Department profile
Michelmores LLP

Private Wealth Law

High Net Worth Guide 2026 : Exeter and surrounds


Michelmores LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Michelmores LLP

Our private wealth advice covers a range of specialities to the sector, including traditional private client advice of the highest quality to commercial advice to new corporate entrants into the market on all aspects of their business.

We also work closely with banks, wealth management entities and other advisers, who help to protect our clients’ key assets, and advise the private wealth industry itself in a range of sector specialist areas We’re increasingly talking to opportunity-led multi-generational clients, where an impact-balanced portfolio has never been more important.


Seamless client service

Our reputation and experience in the sector continues to attract financial institutions, partnerships and other advisers as clients. They see us operating as a key player in the UK’s private wealth sector and appreciate our understanding of its fast-changing regulatory and commercial environment. Crucially, we do not offer private wealth management services, allowing us to work with a variety of independent specialists who do.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Private Wealth Law - Exeter and surrounds

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Michelmores offers a private wealth law practice for complex trust and private client matters. The firm is experienced in both contentious and non-contentious cases involving probate and inheritance, residential property, sophisticated tax and estate planning, and agricultural litigation.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Michelmores has deep knowledge of all matters relating to trusts, particularly in the realms of tax and cross-border matters.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • In my experience, Michelmores are very calm under pressure and work flexibly to achieve their clients' aims. They are very approachable and adept at achieving pragmatic and commercial solutions.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • The department stands out in the industry for its exceptional ability to drive efficiency and cost‑effectiveness for clients. The team works collaboratively with partner organisations, enabling them to focus on strategic priorities and deliver solutions that are genuinely aligned with client needs. Another distinguishing strength is the operational discipline of the fee earners and partners. They are consistently well organised, proactive and provide all necessary information promptly, which ensures smooth workflows and minimises delays.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • The firm is friendly and has a pragmatic approach to conflict resolution.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Senior StatespeopleSandra Brown
    Senior StatespeopleSandra Brown

    Sandra Brown

    Sandra Brown advises a wide range of private clients, with particular expertise in complex estate administration and trust work.

    • Sanrda is very experienced and a really safe, comfortable pair of hands.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Sandra is excellent and responsive, with some of the best technical expertise in the industry.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Sandra is an absolute pleasure to work with – consistently attentive, highly knowledgeable, and genuinely committed to delivering a smooth and efficient service.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1James Frampton
    Band 1James Frampton

    James Frampton

    James Frampton is a partner in the firm's tax, trusts and succession team. Frampton advises a range of HNW individuals in the UK and abroad, with particular expertise in trust structures, power of attorney matters and UK tax advice.

    • James is a first-class lawyer with a very quick mind. He has a real understanding of, and ability to explain, complex trust law coupled with empathy when dealing with families and beneficiaries.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • James is extremely knowledgeable, an excellent team player and handles complex matters with ease.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • James is highly knowledgeable and inquisitive, enabling him to fully understand client needs and apply his considerable technical skills to good effect.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • James is a very skilled and attentive lawyer who can easily convey complex subjects to clients.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1Tony Cockayne
    Band 1Tony Cockayne

    Tony Cockayne

    Tony Cockayne is engaged in a broad range of private client disputes, including contentious trusts and probate litigation both nationally and throughout the South West. Cockayne acts for high net worth individuals and national charities.

    • Tony Cockayne is a very good litigator and a very strong defender of his clients' interests.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Tony is very much a bigger-picture person. He is very good at explaining the art of the possible to the client.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Tony knows his area extremely well. He is incredibly practical and is always thinking tactically with a view to an end for clients, and that's what clients really want.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 2Edward Porter
    Band 2Edward Porter

    Edward Porter

    Edward Porter is a partner at Michelmores and has a strong reputation in trusts and estates planning work.

    • Edward Porter provides an excellent level of client service and is consistently responsive, clear and well organised in his approach. He brings a high degree of sophistication to complex matters and demonstrates strong commercial awareness, offering pragmatic guidance that reflects a solid understanding of client priorities. Working with him has been straightforward and highly professional throughout.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Edward is excellent and responsive, with some of the best technical expertise in the industry.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 2Iwan Williams
    Band 2Iwan Williams

    Iwan Williams

    Iwan Williams is a partner who advises wealthy clients on onshore and offshore structuring, trusts and succession planning.

