Practice Areas
Simon heads-up the private wealth and succession team in the Leeds office, which advises on complex trusts, and lifetime tax, estate, and succession planning for high net worth individuals and business-owning families. His team also has significant experience and expertise in dealing with the full range of private client legal issues including Wills, powers of attorney, and assisting in the administration of estates.
Complex estate planning
Simon has extensive expertise in a diverse range of private wealth matters, with a primary focus on executing complex estate planning strategies for business owning families with substantial assets. To maximise tax efficiency in estate asset transitions, Simon delivers expert guidance on the best options to achieve the client’s goals.
Simon regularly works in collaboration with clients’ other advisors to provide a cohesive and joined up service which results in the best outcome for them.
Overseas assets
Simon acts for clients located throughout the country and beyond, and has a thriving practice in advising both UK based individuals and families with international interests and structures, and clients based outside of the UK, but who have assets and structures located in the UK. This work often involves putting in place or advising upon structures such as trusts, private investment companies and partnerships.
Family investment companies
Simon is a recognised expert in family investment companies and has been advising wealthy families on using these structures as part of their estate planning since 2013. He works closely with the firm’s corporate and commercial teams in delivering advice in this area.
Trustee and Deputyship
Simon acts as a professional trustee (including on charitable structures) and professional deputy. He is also regularly approached by other law firms to act as a court appointed independent administrator and trustee in respect of estates and trusts where there have been disputes, and is supported by Schofield Sweeney’s contentious trusts and estate team in doing so.
Simon is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and is a recommended lawyer in the current Legal 500 guide.