Areas of Practice
Track Record
Advising an international entrepreneur on the tax-efficient transfer of £30m of shares in a privately owned business into trust for children in advance of an IPO. This involved asset protection considerations, securing business property relief for inheritance tax purposes and hold-over relief for capital gains tax purposes. It also required swift service in order that the transfer could occur suitably in advance of the IPO
Advising on the UK tax implications of a proposed corporate restructuring for a multi-jurisdictional, family business held in an offshore trust and liaising with other advisers in various different jurisdictions to ensure a full understanding of the global tax implications
Assisting a significant family business client in reviewing family governance and inter-generational succession plans, advising on the potential benefits of adopting a family charter and on associated asset and wealth protection options and strategies
Advising a wealthy non-UK resident, non-UK domiciliary on the impact of his spending more time in the UK. This included structuring an associated UK property purchase, advice in respect of his Wills and succession planning and taking the laws and tax regimes of various jurisdictions into account (dovetailing the structuring accordingly)
Awards & Rankings
Legal 500, Hall of Fame, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024 & 2025
Private Client Global Elite, Global Elite Lawyer, 2024
Chambers HNW, Ranked Individual, 2018 – 2024
Legal Week Private Client Global Elite, Elite Lawyer, 2022
Recommended Tax Lawyer in the Spear’s Tax & Trust Index, 2021
EprivateClient Top 50 Most Influential, 2017 – 2019
Chambers Global, Top Ranked Individual, 2019
Chambers UK, Top Ranked Individual, 2017 & 2019
Legal Week Private Client Global Elite, Top 200, 2018, 2019 & 2021
Legal 500, Leading Individual, 2017 & 2018
Chambers Global, Ranked Individual, 2017
Chambers HNW, Top Ranked Individual, 2017
Publications
Business Families and Family Businesses STEP Handbook for Advisers 2018
Tolley’s Estate Planning
Memberships
International Academy of Estate and Trust Law (TIAETL)
Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS)
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) (member of the editorial board for STEP Journal)
Education & Qualification
University of Southampton
Qualified as a solicitor in 1999
Recommended by Simon
Nicola’s panel will look at ‘Insights into Wealth and Trust Protection’, where she will be joined by Joanna Grandfield from Mills & Reeve, Richard Kershaw from Hunters Law and Nicholas Yates KC from 1 Hare Court. Together, they will look at what to consider when drafting pre- and post-nuptial agreements, what constitutes undue pressure and family charters.
Read more 2 min read 18 Sep 2024 James Woods-Davison to speak at the ThoughtLeaders4 Contentious Trusts Next Gen SummitSenior Associate, James Woods-Davison will be speaking at the Contentious Trusts Next Gen Summit on a panel looking into how trustees can manage their risks and liabilities alongside Aidan Briggs at New Square Chambers and Jemma Goddard at Stewarts.
Read more 2 min read 23 Aug 2024 James Woods-Davison speaks at the ThoughtLeaders4 & ContTrA event on ‘Investments & ESG’Senior Associate, James Woods-Davison is speaking at the 4th annual ThoughtLeaders4 & ConTrA Private Client Summer School: ‘Ultimate Insider’s Guide to All Things Private Client’, taking place at Downing College, Cambridge on 21 – 23 August.
Read more 2 min read 04 Jul 2024 Nicola Bushby speaks at the ThoughtLeaders4 Annual Contentious Trusts SummitPrivate Wealth Disputes Partner, Nicola Bushby will speak at the ThoughtLeaders4 Annual Contentious Trusts Summit . Nicola will be joining a distinguished speaker panel to discuss the circumstances in which the role of protectors becomes contentious.
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