    • Iwan Williams is a real aficionado of the private wealth world. He is very skilled with people but also thoroughly on top of all the issues.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Iwan is an excellent trust and tax lawyer. He is highly personable and approachable.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Iwan is exceptionally polite with clients, which is of great assistance when discussing tender topics.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Iwan is an exceptional lawyer. His technical knowledge is excellent and he has a very sophisticated understanding of his field. He was able to understand our needs as clients quickly and to draw on the knowledge and expertise of his colleagues to deliver on a complex matter under extreme time pressure.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 3Anna Parker
    Band 3Anna Parker

    Anna Parker

    Anna Parker advises clients on tax and estate planning matters, and is able to assist with French property acquisitions. Parker recently joined Michelmores in Bristol.

    • Anna is brilliant on the tax side, really good with clients, very approachable and really good at figuring out practical solutions.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Anna is my go-to solicitor for the more technical cases. She is also a great communicator and highly efficient.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Up and ComingGemma Shepherd
    Up and ComingGemma Shepherd

    Gemma Shepherd

    Gemma Shepherd is a partner in the tax, trusts and succession team at Michelmores. She advises high net worth families and family businesses on complex succession and estate planning matters as well as administration.

    • Gemma's knowledge, attention to detail and understanding of the information that I require has been excellent.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Gemma is always very easy to work with. She replies in a timely manner and is very reliable, dealing with matters in the most professional way.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Star AssociatesJasmine Ivory
    Star AssociatesJasmine Ivory

    Jasmine Ivory

    Jasmine Ivory is a legal director based in Michelmores' Exeter office. She is a litigator focusing on inheritance and estate disputes.

    • Jasmine always provides excellent advice and goes above and beyond to help find solutions to resolving complex estate disputes. She is incredibly approachable and a real asset to the firm.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Jasmine is an expert in her area of law. She provides carefully considered and clear instructions and shows great insight into complicated areas of the law of trusts.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Jasmine is very attentive to detail, structures things very well, and presents points to the other side very articulately.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Jasmine is a real star. She is smart, switched on and has huge amounts of potential.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Star AssociatesWilliam Coon
    Star AssociatesWilliam Coon

    William Coon

    William Coon is an impressive senior associate commended for his legal expertise and client care.

    • William Coon is very switched on, good with clients and good under pressure. He is a star in the making.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • William Coon is excellent. He has an intelligence and wisdom that goes beyond his years. He is very wise, detail-oriented, and his analysis is very impressive.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • William provides excellent detailed advice and specialises in complex areas of estate disputes. We value his advice and support in these matters.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • William is a pleasure to work with. He is responsive and knows what he is doing.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Associates to watchCharles Frost
    Associates to watchCharles Frost

    Charles Frost

    Charles Frost is a legal director at Michelmores in Cheltenham. He assists clients with high-value succession planning and tax advice.

    • Charles has key strength in client communication and project management.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Charles is exceptionally polite and very reassuring when discussing sensitive matters.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Charles and his team struck the right balance between professionalism and efficiency and ensured we had the correct legal structure in place by the deadline.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Associates to watchLisa Benham
    Associates to watchLisa Benham

    Lisa Benham

    Lisa Benham is a managing associate in the disputed wills and estates team at Michelmores. She advises clients on a range of contentious probate matters, including Inheritance Act claims, will validity challenges and professional negligence claims.

    • Lisa has helped us achieve some excellent outcomes in our estate disputes. She manages claimants and reputational concerns incredibly well, with the urgency that they require.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Lisa is commercially minded, efficient, very good with clients and very pleasant to deal with.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Lisa was calm and settlement-focused. It was a case that needed steering towards a consensual solution and she handled it very deftly.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Lisa is sensible and pragmatic on the other side. You know that ultimately she'll deal with the matter in a professional way.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Associates to watchSarah O'Grady
    Associates to watchSarah O'Grady

    Sarah O'Grady

    Sarah O'Grady is a managing associate at Michelmores. She advises clients on a wide range of contentious private client matters, including will challenges, Inheritance Act claims, and cases concerning agricultural estates and proprietary estoppel.

    • Sarah O'Grady is very technical and rigorous in her legal analysis but also so calm.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Sarah is super experienced. The key thing, apart from her competence which I take as read, is her ability to get on with clients. She has a mixture of competence and strong interpersonal skills.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • I have found Sarah to be extremely insightful, with a sensible and pragmatic approach to difficult and sensitive client issues.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

Ranked Individuals at Michelmores LLP (12)

Bristol and surrounds

Cheltenham and surrounds

Exeter and surrounds

South West

Members

Provided by Michelmores LLP

Michelmores LLP has rankings in the following guides

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership