Wealth Planning Solicitors
Protecting your wealth requires expert legal advice
We work alongside your financial adviser to create the legal structures your wealth needs — from wills and trusts to inheritance tax planning and lasting powers of attorney.
Call 020 7485 8811 today.
“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.”
“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.”
Osbornes Law is a London-based law firm with specialist private client solicitors who advise high-net-worth individuals and families across the UK. Our team is ranked in Chambers High Net Worth and the Legal 500.
Building wealth takes years. Protecting it, structuring it properly and making sure it passes to the right people at the right time takes expert legal planning.
That’s where we can help. Our private client solicitors provide legal advice on wills, probate and estate planning, trusts, inheritance tax planning and estate administration for individuals and families with substantial assets.
We’re not financial advisers — we don’t offer investment advice or sell financial products. What we do is work closely with your existing adviser, accountant or wealth manager to make sure the legal side of your wealth planning is properly structured and tax-efficient.
Table of Contents
What is wealth planning?
Wealth planning is the process of putting the right legal structures in place to protect your assets, reduce your tax liability and make sure your wealth passes to your beneficiaries as you intend.
It’s broader than just writing a will. Wealth planning includes:
- Structuring your estate to minimise inheritance tax
- Creating trusts to protect assets for future generations
- Making lasting powers of attorney in case you lose mental capacity
- Planning for business succession if you own a company
- Protecting assets from care home fees, divorce or bankruptcy
- Coordinating UK and international estate planning if you have assets overseas
If your estate is worth more than £325,000 (or £500,000 if you own a property), you’ll likely have an inheritance tax liability. If you own a business, have investment portfolios, hold multiple properties or have complex family arrangements — such as a second marriage or dependents with special needs — you need proper wealth planning.
How wealth planning solicitors work with financial advisers
This is an important distinction that many people find confusing.
What solicitors do: We create the legal documents and structures that protect your wealth. That means drafting wills, setting up trusts, advising on inheritance tax strategies, preparing lasting powers of attorney and handling estate administration when someone dies. We also advise on the legal aspects of asset protection — how to structure ownership of property, how to protect wealth in the event of divorce or bankruptcy, and how to ensure your estate is distributed according to your wishes.
What financial advisers (IFAs) do: They advise on investments, pensions, insurance and savings. They recommend where to invest your money, how to structure your pension drawdown and what financial products suit your circumstances. They’re regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
We are not financial advisers. We do not provide investment advice, recommend financial products or hold ourselves out as regulated by the FCA. What we do is work closely with your IFA, accountant or wealth manager to make sure the legal structures are in place to support your financial plan.
For example: your IFA might recommend a pension drawdown strategy to provide income in retirement. We’ll draft a will that ensures the pension death benefits go to the right people, and create trusts to protect other assets for your spouse and children. Your accountant might advise on structuring your business for tax purposes. We’ll handle the legal side — shareholder agreements, business property relief planning and succession arrangements.
The best wealth planning happens when your legal and financial advisers work together. We’re used to liaising with other professionals and we welcome the opportunity to coordinate with your existing team.
Our wealth planning services
Our private client solicitors provide legal advice across the full range of wealth planning matters.
Wills for high-net-worth individuals
A will is the foundation of any estate plan, but for high-net-worth individuals, will drafting is rarely straightforward.
You may own multiple properties, have investments in different countries, hold shares in a family business or have complex family arrangements such as children from a previous marriage. Your will needs to account for all of this.
We draft wills that:
- Minimise inheritance tax by making full use of available exemptions and reliefs
- Protect assets for your spouse while ensuring children from a first marriage inherit
- Incorporate trusts to manage how and when beneficiaries receive their inheritance
- Deal with business assets and ensure succession is properly planned
- Accommodate international assets and comply with foreign inheritance laws
- Appoint the right executors and trustees to manage your estate
We also review existing wills to identify problems that could cause disputes after your death.
If your circumstances have changed — you’ve remarried, sold a business, acquired property overseas or had more children — it’s important to update your will. We’ll make sure it still reflects your wishes . Learn more about making a will.
Trust creation and management
Trusts are one of the most effective tools for protecting wealth and controlling how your assets are distributed.
We advise on and set up:
Life interest trusts — These give your spouse the right to live in the family home or receive income from investments for the rest of their life, while preserving the underlying capital for your children. They’re particularly useful in second marriages where you want to provide for your current spouse but ensure your children ultimately inherit.
Discretionary trusts — These give your trustees the flexibility to decide when and how much each beneficiary receives. This can be useful if you have young children, beneficiaries who aren’t good with money or family members whose circumstances may change over time.
Property protection trusts — These protect your share of the family home from being used to pay for care home fees, while still allowing your spouse to live there. They need to be set up well in advance — you can’t create one when care is already imminent.
Trusts for vulnerable beneficiaries — If you have a child or dependent with a disability or who lacks mental capacity, a trust can provide for them without affecting their entitlement to means-tested benefits.
Pilot trusts — Small trusts set up during your lifetime that can be used to receive assets from your estate on death, offering flexibility and potential tax advantages.
We also advise trustees on their duties, help with trust administration and deal with HMRC reporting requirements. Read more about our trust services.
Inheritance tax planning
Inheritance tax is charged at 40% on the value of your estate above the nil-rate band. For most people, that’s £325,000. If you leave your main residence to direct descendants, you may also qualify for the residence nil-rate band, which adds another £175,000. This means a couple can pass on up to £1 million before inheritance tax applies — but only if their estate is structured correctly.
