Bath law firms and some of their best lawyers have achieved top rankings in a leading international guide used by the private wealth industry.
Among the firms appearing in the 2018 edition of the Chambers High Net Worth guide are Royds Withy King, which has two offices in the city, Stone King and Mogers Drewett.
All three are ranked as Band 2 firms in the guide’s section on private wealth firms based in Somerset. Royds Withy King also has one of its lawyer ranked in Band 1 for work in private wealth disputes across the whole of the South West while single-office Bath firm Mowbray Woodwards has one of its lawyers ranked among the ‘notable individuals’ in private wealth in the Somerset market.
Chambers and Partners, which produces a series of well-respected legal publications based on research by an independent and expert team, says in its High Net Worth guide that Royds Withy King is “very well known” in the Somerset area and is considered a “leading firm in the market”.
Its private client team in Bath advises clients on estate and succession planning and Court of Protection matters, as well as inheritance and trusts disputes. The team assists clients with the establishment and management of offshore trusts and other asset-holding structures.
This “very dynamic firm” wins praise from clients, according to Chambers. One client commented on its “approach in terms of taking what can be complex and stripping out the legal jargon is a really strong point. They are also very good at getting to the point and offering clients the most straightforward solution”.
According to Chambers, one interviewee said Mogers Drewett “provides a good service, they have great expertise and the people there have quite an empathetic approach with clients,”. “They deliver a prompt and sound service, it is a very efficiently managed firm." The team assists clients with trust, estate and tax planning, and also advises on care planning and Court of Protection matters.
“They are very personable and engaging, and they have a deep understanding of the area and of their clients’ needs,” states a source. Another comments: “The team go the extra mile and it is always easy to understand and follow their advice.”
Stone King is well regarded in the Somerset market, according to Chambers, with sources commenting on the firm’s depth of experience and longevity in the market. “They have been here for a long time, they are well established and have got a lot of experience,” one source says in the guide, adding: “They know what they are doing, they are very reliable and are very well resourced.”
Sources commend the firm for the client service it provides to private clients. One client reports: “They really pull out all the stops. They put in extra to make sure everything goes through. They are very professional and friendly, and give real, proper advice.” A market insider also enthuses: “I do genuinely find them particularly excellent. They are very nice and considerate of their clients, they go that little bit further. They have got it right, I see and hear and feel good things. They get the deal done and will do it correctly, with the best end for their clients. They have the full package, they are efficient, helpful and always have clients' best interest at heart”.
Chambers High Net Worth guide also ranks what it calls ‘notable practitioners’ – individual lawyers well regarded for their expertise and experience in their field.
Royds Withy King partner Amanda Noyce, pictured above left, appears in Band 1 for her work in private wealth disputes across the South West.
She is described by a peer as a “top lawyer in the field, and very easy and sensible to work with.” An experienced litigator who heads the firm’s contested wills, trusts and inheritance disputes team, she is also described as “a real star in this area, she gets loads of work in and deals with it brilliantly,” by one source, who added: “You can be immediately confident she will deal with things in an efficient and confident manner; she gets great results for her clients.”
Royds Withy King’s head of the private client department James McNeile, who is also part of the firm’s agriculture and rural team, appears in Band 2 for Somerset law firms. He has experience advising a range of clients, including landed estates, and families, and he regularly assists non-UK domiciled clients.
Royds Withy King Bath office lead partner Stuart Brazington said: “We are extremely pleased to have achieved another set of high level rankings which reflects our expertise in private client practice areas. The individual recognition of Amanda and James shows their commitment to delivering a consistently high level of service to their clients.”
Stone King’s head of the trusts and estates team Alison Allen, pictured right, also appears in Band 2 for Somerset private wealth lawyers. The guide says she has particular expertise in advising elderly clients on a wide range of care planning matters. It quotes one client as saying that she is “very personable, caring and knowledgeable.” Another source said “I have never heard anyone say a bad word about her. She looks after her clients and they all like her,” and also notes her “depth of knowledge” and “responsiveness”.
Her colleague Dan Harris, who heads the firm’s international and cross-border group and advises domestic and foreign clients on multi-jurisdictional succession and tax planning, also appears in Band 2. Sources recognise that he does “a lot of foreign domicile work” and describe him as “excellent”, according to the guide.
Also at Stone King, Andrew Mortimer works closely with private individuals, families and elderly clients on a range of matters, including Inheritance Tax planning, wills and the creation and management of trusts, according to Chambers. One client described him as “very knowledgeable and straightforward”, and another says he is “excellent, and lovely”.
David Whitworth, who heads the wills, trusts and probate team at Mowbray Woodwards. He advises clients on Inheritance Tax planning, trusts and wills. One interviewee says he is an “invaluable resource”, and another adds that “he is very conscientious and highly qualified. He has detailed knowledge and some very personable traits”. A source reports: “I find that he communicates his knowledge in a clear manner that clients understand, and I trust him to provide a first-class service. He offers personal, friendly and efficient service and I have no hesitation in recommending him”.
David Hill at Mogers Drewett has a broad private client practice and regularly handles tax and estate planning matters and estate administration, according to the guide. One client comments that he is “both sympathetic and pragmatic, and takes time to understand issues and deal with them in a timely fashion”, adding: “He is quite softly spoken and has a real ability to cut through the noise when needed”. Another reports that he is “very technically proficient, approachable and super experienced”.
