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Michael advises individuals, families, trustees and personal representatives on a broad range of private wealth and succession planning matters.

Michael helps clients to achieve their long-term succession objectives in a tax efficient manner, with a particular focus on asset protection and the preservation of family wealth. He combines technical expertise with a commercial understanding of clients' personal, family and business interests, providing pragmatic and tailored advice that reflects their individual circumstances.

Michael is committed to explaining complex legal and tax issues in a clear and accessible way, enabling clients to make informed decisions with confidence. He works closely with individuals and families throughout the wealth planning process and prides himself on building long-term trusted adviser relationships.

In addition to advising high net worth individuals, Michael regularly works alongside professional advisors, including accountants, financial advisers and investment managers to deliver coordinated solutions for clients.

Michael is a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) and an active member of STEP. He has served on the STEP Bristol Committee since 2021 and is currently the Treasurer of STEP Bristol. Michael has also been elected to the England & Wales Regional Committee (Wales & West) for a three year term commencing 1 January 2027. 

Michael was named in the eprivateclient Top 35 Under 35 in 2021.

eprivateclient Top 35 under 35

Experience

Michael has particular experience advising:

High net worth individuals and families

  • Preparing sophisticated wills, including discretionary and life interest trust structures, as well as succession planning arrangements involving assets qualifying for Business Property Relief and Agricultural Property Relief.
  • Succession and inheritance tax planning for family wealth, business interests and landed estates, including the establishment of trust and partnership structures.
  • Lifetime gifting strategies and the associated inheritance tax and capital gains tax implications.
  • Lasting powers of attorney and future incapacity planning.
  • International succession matters involving foreign assets and multi-jurisdictional estates.

Trustees

  • The creation, administration and restructuring of trusts.
  • Trustee powers, duties and decision-making, including the exercise of dispositive powers and distributions of capital and/or income.
  • Trustee liability, risk management and indemnities. 
  • Trustee appointments, retirements and broader trust governance matters.
  • The preparation and implementation of trust documentation, including deeds of advancement, deeds of appointment, deeds of retirement and appointment, and deeds of indemnity.

Personal representatives (executors and administrators)

  • Applications for grants of representation, including grants of probate and letters of administration.
  • The administration of taxable and non-taxable estates, including estates comprising business, agricultural and foreign assets.
  • Personal representative duties, liabilities, risk management and indemnities. 
  • The availability and application of inheritance tax allowances and reliefs, including the Nil Rate Band, Residence Nil Rate Band, Business Property Relief and Agricultural Property Relief. 

Beneficiaries

  • Deeds of variation and other post-death succession planning opportunities.
  • Tax-efficient trust structures and asset protection arrangements.
  • Beneficiary rights and interests in relation to trusts and estates.