If your estate exceeds these thresholds, we can help you reduce the tax bill through:
Lifetime gifts — You can give away up to £3,000 per year without any tax implications. Larger gifts may be exempt from inheritance tax if you survive for seven years after making them. We’ll advise on the most tax-efficient way to make gifts while retaining enough to live on.
Trusts — Assets placed in certain trusts may fall outside your estate for inheritance tax purposes, reducing the amount charged on your death.
Business property relief and agricultural property relief — If you own a business or farmland, you may qualify for relief of up to 100%. We’ll make sure your affairs are structured to take full advantage of this.
Charitable bequests — Leaving at least 10% of your net estate to charity can reduce the inheritance tax rate from 40% to 36%.
Spousal exemption — Anything you leave to your spouse or civil partner is exempt from inheritance tax. We can help you structure your wills to make full use of both spouses’ nil-rate bands.
It’s important to understand that we provide legal advice on how to structure your estate and assets. For advice on the financial side — such as whether to invest in business relief schemes or how to structure pension contributions — you’ll need to speak to your financial adviser or accountant. We work alongside them to make sure the legal and financial planning are aligned. Explore our inheritance tax planning services.
Lasting powers of attorney
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity.
There are two types:
Property and financial affairs LPA — This allows your attorney to manage your bank accounts, pay your bills, sell property and make investment decisions on your behalf. It can be used as soon as it’s registered, or only if you lose capacity — you decide.
Health and welfare LPA — This allows your attorney to make decisions about your medical treatment, where you live and your day-to-day care. It can only be used once you’ve lost capacity.
Most people need both.
Without an LPA, your family would need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order if you lost capacity. This is expensive, time-consuming and stressful — particularly if family members disagree about who should be appointed. The court process can take many months and cost several thousand pounds.
We’ll help you choose the right attorneys, explain their duties and responsibilities and register the LPAs with the Office of the Public Guardian. We’ll also advise on safeguards you can put in place to protect against financial abuse.
LPAs aren’t just for elderly people. Anyone can lose capacity through an accident, stroke or sudden illness. If you own property, have savings or investments or run a business, you should have LPAs in place. Find out more about lasting powers of attorney.
Estate planning and administration
We take a comprehensive view of your estate — looking at everything you own, how it’s owned, who will inherit and what tax will be due.
This includes:
- Reviewing how property is owned (joint tenants or tenants in common) and whether changes are needed for tax or asset protection reasons
- Advising on pension death benefits and making sure your nomination forms are up to date
- Identifying assets that will pass outside your will (jointly owned property, life insurance policies, pensions) and ensuring they’re structured correctly
- Coordinating UK and international estate planning if you have assets overseas
- Reviewing your existing wills, trusts and powers of attorney to make sure they still work for your circumstances
Learn more about our estate planning services.
When someone dies, we also handle probate and estate administration. This involves:
- Applying for the Grant of Probate
- Valuing the estate and dealing with HMRC
- Paying inheritance tax and other liabilities
- Distributing the estate to beneficiaries
- Administering any trusts created by the will
If you’re an executor, we can take on as much or as little of the administration as you need. Some executors prefer to handle everything themselves with occasional legal advice. Others want us to deal with the entire process.
We also act in disputed estates — if there’s a challenge to the validity of a will, a claim under the Inheritance Act or a dispute between executors and beneficiaries. Our contentious probate team can help resolve estate disputes.
Specialist wealth planning
Business succession planning — If you own a business, we’ll work with you to plan what happens to it when you retire, become incapacitated or die. This includes shareholder agreements, business property relief planning, key person insurance and buy-sell arrangements. We liaise with your corporate lawyers and accountants to make sure your personal and business affairs are properly coordinated.
Second marriages and blended families — Life interest trusts are often the solution here, but every family is different. We’ll help you balance the needs of your current spouse with your wish to provide for children from a previous relationship.
Asset protection — How you own assets can make a significant difference if you divorce, face bankruptcy or need to pay for care. We advise on changing the ownership of property from joint tenants to tenants in common, creating trusts to protect assets and restructuring estates to reduce exposure.
Philanthropy and charitable giving — If you want to leave a legacy to charity, we’ll advise on the most tax-efficient way to do it — whether through your will, a charitable trust or lifetime donations.
Digital assets — Cryptocurrencies, online accounts, intellectual property and digital businesses are all part of modern wealth. We’ll make sure your will and estate plan account for them.
Who needs wealth planning?
You should consider wealth planning if:
- Your estate is worth more than £325,000 (or £500,000 for a couple) and you want to reduce your inheritance tax liability
- You own multiple properties or have substantial investment portfolios
- You run a business and need to plan for succession
- You have a second marriage and want to provide for your spouse while protecting your children’s inheritance
- You have complex family arrangements — such as children from different relationships, dependents with disabilities or estranged family members
- You own assets in different countries and need coordinated UK and international planning
- You want to protect your wealth from care home fees, divorce or creditors
Wealth planning isn’t just for multimillionaires. If you own a house in London or the South East, you may already be over the inheritance tax threshold. If you have pensions, savings and investments on top of that, you could have a significant tax liability without realising it.
The earlier you start planning, the more options you have.
The wealth planning process at Osbornes Law
Step 1: Initial consultation — We’ll meet with you (in person or remotely) to understand your circumstances, your assets, your family and your objectives. This initial consultation will be charged at the hourly rate of the solicitor you see. Any further fees will be confirmed at this stage.
Step 2: Comprehensive review — We’ll review any existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney and estate planning documents you have. We’ll look at how your assets are owned, identify any tax liabilities and work out what needs to change.
