Private Client Solicitors
Expert Private Client Law Firm in London
Our private client solicitors provide clear, practical advice on wills, trusts, probate, tax planning and lasting powers of attorney. We help you protect your wealth, plan for the future and support your family with confidence.
“Osbornes has good clients and an extremely capable team of private client litigators. All of the partners are excellent and the trainees are also very helpful.”
“Jan is highly regarded by other private client lawyers: honestly, she’s the lawyer other lawyers would choose to deal with their own affairs. She keenly identifies the issues to focus on and delivers.”
Legal advice for individuals, families and their wealth
From wills and estate planning to high net worth divorce and wealth protection, our private client team looks after all your personal legal affairs under one roof.
Osbornes Law is a London-based private client law firm ranked in Chambers High Net Worth and Legal 500. We advise individuals and families on the full range of personal legal matters including wills, trusts, estate planning, inheritance tax, probate, lasting powers of attorney, wealth protection and family law.
What sets a private client solicitor apart from a general practitioner is the ability to see how your personal legal affairs connect. Your will, your trusts, your tax planning and your family arrangements are not separate issues, they interact, and changes to one can affect the others. Our private client lawyers work across these areas so that the advice you receive is joined up and nothing falls through the gaps.
We act for individuals and families across London and throughout England and Wales, from those making their first will to those with complex international estates, business interests and multi-generational wealth. Whether you need advice on a specific issue or want a solicitor to look after your family’s legal affairs on an ongoing basis, we are here to help.
Wills, trusts and estate planning
Protecting and passing on your wealth starts with getting the right structures in place. Our private client solicitors advise on:
- Drafting and updating wills, including wills for high-value and complex estates with international assets or blended families.
- Setting up and administering trusts including discretionary trusts, life interest trusts, and bare trusts, to protect assets, provide for family members and reduce inheritance tax.
- Estate planning to minimise the tax your estate pays on death, using lifetime gifts, exemptions, reliefs and trust structures.
- Inheritance tax planning and inheritance tax returns.
- Lasting powers of attorney and Court of Protection applications.
If someone in your family has died, we also handle probate and estate administration, including complex and high-value estates and international probate.
Find out more about our wills, probate and estate planning services.
High net worth divorce and family law
Divorce and family disputes are among the most significant legal events in anyone’s life, and for high net worth individuals the financial stakes can be very high. Our family law team is ranked in Chambers UK and Legal 500 and has particular expertise in high net worth divorce, including cases involving business assets, trusts, pensions, properties in multiple jurisdictions and complex financial structures.
We advise on financial settlements, arrangements for children, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and cohabitation disputes. Where assets are held in trusts or corporate structures, our family and private client teams work together to protect your interests.
Read more about our high net worth divorce services or family law services.
Wealth protection
Protecting your family’s wealth requires planning across several areas of law. We advise on:
- Structuring your assets to protect them for future generations, using trusts, family investment companies and other vehicles.
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements to protect wealth in the event of divorce.
- Succession planning for family businesses, including shareholders’ agreements and buy-sell arrangements.
- Protecting assets from potential claims, including Inheritance Act claims and claims by dependants.
- Tax-efficient wealth transfer during your lifetime and on death.
Our private client solicitors work with your accountants, financial advisers and wealth managers to make sure your legal structures are aligned with your broader financial planning.
Inheritance disputes
When families fall out over money or estates, the consequences can be lasting. Our contentious probate team handles disputes over wills, executor conduct, trust administration and Inheritance Act claims. Most disputes settle without going to court, but where litigation is needed, we will take firm action to protect your position.
Find out more about contentious probate and inheritance disputes.
International estates and cross-border planning
Many of our private clients have assets, property or family connections in more than one country. We have particular expertise in international estate planning and cross-border probate, and work with a network of trusted lawyers in other jurisdictions to make sure your affairs are handled correctly wherever your assets are held.
Read more about our international estate planning services.
What does a private client solicitor do?
A private client solicitor advises individuals and families — rather than businesses — on their personal legal affairs. The term “private client” covers a broad range of work, including making wills, setting up trusts, planning for inheritance tax, administering estates after a death, applying for lasting powers of attorney and advising on the Court of Protection.
In many firms, private client work also overlaps with family law, particularly where high net worth divorce involves trusts, tax planning or complex asset structures. At Osbornes, our private client and family law teams sit alongside each other and regularly collaborate on cases where both areas of expertise are needed.
