Anthony Nixon

I have more than 40 years’ experience of acting for clients in succession planning and associated tax issues. I have become recognised as one of the country’s leading experts in inheritance tax and in the law and taxation of trusts.

In June 2023 I was shortlisted in STEP’s private client awards, as Trusted Adviser of the Year.

My whole career has been based in major towns and cities on the South Coast, but I have acted for clients from the Scilly Isles to North Yorkshire and from East Anglia to South Wales, and for landowners in countryside throughout England and Wales.

I am a member of Paris Smith’s Agriculture team and Equine team, advising farming businesses, landowners, horse owners and equestrian businesses on succession planning, tax and estate structuring matters.

I work with the owners of family businesses, both rural and urban, to plan for the next generation. A critical part of this is ensuring that inheritance tax reliefs, such as business and agricultural relief, are maximised. I also help to balance the interests of those who will carry on the family business with those who may not be directly involved.

I relish tackling complex (often inherited) family ownership structures, often comprising several trusts and/or several companies, and streamlining the arrangements to suit the modern world.

As well as being a solicitor, I am a member of CIOT (the Chartered Institute of Taxation) and so am a Chartered Tax Adviser (abbreviated to CTA).

I was a founder member of the Bournemouth branch of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners). In 2017 I was elected to represent Southern England on the (international) Council of STEP. I am a member of STEP’s UK technical committee.

I led the team at my previous firm which successfully appealed to the Supreme Court in Routier v HMRC [2019] UKSC 43 – overturning HMRC’s denial of inheritance tax charity relief on a gift for charitable purposes to be carried out in Jersey.

STEP

Member - Chartered Institute of Taxation - Chartered Tax Adviser