Step 3: Strategy development — We’ll recommend a tailored plan based on your circumstances. If you have a financial adviser or accountant, we’re happy to liaise with them to make sure our legal advice aligns with their financial planning.
Step 4: Document drafting — Once you’ve approved the strategy, we’ll draft the necessary documents — wills, trusts, lasting powers of attorney, deeds of variation, declarations of trust or whatever else is needed.
Step 5: Implementation — You’ll sign the documents in front of witnesses (or come into our office if attestation is required). We’ll register your LPAs with the Office of the Public Guardian and, if you’re setting up a trust, we’ll help you transfer assets into it.
Step 6: Ongoing review — Your wealth planning isn’t something you do once and forget about. We recommend reviewing your arrangements every three to five years, or sooner if there’s a major life event — marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, the sale of a business or the acquisition of significant assets.
Most wealth planning engagements are completed within four to eight weeks. Complex international estates or trust structures may take longer.
Why choose Osbornes Law for wealth planning?
Specialist expertise — Our private client team is ranked in Chambers High Net Worth and the Legal 500. Several of our solicitors are members of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), the leading professional body for estate planning specialists.
Personal service — You’ll work directly with an experienced solicitor, not a trainee or paralegal. We get to know our clients and take the time to understand what matters to them.
Collaborative approach — We work alongside your financial adviser, accountant and other professionals. Wealth planning works best when your legal and financial advisers are coordinated, and we’re experienced at liaising with other advisers to achieve that.
London expertise, UK accessibility — We’re based in North London but we act for clients across the UK. Most of our work can be done remotely, with meetings by video call or phone. You don’t need to be in London to benefit from London-quality legal advice.
Transparent pricing — We offer fixed fees for straightforward work (such as wills and LPAs) and clear hourly rates for more complex matters. We’ll give you a costs estimate at the outset and keep you informed if anything changes.
Proven track record — We’ve been advising individuals and families for over 40 years. Our private client team has particular expertise in second marriages, international estates and high-value probate administration.
Common wealth planning scenarios
Business owners
The challenge: You’ve spent 20 years building a successful company. You want to make sure it’s protected if you die or lose capacity, and you want to pass it on to your children without them facing a huge inheritance tax bill.
The solution: We’ll work with your corporate lawyers and accountants to create a succession plan. This might include business property relief planning (which can provide up to 100% relief from inheritance tax), shareholder agreements that govern what happens if you die, and trusts to hold your shares for the benefit of your family. We’ll also make sure your will and LPAs are coordinated with your business succession plan.
Second marriages and blended families
The challenge: You’re remarried and you want to make sure your current spouse is provided for, but you also want your children from your first marriage to inherit your estate eventually. Our family law solicitors often work with wealth planning clients navigating second marriages.
The solution: A life interest trust is often the answer. This allows your spouse to live in the family home (or receive income from your investments) for the rest of their life, but when they die, the capital passes to your children. We’ll draft a will that creates the trust on your death and appoint trustees to manage it. This gives your spouse security while protecting your children’s inheritance.
Property investors
The challenge: You own three buy-to-let properties in London and you’re concerned about inheritance tax. Your estate is worth around £2 million and your children could face a tax bill of over £500,000 when you die.
The solution: We’ll review how the properties are owned and find the most tax-efficient approach. Our property law services can help with property structuring and ownership arrangements. This might include making lifetime gifts (if you can afford to give away capital), transferring properties into trust, or changing ownership structures to make better use of your spouse’s nil-rate band. We’ll work with your accountant to model different scenarios.
International families
The challenge: You’re a UK resident but you own property in France and Spain. You have children living in Australia. You want to make sure your UK and overseas assets are dealt with efficiently when you die, without your family facing legal complications in multiple countries.
The solution: We’ll draft a UK will that deals with your UK assets and coordinate with lawyers in France and Spain to ensure your overseas estates are properly planned. Our international estate planning services specialise in cross-border wealth planning. We’ll also advise on conflicts of law (different countries have different inheritance rules) and make sure your executors understand what needs to happen in each jurisdiction. If needed, we can appoint executors in different countries to manage the local administration.
Protecting against care home fees
The challenge: You’re in your 60s and you’re worried that if you need residential care in the future, your house will be sold to pay for it. You want to protect it for your children.
The solution: If you act now — while you’re still healthy and care isn’t imminent — you may be able to put your share of the property into a trust. This removes it from your estate for the purposes of the means test for care home funding. However, the rules are strict and you can’t do this as a deliberate deprivation of assets once care is already likely. We’ll advise on whether this is viable in your situation and, if so, how to structure it properly.
Inheritance tax planning — what you need to know
Inheritance tax (IHT) is charged at 40% on the value of your estate above the nil-rate band.
Current thresholds:
- Individual nil-rate band: £325,000
- Residence nil-rate band: £175,000 (if you leave your main residence to direct descendants)
- Combined allowance for couples: Up to £1 million if structured correctly
Example: If you’re married and your estate is worth £1.5 million (including your home), and you leave everything to your children, the IHT bill would be around £200,000. With proper planning, that bill could be significantly reduced or even eliminated.
How to reduce IHT:
Lifetime gifts — You can give away up to £3,000 per year with no tax consequences. Larger gifts may become exempt if you survive for seven years. If you die within seven years, the tax is tapered.
Trusts — Certain types of trust can remove assets from your estate, reducing the IHT charged on death.
Spousal exemption — Anything you leave to your spouse or civil partner is exempt from IHT. This means you can pass your entire estate to your spouse tax-free, and they’ll also inherit your unused nil-rate band.