The advantage of instructing a private client solicitor rather than a generalist is that they understand how different aspects of your affairs interact — for example, how a change to your will might affect your inheritance tax position, or how a trust established for tax purposes might be treated on divorce.
Why choose Osbornes as your private client law firm
Our private client team is ranked in Chambers High Net Worth and Legal 500, and we are listed in The Times Best Law Firms. The team is led by Jan Atkinson, a senior solicitor with over 30 years’ experience, and includes members of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) and ACTAPS. We hold the Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS) accreditation.
Our family law team, which works closely with our private client solicitors on high net worth matters, is separately ranked in Chambers UK and Legal 500 and was named Law Firm of the Year (London) at the Family Law Awards.
What our clients value is having one firm that understands the full picture — your will, your trusts, your tax planning and your family situation — rather than having to brief multiple firms on different pieces of the same puzzle.
Speak to a private client solicitor
Call us on 020 7485 8811 or fill in the contact form below to arrange an initial consultation. Whether you have a specific legal need or want to discuss how we can look after your family’s affairs more broadly, we are happy to have a conversation.
Frequently asked questions
What is a private client solicitor? A private client solicitor advises individuals and families on personal legal matters such as wills, trusts, estate planning, inheritance tax, probate, lasting powers of attorney and the Court of Protection. They differ from business lawyers in that their clients are people, not companies.
What is a private client law firm? A private client law firm is one that specialises in advising individuals on their personal legal affairs. At Osbornes, our private client work covers wills, probate, trusts, estate planning, inheritance tax and the Court of Protection, and we work closely with our family law team on high net worth divorce and family matters.
Do I need a private client solicitor or a wills solicitor? If you have a single, straightforward need — making a will, for example — a wills solicitor is all you need, and our wills and probate team can help. If your affairs are more complex, involving trusts, tax planning, international assets or family law considerations, a private client solicitor can advise across all of these areas and make sure they work together.
Do you advise on high net worth divorce? Yes. Our family law team has particular expertise in high net worth divorce, including cases involving business assets, trusts, pensions and properties in multiple countries. Our family and private client teams work together on these matters.
Can you work with my accountant or financial adviser? Yes. We regularly work alongside accountants, financial advisers, wealth managers and tax advisers to make sure our legal advice is aligned with your broader financial planning.
Do you handle international estates? Yes. We have particular expertise in cross-border estate planning and international probate, and work with lawyers in other jurisdictions. Read more about our international estates work.
What areas of London do you cover? We are based in Camden, north London, but act for private clients across London and throughout England and Wales. We can meet in person, by phone or by video call.
How much does a private client solicitor cost? Fees depend on the type and complexity of the work. We are transparent about costs and will give you a clear estimate before we start. For some services, such as wills and LPAs, we offer fixed fees. For more complex work, we charge on a time basis and keep you updated on costs throughout.
Speak to a Private Client Solicitor today
Call us 020 7485 8811
Email us Send us an email and we’ll get back to you
Private Client Accreditations
The responsive team at Osbornes acts for a wide range of wealthy individuals and families on a variety of trusts and estate matters.
The team work efficiently together and exceptionally good at sharing their extensive knowledge and ideas so that their cases can move forward quickly.
They are friendly, responsive and knowledgeable.
When I refer to Osbornes I know that my clients will be well looked after and advised.
Very good at general advice on estate and inheritance tax planning and dealing with IFA's where trusts have funds under investment.
They are on the ball, efficient and not phased by complexity. Sound advice and reliable.
I instruct them in both straightforward and complex cross-border probate applications.
The practice at Osbornes often acts for a wide range of HNW individuals and families on complex estate and trust cases, frequently dealing with cross-border estates.
The Osbornes contentious trusts team is a force to be reckoned with in the London market.
Osbornes is a strong medium-sized firm based in North London but with a regional presence.
Most of the team have a solid grounding in non-contentious work which greatly assists in finding effective compromises to complex disputes.
A team of dedicated specialists led by Jan Atkinson.
An ambitious team with high quality work.
Osbornes has a young and dynamic team that is really going places. They have a real passion for private client work with the ability to deliver great results.
They have a personable, sensible but commercial approach.
Osbornes has good clients and an extremely capable team of private client litigators. All of the partners are excellent and the trainees are also very helpful.
We'd like to thank all of you for your professionalism in helping us deal with everything for the past 17 months. Even though our choice of law firm at the beginning was random, we're glad we came to you. We're very grateful that you're on our side and fighting for what's rightfully belongs to us! We couldn't have had a better lawyer representing us and we appreciate you more than you can imagine.
