What Clients Say
Private Client, Probate, Tax and Trusts
This “rightly popular” Salisbury-based outfit sees the London firms as its main competitors, and clients agree that the firm “matches any London firm but does not charge London rates.” A specialist in advising business owners and entrepreneurs, particularly on tax, Matthew Bennett from Osborne Clarke has been recruited to help deal with the increasing number of referrals from London firms and financial institutions, particularly the very wealthy clients forming the majority of the firm’s client base. The recruitment fits in with the firm’s policy of developing the best young talent in an increasingly narrow field, and complementing it with established specialists. The “absolutely first-class” team now stands at ten partners and three associates. “A leading light in the area, geographically and legally,” declare interviewees, the team at Wilsons is also praised for its “very good reputation for agricultural and international work.” The team is administering probates worth more than £300 million, handles more than 250 trusts and recently advised on a trust with assets worth more than £100 million. It also has a highly specialised Court of Protection service and one of the largest contentious trust and probate teams in the South West.
The “remarkably bright” head of department Peter FitzGerald is a “a great lawyer,” particularly in his specialist fields of wealth and succession matters for landed families and those with heritage assets. Interviewees regard him as “a man of substance, quiet in manner and offering cut-glass advice.” The “outstanding” Rhoddy Voremberg advises many clients with substantial landed estates. His “advice has a lot of substance to it” and he specialises in trust law, inheritance tax, capital gains tax, income tax and VAT on property. James Trafford leads the new money and offshore team and heads the tax and trusts team while servicing clients in 45 jurisdictions worldwide. “A talented man and very nice to deal with,” he is a popular destination for tax and trust referrals.
Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2008
James Trafford leads a ten-partner practice at Wilsons, which was joined by partner Matthew Bennett of Osborne Clarke, a specialist in advising business individuals on wealth management and tax issues. In 2006, the team administered more than 250 trusts and £300m-worth of probate. Clients appreciate the firm’s ‘willingness to discuss the reasons for advice’.
The Legal 500 The Clients' Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2007
Charities and Schools
Charities - Best of the UK
This Salisbury-based practice enjoys a national reputation for its “detailed knowledge of the law and how it affects charities,” say clients. The charity sector has always been a core focus for the firm, a fact borne out by the number of good operators who work there. Clients choose them because they “know the theory of the law and yet are good at finding practical solutions; it provides strong legal advice and workable solutions.” Alison McKenna heads the team. The addition of Peter Jeffreys is an added bonus for the team. An "approachable and proactive" lawyer, he also holds sway over a number of high-profile clients for whom he has acted over the years. Highlight matters include acting on the creation of a not for profit company for the Keep Fit Association, the Fitness League and the Medau Society. The team also acted on the administration of an estate for the Wellcome Trust.
Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2008
Charities – South West
A firm said to house “technically able and brilliant partners,” this large and committed practice continues to develop a growing national clientele. Clients praised the team for delivering “excellent and prompt advice,” while being “highly cost-effective” was said to be an added bonus for clients.
Head of team Alison McKenna is popular with clients and peers alike. She is “superb at communicating complicated issues” and is renowned for her reputation and expertise. Peter Jeffreys holds the loyalty of some very dedicated clients. “A pleasure to deal with,” he is noted as especially strong in non-contentious probate work and he advises on legacy management issues. Peter Steer heads the contentious team and was praised by clients for his “innovative thinking and practical ideas.” James Aspden is a “bright young lawyer” who “knows what he’s talking about” and is “forward-thinking,” say clients and peers alike.
Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2008
Wilsons’ charities practice has ‘extensive knowledge and the level of service is most impressive’. The three partners in the team, and particularly practice head and former Charities Commission in-house lawyer Alison McKenna, are well respected nationally. The practice was augmented in 2006 by the arrival of another former Charities Commission lawyer, Claris D’cruz. Peter Steer leads on contentious work and the firm has particular expertise in legacy management and probate. Clients include major national charities such as Mencap, Cancer Research UK, the RNLI and Scope.
The Legal 500 The Clients' Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2007
Agriculture & Estates
National Overview: Wilsons in the South West and Birketts in East Anglia, in particular, have enjoyed flourishing years for land sales, primarily achieved through attracting high net worth individuals based in London.