Business and agricultural property relief — If you own a business or farmland, you may qualify for 100% relief from IHT. The rules are complex and HMRC scrutinises these claims closely, so it’s important to structure your affairs correctly.
Charitable bequests — If you leave at least 10% of your net estate to charity, the IHT rate drops from 40% to 36%.
Pension death benefits — Pensions usually sit outside your estate for IHT purposes, so they’re not taxed on death (though income tax may apply to the beneficiaries). Make sure your pension nomination forms are up to date.
It’s important to understand that we provide legal advice on structuring your estate to reduce IHT. For advice on investments, business relief schemes or pension planning, you’ll need to speak to your financial adviser. We’re happy to work with them to coordinate the legal and financial planning.
Why lasting powers of attorney matter
Most people think LPAs are only for elderly people, but that’s not true. Anyone can lose capacity through an accident, stroke or sudden illness.
If you don’t have an LPA and you lose capacity, your family will need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order. This process:
- Takes six to twelve months on average
- Costs several thousand pounds in legal fees and court fees
- Requires annual reporting to the Court of Protection
- Can lead to disputes if family members disagree about who should be appointed
With an LPA in place, your chosen attorney can step in immediately. They can pay your bills, manage your investments, sell property if needed and make decisions about your care. It’s quicker, cheaper and far less stressful for your family.
We’ll help you:
- Choose the right attorneys (you can appoint more than one and specify whether they must act jointly or can act independently)
- Decide when the LPA should take effect (immediately or only when you lose capacity)
- Include safeguards to protect against financial abuse or misuse of the power
- Register the LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian so it’s ready to use when needed
You should review your LPAs every few years to make sure your chosen attorneys are still appropriate. If someone you’ve appointed has died, moved abroad or is no longer willing to act, you’ll need to create a new LPA.
Working with your existing advisers
The best wealth planning happens when your solicitor, financial adviser and accountant work together.
We’re experienced at liaising with other professionals and we actively encourage it. If you have an IFA, wealth manager or accountant, let us know and we’ll coordinate with them to make sure our legal advice fits with their financial planning.
How it works in practice:
- Your IFA recommends a pension drawdown strategy to provide income in retirement. We’ll draft a will that ensures the pension death benefits go to the right people and create trusts to protect other assets for your spouse and children.
- Your accountant advises on restructuring your business for tax purposes. We’ll handle the legal side — shareholder agreements, business property relief planning and succession arrangements.
- You’re selling a buy-to-let property and your financial adviser suggests reinvesting the proceeds. We’ll advise on the inheritance tax implications and whether holding the new investment in trust would be beneficial.
We’ll attend joint meetings (in person or by video call) if that’s helpful, and we’re happy to speak directly to your other advisers with your permission.
If you don’t currently have a financial adviser or accountant, we can recommend professionals we’ve worked with before.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a wealth planning solicitor or a financial adviser?
You need both. Solicitors create the legal documents and structures that protect your wealth — wills, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and estate planning. Financial advisers handle investments, pensions and insurance. We work together to give you complete protection.
What’s the difference between estate planning and wealth planning?
Estate planning is about what happens to your assets when you die — wills, probate and inheritance tax. Wealth planning is broader. It includes lifetime planning, asset protection, business succession and tax-efficient structuring of your wealth while you’re still alive. Wealth planning includes estate planning, but it’s not limited to it.
How much does wealth planning cost?
It depends on your circumstances:
- A straightforward will costs from £750 + VAT.
- A general Power of Attorney (POA) costs £500 + VAT.
- Prices for Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) are £600 + VAT for 1 LPA and £900 + VAT for 2 LPAs.
- Comprehensive wealth planning (wills, trusts, LPAs and tax advice) typically costs £3,000 to £8,000 + VAT. We will give you a clear costs estimate before you commit to anything.
Please note that disbursements are charged in addition.
When should I start wealth planning?
As soon as you have assets to protect. Ideally when you buy property, start a business, get married or have children. The earlier you start, the more options you have — particularly when it comes to inheritance tax planning and asset protection. But it’s never too late. Even if you’re already retired, there are still planning opportunities.
Do I need wealth planning if I’m not based in London?
Yes. We act for clients across the UK. Most of our work can be done remotely, with meetings by video call or phone. If you need to sign documents, we can arrange for a local solicitor to witness your signature or, in some cases, you can come to our London office.
How often should I review my wealth plan?
Every three to five years, or sooner if there’s a major life event. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, the death of a beneficiary, the sale of a business or the acquisition of significant assets are all triggers for a review. Tax laws also change, so it’s worth checking that your plan still works.
Can you help if I have assets overseas?
Yes. We advise on UK estates with international assets, and we work with lawyers in other countries to coordinate cross-border planning. If you’re UK resident but own property abroad, or if you have family members living in different countries, we can help you put a plan in place that works across multiple jurisdictions.
Will wealth planning save me inheritance tax?
It depends on your circumstances, but in most cases, yes. Proper planning can significantly reduce your inheritance tax liability through legal strategies such as lifetime gifts, trusts and the use of exemptions and reliefs. We can’t eliminate tax entirely, but we can minimise it within the law.
What’s the difference between a will and a trust?
A will sets out what happens to your assets when you die. It only takes effect on death. A trust is a legal structure that holds assets for the benefit of others, and it can be created during your lifetime or on your death (through your will). Trusts are useful for protecting assets, managing how and when beneficiaries receive their inheritance and reducing inheritance tax.
Do I need a solicitor if I already have a will?
Possibly. If your will was written more than five years ago, or if your circumstances have changed significantly since it was drafted, it’s worth having it reviewed. Tax laws change, family situations change and what worked ten years ago may no longer be the best approach. We offer will reviews as part of our service.