A full service team which punches above its weight, dealing with a range of UK and international clients.
Very high standards of client care, efficient and very good collaboratively when working for clients in common with our firm.
Jenny Walsh is a full member of STEP and a key figure who specialises in non-contentious private client matters, often with a cross-border dimension.
The nimble team at Osbornes acts for trustees, executors, personal representatives, and other high-net-worth individuals.
Excellent team doing high-end work. Would always consider for referral and conflict work.
Jan Atkinson heads up the team and is a respected senior lawyer.
An ambitious team who work hard for their clients.
The calm and experienced Jan Atkinson is at the helm of the team.
Osbornes acts for a wide range of high-net-worth individuals, families, and trust companies in complex estate and trust litigation.
Osbornes has a practice which is big enough to take on substantial cases and small enough to retain a personal touch.
With a deep sense of gratitude, I want to thank you all for your diligent and comprehensive contributions and assistance in my legal travails.
I am sure you know how stressful legal proceedings can be for everyday laypersons like myself. Thankfully, you have been a bastion of support and reassurance during these trying months, and I struggle to find the right words to express my sincere gratitude.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
A private client team offering a range of services to assist with private client matters including trust and probate services. A friendly approach with a keen eye for detail.
I have been a client of this firm for a number of years and been impressed by particular individuals, the care and thoughtfulness with which they have worked.
An efficient firm which provides an excellent service at highly competitive charging rates.
The team receives a steady flow of instructions from high-net-worth individuals and families on an array of tax planning, wealth preservation, estate and succession planning issues
I think this firm has excellent strength and depth in this area, for both contentious and non-contentious work, and they can hold their own against any other firm.
I have found them to be incredibly knowledgeable and pragmatic in settling claims for their clients.
The contested estates team is strong with talented young solicitors doing good quality work
The nimble team acts for a broad range of high-net-worth individuals and families on a variety of complex estate and trust litigation.
Osbornes has a ‘strong private client department’ and ‘the firm seems to be going from strength to strength’.
Thank you for managing my case, following a complete fiasco before I contacted Osbornes Law. I know that the work involved was rather complicated, possibly frustrating and often time consuming. I was impressed with your current knowledge of the case when we had the first meeting at your office. I regard a face-to-face meeting as imperative in developing positive relationships. Members of your team, such as Alex and Ella were impressive too, with their efficient, friendly manner of working.
I am grateful for your patience, advice and excellent support at a difficult time. Hopefully it won't be necessary to contact you again regarding this matter! I will definitely use Osbornes Law in the future."Jan Atkinson, with her steely, steady, calming presence, instils confidence in the most highly-strung of us clients. With her masterful knowledge of the law, old and new, and its application, Jan can navigate through the most complex of cases to a successful end."
"I find Osbornes’ client-friendly approach welcoming and refreshing"
"A medium-sized London firm dealing with big litigation and doing it extremely well because of a depth of expertise and experience."
My family had the pleasure of Jan Atkinson working with us on the will and probate issues of [my mother's] estate in Camden and Ireland after she passed on last year. Jan and her assistant(s) offered us a fantastic service at a sad time.
"Jan Atkinson stands out for her wide-ranging knowledge and experience of estates; whatever problem you throw at her, she has seen it all before and is able to find a creative and sustainable solution. She has exceptional commitment to her clients and explores every avenue to find the best solution for them"
The team is very caring, experienced and detailed and was clear about the next steps and offered very helpful advice and suggestions
Jan Atkinson has extensive experience in private client matters, which underpins her excellent skills in the contentious probate area. Plus she is strong on international matters
A small but formidable team, punching above its weight. Jan Atkinson is a seasoned pro. Approachable but no push-over
"They are an outstanding firm to work with. They are consistently impressive in their work."
"Elspeth Neilson is very reliable and practical."
"The team frequently deals with cross-border estates for high–net-worth individuals."
"The team were extremely professional in putting my needs first. There was a joined-up approach to catering for the client, and all lawyers involved were briefed and constructive."
"Service prompt and effective. I have absolute confidence in Maggie."
I am happy with the service that I got and would recommend you to other potential clients.
I found Osbornes always very helpful and efficient.
We are very pleased with the services of Osbornes. Highly professional and through with close attention to detail.
I would highly recommend Jan Atkinson in any probate matter and Osbornes Solicitors in any other legal matters.
Jan Atkinson is a very proficient lady whom I would highly recommend to anyone involved in probates.
