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London
This "excellent, in-depth" team
has a roster of high-quality clients and a series of complimentary comments
from barristers and peers. "Thorough, solid and traditional"
is said to define the Charles Russell style, underscored by a pleasing
"air of understatement," which has led sources to develop
an appreciation for the team. The firm has extended its international
reach in recent years: around half of its new instructions bearing international
aspects are increasingly coming from non-domiciled clients from the
Middle East, Far East, Russia and Europe. The team has recently focused
on reviewing UK-based clients' trusts and wills following changes made
by the Finance Act 2006, followed by the preparation of any necessary
documentation to effect the changes. Furthermore, the firm has advised
onshore and offshore trustees on investment activity, including the
disposal of assets and investment in private equity funds.
Catriona Syed is known for her "superb"
execution of matters, which is described as "extremely fast, detailed
and global in outlook ." She divides her time between London and
Geneva, where she heads Charles Russell's office. She works with individuals
and banks on complex international structures, including the use of
trusts for succession and estate planning, as well as personal tax.
Bart Peerless brings a "strong knowledge of the intricacies of
trusts and taxation" to UK and non-UK individual, banking and trustee
clients on tax, estate planning, cross-border trust structuring and
trust issues arising out of corporate activity. Patrick Russell is esteemed
for "looking after clients very well" and for "keeping
a level head and knowing how to make a project move towards completion
." His area of expertise is litigation. Robert Blower is "expected
to make an appearance in the rankings this year" by clients who
appreciate his "technical expertise, careful approach and talent
for giving common-sense advice ." He is well versed in Shari'a
law compliance and at providing tax, trust and estate planning advice
to domiciled and non-domiciled individuals. The "absolutely unflappable"
consultant David Long is acknowledged for his traditional style and
for exhibiting all the most desirable traits of a private client lawyer:
"He is able, conscientious and a safe pair of hands ." His
work centres on wills and probate, trusts, personal tax and estate planning
matters.
Catriona Syed is ranked in tier 2 of
5 as a leading individual.
Bart Peerless is ranked in tier 3 of 5 as a leading individual.
Patrick Russell is ranked in tier 3 of 5 as a leading individual.
David Long is ranked in tier
Robert Blower is ranked in tier 5 of 5 as a leading individual.
Guildford
Working closely with its offices in
London and Cheltenham, the Guildford office of Charles Russell handles
a mix of work including Court of Protection work, wills and probate
matters, business and agricultural property relief and private client
and personal tax advice.
The Lawyers: The arrival of Suzanne Marriott to head up the Guildford
private client team from the London office further expanded the team's
capabilities into offering advice on the offshore aspects of probates,
non-domiciled tax planning and offshore trusts. Clients appreciate the
firm's "fast turnaround, lateral thinking and good ideas."
Cheltenham
The Firm: The 13-lawyer private client
team in Cheltenham is fully integrated with the firm's other offices,
including one in London, and this national scope contributes to "a
good solid reputation as one of the top law firms in the country."
The department impresses clients with its breadth of expertise, "teamwork
and speed of turnaround." This year has seen the expansion of the
rural and landed estates team, which now acts for more than 50 landed
estates across the country, and the growth of offshore and international
tax and trust work.
Head of the private capital team Christopher
Page specialises in tax and estate planning and acts for more than 30
substantial estates in England and Wales. Stephen Pallister has acted
as a spokesperson for the Law Society as well as having a role in discussions
with the Treasury, the Revenue, the main political parties and the media
during the campaign over the Finance Bill 2006. This "fine lawyer"
is also among the partners spearheading the new Geneva office, which
forms part of the firm's expansion of its international private client
practice.
Christopher Page ranked in tier 2 of
3 as a leading individual.
Stephen Pallister ranked in tier 3 of 3 as a leading individual.
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