Speak to a wealth planning solicitor today
If you have substantial assets and you want to make sure they’re properly protected, we can help. If you are facing a dispute over an inheritance, trust or estate, our specialist private wealth dispute solicitors can help you resolve the matter.
Call us on 020 7485 8811 or fill in the contact form below to arrange an initial consultation. We’ll discuss your circumstances, explain what we can do and give you a clear costs estimate.
There’s no obligation and no pressure. We’re here to give you the advice you need to make informed decisions about your wealth.
Speak to us about Wealth Planning
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Katie de Swarte is really good. She is really technical and very collegiate.
Katie de Swarte keeps the client's needs front and centre throughout the entire litigation process.
Katie cares about her clients and works hard to get them a good result.
Katie de Swarte is a partner at Osbornes Law with specialist experience in contentious trust and probate matters.
Jan Atkinson combines technical knowledge with deep insight and excellent client manner.
Jan Atkinson leads the private client department at Osbornes Law. She handles non-contentious wills, trusts and estates work.
Jan Atkinson is very experienced, calm and a capable operator.
Jan is very experienced in this type of work. She is calm and measured, and knows when to make her move.
Osbornes Law works on complex contentious probate matters, particularly with Court of Protection elements. The members are experienced in dealing with inheritance and succession disputes, as well as proprietary estoppel.
All Osbornes lawyers are knowledgeable, collaborative, pragmatic and reassuring. They are technical and insightful, yet pragmatic and commercial.
Osbornes Law is a really good firm. I refer matters to them because I trust they'll do a good job.
They are really solid advisers who know their stuff.
A large proportion of Suzanna Baker’s work involves non-UK jurisdictions.
She is incredibly personable, efficient and capable.
She provides an excellent service and I have always had excellent feedback from clients I have referred to her.
Suzanna Baker has been my 'go to' for wills and estate planning for many years now.
Suzanna has a good manner with clients and brings confidence. She has a really good team behind her.
Suzanna Baker is outstanding - reliable and a really good lawyer.
Jenny Walsh is adept at covering diverse issues, such as estate administration, the resealing of foreign grants of probate, as well as advising on lasting powers of attorney.
Elspeth Neilson is regularly instructed by high-profile clients.
Jan Atkinson spearheads the practice.
Jan Atkinson is knowledgeable and empathic.
Jan Atkinson is an impressive operator, especially in the role of independent administrator.
Katie De Swarte specialises in contentious trust and estate matters, including those with cross-border issues.
Katie builds good relationships with clients, she takes time to understand people to help them achieve their objectives.
Katie de Swarte is an experienced specialist.
Katie de Swarte is a standout member of the team: a very capable lawyer with sound commercial instincts who works tirelessly for her clients.
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.
She has so much experience and is completely unfazed by anything. She is good at finding ways to resolve cases.
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.
She is extremely experienced at discharging responsibilities in contentious matters. She is very reliable and fair with clients.
Katie has a good balance of being technically good but also emotionally intelligent. She has a really good understanding of the emotional side of these disputes while being pragmatic.
Katie de Swarte has a real passion for the work she does. She is not afraid to fight her corner and her tenacity means she can pull off miracles.
Katie is very easy to get on with, personable and pragmatic.
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.
I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the support and guidance you provided during the settlement of my late uncle's estate. Your professionalism and compassion made a challenging time much easier for us. I would also like to extend my thanks to your team for their assistance throughout this process. You have a dedicated group of individuals working alongside you, and their efforts did not go unnoticed.
Thank you so much for all your efforts to make our wills right for us. I have been so stressed and anxious about the process and so nervous about the signing and your care and kindness made it such a relaxing, reassuring and pleasant experience.
We engaged Osbornes to gift a property to our daughter. We came across the firm via the internet which gave good reviews and indicated the award the firm holds.
We were not disappointed. We received a first class service with good advice and easy access and communications at all times.
A professional , efficient and friendly service and at a good price.
Many thanks Julia, Angela and Tom.Many many thanks for everything, you have been simply amazing, really appreciate all your help!! You're a superstar!!
Both my wife and I would like to thank you and your colleagues for completing our Wills and for providing an excellent service.
Clare and I are very grateful for the time that you have taken in explaining each of the trust options available to us, and for the guidance / advise within your concluding comments. Once again, thank you for your support and for the professional service that you have personally provided to Clare and I.
Thank you so much for all your work and attention to detail on the estate Roshni. Aliz, Juli, and I appreciate it very much!
We would like to thank you for the outstanding service during this process.
We'd like to thank all of you for the excellent work you've done with regards to our case. We're going to suggest Osbornes Law and in particular Jan, Angela and everyone else we worked with to others in similar situations. We express our sincere gratitude to everyone we worked with for their professionalism and great work! We're glad that we had the best law firm and the best team on our side!
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.
I'm very happy we contacted you, we couldn't have asked for a better lawyer! Thank you for your professionalism and having my back!
Jan Atkinson is responsive, reliable, fair, knowledgeable, experienced in cross-border estates, and very professional.
Suzanna Baker is a a pleasure to work with. She is diligent, knowledgeable and responsive. I have full confidence when sending clients her way.
A full service team which punches above its weight, dealing with a range of UK and international clients.
The ability to look across the borders of UK law and take into account considerations and rules of other jurisdictions. That makes it very nice to work with each other.
A good understanding of the legal matter at hand and the ability to provide both legal and practical solutions for cross-border matters.
Suzanna Baker offers practical and considered advice.
Have enjoyed working with Jan Atkinson who offers confident, skillful and practical advice.