Thanks for all your work and explaining everything so clearly. For any legal matters in the future I would not hesitate in instructing Osbornes.
We have found your service to date as the most informative we have come across.
Jan Atkinson is confident with a straightforward approach. Her practice covers both contentious and non-contentious matters, including wealth planning and estate administration.
I would like to thank everyone in my case for the excellent job!
Private Client News & InsightsVIEW ALL
26.1.2026Court Removes Trustees for Hostility to Beneficiaries
Trustees removed because of hostility towards beneficiaries When administrating a trust, the trustees manage the assets and therefore owe far-reaching...
Read more- 14.1.2026
Digital Assets Now Count in Your Will
Making a will now that digital assets are recognised as personal property We live in a sophisticated technological age, yet...
Read more - 11.12.2025
MoJ data indicates steep rise in probate claims
Why probate claims are increasing and what this means to families The chances of being involved in probate disputes are...
Read more - 13.10.2025
‘Needy’ 74-Year-Old Son Wins Inheritance Claim
74-year-old son awarded share of late mother’s estate in inheritance claim The contested wills and probate team at Osbornes...
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20.8.2025High Court Rejects Fraudulent Will in Probate Dispute
Justice for a daughter: High Court rejects fraudulent will in probate disputes In this recent High Court decision [Khatun v...
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15.8.2025Assisting a Death and Inheritance
Assisted dying and inheritance: can beneficiaries disapply the forfeiture rule by agreement? The growing number of people with terminal illnesses...
Read more- 30.7.2025
The Cost of Poorly Drafted Wills
The perils of using an unqualified will-writer: don’t risk the fallout If you’re tempted to use an unqualified...
Read more - 29.7.2025
Dementia & Wills
Contesting a will due to dementia The contested wills and probate team at Osbornes Law represents clients involved in all...
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17.7.2025Key Ruling on Foreign Inheritance Judgment
Foreign judgment setting aside English will could not be registered and enforced in England The contested probate team at Osbornes...
Read more- 7.7.2025
Daughter Wins Care Payment Claim Against Mother’s...
Daughter’s claim for payment for late mother’s care succeeds A judge has allowed a woman’s contractual claim...
Read more - 4.6.2025
Supreme Court Confirms ‘No-Profit’ Rule For Fiduciaries
Trustees: Supreme Court confirms ‘no change’ to ‘no-profit’ rule for fiduciaries The contested probate and trusts team at Osbornes Law...
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15.5.2025Family Conflicts Over Contested Wills
Inheritance disputes: when loved ones become opponents over an unclear will The contested wills and probate team at Osbornes Law...
Read more- 9.12.2024
Executors’ and Administrators’ Duties
Introduction When someone dies, others need to take on the formal responsibility for dealing with the deceased’s estate. If...
Read more - 9.12.2024
What To Do When Someone Dies
When a loved one dies, getting to grips with what you need to do can seem bewildering. The first question...
Read more - 6.11.2024
High Court Validates Donation in Will Dispute
High Court validates gift made during Covid lockdown in Will Dispute In what may be one of the first covid...
Read more - 5.11.2024
Protecting Loved Ones with Dementia
If a person lacks capacity how should decisions be made for them? Dementia is a cruel disease, slowly robbing individuals...
Read more - 12.7.2024
Probate Mediation
Why choose mediation for contested probate? At Osbornes, we understand that probate litigation is often highly emotive. Unfortunately, there is...
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12.7.2024Is A Handwritten Will Legal?
Is a handwritten will legal? Is a question we often hear, especially when time is of the essence, and putting...
Read more- 25.4.2024
A Guide to Will Trusts
What is a trust in a will ? Setting up a trust in your will can protect assets for your loved...
Read more - 25.4.2024
A Guide to Asset Protection Trusts
One good reason to place your assets into a trust is to protect family wealth without fearing for its future....
Read more - 25.4.2024
What is a Mirror Will?
Mirror wills are mirror images of each other and practically the same in every way. They suit couples, married or...
Read more - 23.4.2024
A Guide to Life Interest Trusts
In today’s complex families, protecting assets for your children while ensuring that a surviving spouse can still enjoy them...
Read more - 23.4.2024
Discretionary Trusts
What is a discretionary trust? With a discretionary trust, there is no automatic right for beneficiaries to receive funds from...
Read more - 23.4.2024
Disputes Between Executors and Beneficiaries
What are your rights? When a loved one dies, their beneficiaries understandably want to settle their affairs and receive their...
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