Sources enthuse that this firm is “absolutely marvellous” for estate property and tax law. Entrusted with a portfolio of 850,000 acres, the practice is conversant with the day-to-day and long-term strategic management of landed estates. Consequently, it has notched up substantial experience advising on management structures, personal tax, planning for succession and preservation of assets on divorce. In addition, the firm is now considered a front runner for representing farmers in matrimonial cases. After a strong year of land sales, the firm has just recruited two more assistants. “Always excellent,” the standard of property transactions is ensured through the hands-on approach of the partners.
Robert Swift heads the department and is “superb for looking at complex problems” in relation to conveyancing matters. Peter FitzGerald is up-to-date and knowledgeable on trust work. Clients appreciate his knack of explaining technical issues “with great clarity .” Alison Bailey has a focus on development matters, with sources highlighting her “efficiency” and “toothcomb thoroughness .”
Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2008
Wilsons’ large agriculture and estates practice enjoys a national reputation. Headed by Robert Swift and Peter DP FitzGerald, the firm provides strategic management advice to landowners, as well as acting in the acquisition and disposal of estates. In 2006, the firm acted for 65 large landed estates, as well as several smaller ones, with a total of 300,000 acres.
The Legal 500 The Clients' Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2007
Company and Commercial
This Salisbury-based team offers “excellent quality advice and all-round competence,” and its combination of service and “excellent value for money” ensures that it is “definitely good news for clients.” The team has a niche in advising online gaming, technology and communication companies. “Well known and well respected,” managing partner Jonathan Stephens continues to draw praise from commentators.
Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2008
Though best known for its market-leading private client work, Wilsons is also active in the corporate and commercial sector. Team head Stephen Whitmore recently led the advice on the £14m demerger of 20 London pubs out of a pub group, while managing partner Jonathan Stephens is known for his expertise in corporate finance and tax planning matters. The team, which also advised Savills on the establishment of a Knightsbridge office through its acquisition of Chesterfield, reports an increase in commercial instructions from the firm’s charity and third sector clients.
The Legal 500 The Clients' Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2007
Employment
Having moved from Lester Aldridge in April 2007, Deborah West elicits praise as an associate to watch at Wilsons in Salisbury. She has special knowledge in advice to marine industry clients in connection with their shore based and seafaring employees.
Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2008
Stephen Oxley ’s employment practice at Wilsons was strengthened by the arrival in 2006 of Reed Smith Richards Butler LLP partner Shireen Shaikh, who is a specialist in contentious law and a trained barrister. The firm mainly advises commercial employers, but its client list includes a number of large charitable organisations and independent schools. Anthony Edwards is recommended.
The Legal 500 The Clients' Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2007
Family
Wilsons’ practice functions as two separate partner-led teams. Christopher Nisbet specialises in divorce law, with a client base of high-net-worth individuals and experience in collaborative law and complex, cross-jurisdictional cases. Katharine Shaw handles the agricultural and estates clients, and has developed a national profile through the media attention her work has attracted.
The Legal 500 The Clients' Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2007
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
It also has a highly specialised Court of Protection service and one of the largest contentious trust and probate teams in the South West.
Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2008
At niche private client firm Wilsons, Mike Parker leads a ‘technically sound’ disputes team that advises the firm’s clients on issues relating to contentious trust and probate claims and agricultural property, with the latter focus benefiting from Andrew Wiltshire rejoining the team, having stepped down as the firm’s managing partner. It is ‘a class act,’ according to clients, who are amazed that the team ‘seems to always have everything at their fingertips’.
….while former managing partner Andrew Wiltshire returned to head the property litigation practice at Wilsons in late 2006, bringing expertise of agricultural and rural property litigation.
The Legal 500 The Clients' Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2007
Commercial Property
"Pragmatic, quick to respond and extremely experienced,” Judith Beddow of Wilsons in Salisbury heads the firm’s commercial property team. She works closely with the charities department on property work for schools and community buildings.
Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2008
Judith Beddow heads Wilsons’ practice, which was joined by consultant Chris Nichols and delivers ‘City-quality work’, according to clients. Highlights of 2006 included advising London outdoor media company Ocean Outdoor, and acting for Salamander Investments Ltd in an £8.5m sale of two office blocks.
The Legal 500 The Clients' Guide to the UK Legal Profession - 2007