Jenny Walsh is a stand out partner who has taken on many cases and assisted urgently where required so her responsiveness and expertise is particularly notable.
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.
Elspeth Neilson is a first-rate lawyer. She has a wealth of experience in acting as an independent administrator.
Katie de Swarte is a first-rate lawyer.
Jan Atkinson is a top-class contentious probate lawyer. Always on top of the detail and pleasant with opponents and peers alike, she is much sought-after for referrals work.
Katie is professional, capable and I know and trust her to look after clients I refer to her.
I would recommend Katie de Swarte, who is easy to deal with and a knowledgeable, formidable opponent.
Excellent team doing high-end work. Would always consider for referral and conflict work.
Elspeth Neilson is excellent. She develops trusting client relationships based on good advice.
Katie de Swarte is very good with clients and committed to helping them achieve their objectives.
Jan attracts superb clients and she deals with them brilliantly. She is supported by strong associates.
The focal point is very much Jan Atkinson, who has a wealth of experience and expertise in this area.
Katie de Swarte is a hard working and ambitious lawyer.
Jan Atkinson heads up the team and is a respected senior lawyer.
A well-established contentious trusts and probate team.
An ambitious team who work hard for their clients.
Elspeth Neilson is highly regarded.
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.
Yael Selig is bilingual in Spanish and English. She is the go-to person for divorce cases involving Gibraltar particularly, or Spain.
Yael Selig regularly supports clients in cross jurisdictional UK–Spanish matters.
Osbornes‘ family team is headed up by Mark Freedman, a mediator and fighter who will get the job done on both complex financial matters and international children cases.
A market leader across public law, international cases, financial and children work.
Jan Atkinson is a top-class contentious probate lawyer
I especially appreciate the highly professional and caring approach that you have shown throughout the process.
"Katie has a good rapport with clients and genuinely wants to help them. She's extremely committed to helping clients."
"Katie has great knowledge of the law and superb people skills, with a drive to get the best result possible."
"She's very good with clients, very knowledgeable and good to work with."
"I have found her to be extremely efficient, She is very fair in her dealings with all parties and she navigates the conflicting demands imposed on her by opposing parties in a supremely fair fashion."
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.
I have been a client of this firm for a number of years and been impressed by a particular individual, the care and thoughtfulness with which they have worked. Jenny Walsh
Working with Janet and Suzanna has always been a very smooth process. They render advice that is practical, often going beyond what was required of them and they respond very swiftly
Suzanna Baker is very easy to work with. She has great knowledge on tricky areas and is practical and sensible
Samantha Tayler has been the key person for making a huge difference
Elspeth Neilson is an individual I work with and is a pleasure to work with
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. Elspeth Nielson especially as a very capable solicitor that I enjoy working with
Katie De Swarte – she is very client-focused and attuned to their needs without being fearful of setting out where she perceives there may be weaknesses in their position.
Katie develops a good rapport with clients and is a good specialist estates litigator.
Katie develops a good rapport with clients and is a good specialist estates litigator.
The right blend of experience from a leading partner who’s spent a career in this field to enthusiastic specialist nqs. I work most often with Katie de Swarte.
Jan Atkinson is very client-focused and responsive, and seems very much on top of both the relevant law and of the details of my matter.
Jan Atkinson is an excellent contentious probate solicitor, as well as an experienced private client lawyer. The combination of both skills is relatively rare but results in a formidable lawyer
Jan Atkinson is calm, sensible and a very talented lawyer. She is honest with clients and gets very good results for them.
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’.
I would like to take this opportunity to say, I am very grateful for all your efforts, help, and consistently good, professional advice. At the end of the day, I consider myself lucky to have found you and would certainly not hesitate to refer you to anyone that needs Wills, Trusts, Probate expertise.
Katie is a very capable solicitor who can be relied on to do a great job in all kinds of disputes in this area.
Katie has a wealth of knowledge of her subject area and brings a robust but pragmatic approach to the resolution of private client disputes.
Jan Atkinson is very experienced, professional but also very easy to work with.
Jan is excellent with clients. She approaches complex cases with confidence and skill.
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.Fantastic - Thank you so very much for your impressive input in this matter.
"Thank you, all of you, for everything you have done on my behalf, I could not have asked for more friendly and sympathetic solicitors."
"Many, many thanks for your extreme patience, professionalism and understanding Jan. I’m not sure we would have got there without you."
"We would like to thank you very much for your help.
You always got back to us quickly and gave us very precise information.
I don't know how we would have handled our father's inheritance without you.
Thank you very much!"
"We have worked with the wonderful Joseph Gunn over the last 2 years."
Jan Atkinson is a well established and respected partner in the field. Knowledgeable and sensible
Jan Atkinson has huge experience in this area. She knows the law thoroughly and is an excellent tactician always looking for a good outcome for her clients which she generally achieves’.
"Commitment to the cause, willingness to go the extra mile and complete command of the area mean they always give the right advice and do the best job possible."
"They are completely committed to doing the absolute best they can for every single client. They are bright, knowledgeable and innovative."
"Most of the team conduct both contentious and non-contentious work, giving them a solid grounding in estate and trust managing principles including tax that is valuable in conducting litigation."
"This team perhaps does not have the reputation in this area it ought to have. It quietly handles some very big, high profile disputes. It has an expert team to do so and provides sensible pragmatic advice to its clients."
"Katie de Swarte is extremely client focused and caring and supportive to her clients."
"Elspeth Neilson and Katie de Swarte are very competent private client lawyers, with good instincts for the merits of the case and a good manner with sometimes difficult clients."
