with confidence. He is very much a problem solver and talks in a clear, concise and straightforward manner.
Jonathan Gater stands out for his extensive experience and deep technical knowledge, which underpin the clarity and confidence of his advice. He is easy‑going and highly approachable, making him very straightforward to work with, even on sensitive or complex matters.
Angela Bowman is a private client lawyer with experience drawing on estate administration, 1975 Act claims and proprietary estoppel. She is particularly well regarded for her work with charities.
Angela Bowman will go to great lengths to give her best service. She is extremely knowledgeable, with human compassion.
Angela Bowman is immensely respected by the charity sector for her devotion to her cause and her ability to handle cases brilliantly, as well as understand the imperatives and communicate the legal issues.
Angela Bowman is highly knowledgeable in her specialist field of contentious probate disputes. She also takes time to know those instructing her and gain a better understanding of their concerns and objectives.
Quite simply, Angela is absolutely outstanding and has a huge presence in this space. She looks after her clients' interests, manages their expectations, and provides sensible and practical advice.
Elizabeth Short is a partner in the private client team working on complex estate administration matters and inheritance planning.
Elizabeth Short is very experienced and knowledgeable in the area of estate administration. She is also very empathetic to client needs.
Elizabeth is an excellent private client solicitor. She is very good at empathising with clients and provides very clear and accurate communication.
Elizabeth has looked after our clients well, providing a professional but approachable service.
Elizabeth has an eloquent style and great levels of client care. Our clients are always in safe hands.
Elizabeth Short stands out for her strong technical knowledge, her friendly and approachable manner, and her ability to make even complex matters feel straightforward. She is clear, measured and highly capable, and she brings an energy that makes her genuinely fun to work with.
