Department profile
Stevens & Bolton LLP

Private Wealth Law

High Net Worth Guide 2026 : Guildford and surrounds

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Stevens & Bolton LLP

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About

Provided by Stevens & Bolton LLP

Stevens & Bolton's Private Wealth team advises individuals, families, trustees, family offices & entrepreneurs in the UK and internationally on the preservation, protection, and succession of wealth. Combining technical excellence with personal service, we provide clear, practical advice tailored to each client's personal, financial, and family circumstances.

Our integrated team advises across the full spectrum of private wealth matters, including wills, succession planning, trusts, estate and probate administration, taxation, charitable giving, heritage property, and landed estates. We're recognised for bringing together legal, tax, trust, and fiduciary expertise to deliver joined-up solutions for private clients and their advisers. Much of our work has an international dimension, including cross-border succession planning, trusts, tax and estate matters for globally mobile individuals and families. Our private wealth disputes specialists work closely with our advisory teams to provide seamless support where disputes arise. We advise on contentious trusts and estates, Inheritance Act claims, trustee applications, succession disputes, trust-related matrimonial issues, and tax litigation. We act for high-net-worth & ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, trustees, charities, family offices, and entrepreneurs. Clients value our technical expertise, commercial pragmatism and personal approach, delivered through long-term trusted relationships and advice they can act upon.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Private Wealth Law - Guildford and surrounds

Band 1

What the Team is Known For
Stevens & Bolton has a particularly strong private client team. The team is capable of handling high-value and cross-border contentious as well as non-contentious trusts and estates matters.
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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Stevens & Bolton provide outstanding technical knowledge, consistently excellent client service and practical and helpful advice. They factor in the commercial context.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

  • Stevens & Bolton's key distinguishing factor is their experience with private capital transactions and complex private fund structures. This is rare for many private client teams, particularly outside of London. The firms also has a personable approach and plays a leading role in the development of tax policy.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

  • Stevens & Bolton have a personable approach, which clients enjoy. They have a broad knowledge of their discipline and, most importantly, superb and prompt communication.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

  • The key strengths of the Stevens & Bolton private client department are its technical expertise and consistently high level of responsiveness. The team is adept at handling complex UK tax and trust issues within a US/UK cross-border context and is highly effective at working alongside US advisers.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

  • Stevens & Bolton stand out among similar-sized firms by offering City-level expertise with a more personal, accessible service. Their strong specialist teams, many with City firm backgrounds, operate collaboratively from a single office, providing clear, responsive advice across complex matters.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • James Lister
    James Lister

    James Lister

    James Lister is esteemed as one of the leaders in the field of private wealth disputes.

    • James stands out not only because he is an excellent lawyer but because he goes above and beyond to make litigation enjoyable for all those involved in it. He truly has his clients' best interests at heart.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • James is an exceptionally gifted adviser; he always attracts the confidence and trust of his clients, and he's a very skilled and persistent negotiator.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • James is my favourite person of all time to work with. He is incredibly intelligent; he grasps the most complex legal points with ease. He is able to service the most sophisticated of clients because his level of commercial awareness is right up there with the best of them, and he knows how to get clients what they want.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • James offers practical and pragmatic solutions to ensure the best approach for the client.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • James is second to none in this market. He does massive international trust disputes all the time.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
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  • Rosie Todd
    Rosie Todd

    Rosie Todd

    Rosie Todd is a partner at Stevens & Bolton and has particular expertise in personal tax planning around business exits, private equity deals and investment fund structures. She regularly advises wealthy clients on their closely held businesses and trust structures.

    • Rosie Todd is incredibly approachable and has great manners with clients. She guides them through complex matters without confusing them with unnecessary technical language.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Rosie Todd is a 10/10 private client tax adviser. She is extremely clever, responsive and great to work with.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Rosie Todd consistently shows exceptional technical skill, clear communication and a warm client-focused approach. Her attention to detail and ability to handle sensitive high net worth matters with confidence and discretion set her apart from others in the market.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Rosie Todd is my go-to expert for all technical or complex matters. She is super effective, knowledgeable and incredibly easy to deal with.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
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  • Daryl Fox
    Daryl Fox

    Daryl Fox

    Daryl Fox is well regarded and advises on a range of private client matters, including estate administration.

    • Daryl Fox is very responsive and helpful in the way she explores various legal options. She is very proactive in providing the pros and cons around these options.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
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  • James Hardaker
    James Hardaker

    James Hardaker

    James Hardaker is a partner at Stevens & Bolton and regularly advises wealthy clients on cross-border tax and succession planning matters.

    • James Hardaker always receives positive and complementary feedback from the clients we refer to him.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
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  • Matthew Peto
    Matthew Peto

    Matthew Peto

    Matthew Peto is a partner at Stevens & Bolton. Peto advises wealthy clients on trusts and estates matters, and is particularly noted for his knowledge and technical capabilities.

    • Matthew Peto is exceptionally bright and an extremely well-rounded solicitor. He is amazing at taking care of his clients and is very attentive.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Matthew Peto is very professional and provides sound advice. He guides clients through the process, whilst enabling them to make their own decisions. I felt completely at ease and confident with Matthew, his team and the firm. I know my affairs will be handled efficiently in the future and with the expertise and competence I need.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • We were impressed by Matthew's quick grasp of the issues and his empathy. We were also impressed by the quality and clarity of his advice.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Matthew Peto is an extremely good operator balancing empathy, clarity and simple advice.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
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  • Jack Bailey
    Jack Bailey

    Jack Bailey

    Jack Bailey is a partner at Stevens & Bolton and has a significant reputation for representing clients in complex, often multi-jurisdictional trust disputes.

    • Jack is a tenacious litigator.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Jack Bailey is always extremely helpful, approachable and responsive.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Jack is superb. He is really calm, careful, measured and has a real sense of where the case is going.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
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  • Hayley Robinson
    Hayley Robinson

    Hayley Robinson

    Hayley Robinson is a senior associate at Stevens & Bolton and has a growing reputation among clients and peers for her contentious trusts and estates expertise.

    • Hayley is a marvellous senior associate. She is really good and very strong on the detail.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Hayley is an excellent solicitor. She always keeps the client's ultimate goals in mind and is very aware of the commercial realities of any situation.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Hayley is extremely helpful and responsive, and a safe pair of hands.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • She has excellent attention to detail and is a really strong litigator.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
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Ranked Individuals at Stevens & Bolton LLP (7)

Guildford and surrounds

The South

Members

Provided by Stevens & Bolton LLP

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