"I’ve worked with Elspeth Neilson and Katie de Swarte on various pieces of private client litigation – two in the Court of Protection and one probate dispute. I’ve found them, and the firm, very efficient and capable and dealing successfully with some
difficult clients.""The department handles complex and high-value litigation on behalf of individuals and trust companies and many of its cases have a cross-border dimension."
"The agile team at Osbornes acts for a wide range of high-net-worth individuals and families in complex estate and trust litigation, advising on a wide array of contentious trust and estate matters."
"Jan Atkinson handled a difficult situation with great aplomb and tact. A wealth of experience which means clients are very well advised in these circumstances."
"Elsepth Neilson - very competent private client lawyer, with good instincts for the merits of the case and a good manner with sometimes difficult clients."
"A capable contested probate team that seems to care. Katie de Swarte is an up and coming star."
“I very much appreciate all your help and support on this. I hope to never have to go through anything so dark again, but you made a huge difference… You're great at what you do and, with my new knowledge of solicitors, I wish there were more with the integrity that you have.”
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your sincere, supportive and professional approach and services provided to me over the past few months with preparing the necessary paperwork; furthermore I have very much appreciated your friendly and accessible manner."
Thank you also for all your hard work over the last two years. I would like to commend your patience and diligence, your understanding and communication.
"I wanted to say a huge thank you for your tremendous help and advice throughout and I am incredibly grateful for your knowledge, support and striving to get us the best outcome possible in this situation. I very much appreciate it. Thank you again for working patiently with us and for your sensitive approach throughout. "
I would highly recommend Katie de Swarte. Her attention to the details of my case, combined with her sensitivity and support, to what was an emotionally challenging and complex legal matter, was much appreciated and excellent. I felt she always listened to what I was saying and never rushed me. She was happy to work with me collaboratively where appropriate, as well as guiding my decisions with solid, legal advice at all times.
"A doyenne of family law in international children work. She is phenomenal, and lives and breathes this work. There's nothing she doesn't know."
I can't thank you enough for all you have done to help me through this ordeal. I really appreciate your time, effort and good humour. I shall absolutely know who to recommend if anyone needs a top lawyer in London.
Katie de Swarte and Elspeth Neilson have both instructed me recently, and both seemed to me to be able to build excellent relationships with their clients and to run their practices very efficiently
Jan Atkinson is always a delight to work with
Elspeth Neilson – incredibly impressive and hardworking.
Jan Atkinson – Rolls Royce advice
Elspeth Neilson is a clever and efficient solicitor, who gets great client feedback.
Jan Atkinson is fierce and dedicated to her clients.
Jan Atkinson has a wealth of knowledge and experience combined with a terrier-like ability to investigate the relevant facts, which make her an excellent choice in a contentious probate or trust dispute. She has outstanding commitment and always delivers for her clients.
Katie de Swarte is hardworking and has great empathy for her clients
Elspeth Neilson is a well-regarded junior partner
Well-established, busy practice. Jan Atkinson has a long-standing solid reputation in the field. Knowledgeable and formidable.
A very heartfelt ‘thank you’ to you and the whole team there. I am very happy with everything that has been achieved by you. I will certainly contact you in the future and recommend yourself and Osbornes to others whenever the need arises.
"I have come to trust your expertise, professionalism and honesty, I do appreciate that you have gone the extra mile. In particular you have shown a huge amount of common sense and a measured approach, coupled with doggedness and determination, all of which I believe have been vital factors in reaching the point we have reached."
"I would also like to express my sincere thanks to you for a job well done over the last five years in working towards a successful outcome for myself and my family... It has been frustratingly slow at times, and there were many barriers and obstacles put in the way, but the final outcome is a credit to your intelligent and diligent work."
“Jan is an impressive lawyer who knows her way around private wealth dispute matters.”
"I wish to thank you for your advice, efficiency and professionalism throughout which has been greatly appreciated."
"She's very able, she can do both the non-contentious and contentious sides very, very well."
"Incredibly dedicated and committed to her clients."
"I am proud to be a private client of Osbornes Solicitors LLP, a client of many years. I appreciate the swift and efficient work of the Private Client Department Team."
“Thank you for your 1st class professional service and support on this.”
“Jenny was fabulous….full stop!”
“Many thanks for all your assistance in this matter [making a will] we are very pleased we chose to come to you and Osbornes.”
"Your help and service has been excellent; timely responses and robust attention to detail have made the task for us very easy and straightforward. Thank you, all your work much appreciated and you have been a fine representative for Osbornes."
"Thank you for all your work you did for me you were amazing, I would definitely recommend you to my friends and I would definitely use your service again."
"Thank you for holding my hand through this procedure and your kindness which has been greatly appreciated."
"Appreciated the professionalism of my solicitor, Miss Samantha Tayler in particular her clear explanation of legal terms and situations, her attention to great details which reassured me and put my mind at rest, her patience in helping me to make sure that I was satisfied to all aspects of my will before I signed the final draft. Since I have assets in Malta, she also clarified for me the situation regarding the European Succession Law."
"Thank you again for all the courteous help you gave me over the time of settling my husband’s will. I am very grateful to you."
"For probate, I'd recommend Samantha Tayler at Osbornes. Excellent client service, responsive and helpful during a difficult time. Proactive in flagging incoming changes to court fees, thereby saving the estate significant costs and securing probate in a timely and efficient manner. Many thanks."
"Thank you for all your help with the Estate affairs. It has been a pleasure dealing with you and you have helped to make the whole process a lot more bearable."
“Jill and I are extremely grateful for all the hard work you did on our behalf, in such a professional manner. You kept us fully informed at all times which was much appreciated and achieved the best possible outcome. We would have no hesitation in recommending both you and Osbornes to any of our family and friends in the future”.
“Mr Joseph Gunn provided outstanding legal advice about my Will. His attention to details and his knowledge of national and international regulations were invaluable”.
“You have truly shone out from anyone I have known with your experience and knowledge in these types of situations”
“You have completely amazed me and I have such heart-felt gratitude for your dedication and perseverance”
“Thank you all very much for your professional service, it has been reassuring throughout.”
“I should note that it is refreshing to deal with an efficient, professional, and well written lawyer such as yourself.”
“I wanted to say that I am grateful beyond words at the effort Jan Atkinson has been putting in towards fixing our situation.”
“Jan Atkinson is a very proficient lady whom I would highly recommend to anyone involved in probates.”
“I would highly recommend you in any probate matter and your firm in any other legal matters.”
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you and your integrity. You are one in a million! I trusted you all along the way.”
“Once more this year your professionalism, hard work, perseverance, dedication and expertise with my case has truly humbled me. You kept me going when I had lost all strength… your action and your ability to power through is remarkable and outstanding.”
“I feel so humbled at your dedication from start to end when I was 100% lost. Also, I am in awe of your skills and knowledge with how to handle all the steps in this case and also how you helped throughout this whole thing. Your kindness and understanding to me is overwhelming… honestly, in each part of this, you’ve amazed me more than the last time.”
“Jan is one of the most client-friendly, ‘savvy’ solicitors I’ve ever met. A solicitor who knows exactly how to navigate a case to the best possible outcome. In my case, being able to contain my over- zealous demands, which, without her control, could have come to nothing. Jan has this great command of the law and knows exactly, how to execute it, in the interests of her client. I have her to thank for everything. My family members and I are all with her excellent firm, Osbornes Solicitors LLP, ‘a chain, solicitors and right-hands, with no weak link.”
“Thank-you Jan from the bottom of my heart for all your care and for standing up for me this whole time in addition to constantly pushing this along, sharing your help and advice with everyone and for having such clear focus with direction. Each step of the way you have amazed me more than the last time. I am so grateful and appreciative of all that you have done. This chapter of my life will close, thank-you to you. My words are so small for all that you have done. You have given me more than you know”
"Thank you Jenny for all you have done... I am very appreciative and glad that we selected you to do the work. It has made the path of Probate smoother than anticipated and your expertise has been reassuring throughout."
“Thanks so much for work on this, very happy with your service and the team involved. Best law firm 2019 & 2020 says it all.”
“I have greatly appreciated your help, guidance and support throughout the whole process of dealing with the estate. It has been a real pleasure working with you and in particular being able to discuss my thoughts and questions on how particular aspects should be handled; and I have valued as your common sense approach as well as your technical/legal knowledge. I know I speak for all the family, nieces and nephew included, when I express our heartfelt thanks for all you have done and, not least, your sympathy for the family.”
“Thank you for all your hard work and professionalism in all you have done and are doing on our behalf”
“I received an outstanding service from Osbornes Law in relation to the processing of a complicated overseas Will. The service provided by Suzanna Baker and Jan Atkinson was very professional, their communication was clear and concise, and I felt that they did all they could to ensure as smooth a progression through probate as could be expected."
“Thanks again for all your efforts, it is so much appreciated that I will be recommending Osbornes to family and friends in the future”
“I am emailing to let you know the Fantastic work Suzanna Baker does. She is handling the will/estate for my late Uncle. I am located in Australia, so as expected there are geographical and time differences hindering communication. In a few emails and one phone call we had sorted the whole matter out and finalised. This was impressive to say the least! All I wish is that Suzanna be recognised for her fantastic work.”
I received an outstanding service from Osbornes Law in relation to the processing of a complicated overseas Will. The service provided by Suzanna Baker and Jan Atkinson was very professional, their communication was clear and concise, and I felt that they did all they could to ensure as smooth a progression through probate as could be expected. I would 100% recommend this law firm.
Appreciated the professionalism of my solicitor, Samantha Tayler, in particular her clear explanation of legal terms and situations, her attention to great details which reassured me and put my mind at rest, her patience in helping me to make sure that I was satisfied to all aspects of my will before I signed the final draft. Since I have assets in Malta, she also clarified for me the situation regarding the European Succession Law .
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.
Jan Atkinson is a stand out partner who combines a non-contentious and contentious practice. She is calm, persuasive and persistent. Clients would undoubtedly trust her and she is able to call on a super nice rock solid team around her.
Jan Atkinson is an impressive lawyer who knows her way around private wealth dispute matters. She is very experienced in lengthy and fraught disputes and knows how to achieve good solutions for all parties involved. She is very on the ball and works very efficiently.
She brings a depth of experience in estate administration to her respected disputes practice.
Elspeth explained everything very clearly and made us feel comfortable.
I am truly amazed by and exceedingly happy with the rapid progress being made by you and your team in handling matters on my behalf.
"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"
"Jan Atkinson is a formidable litigator in succession disputes – you want her on your team in any such case"
"A very capable team headed by the wonderful Jan Atkinson. She is both able and charming, which is a winning combination"
"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"
"Osbornes does high-quality work. Jan Atkinson is the go-to partner for independent administrations"
"A medium-sized London firm dealing with big litigation and doing it extremely well because of a depth of expertise and experience."
"Jan Atkinson is extremely experienced and an expert in this area of law. She is utterly pragmatic, always looking at what the client wants to achieve. She can be extremely tough when she needs to be but always knows when to compromise"
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"
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
The team is very caring, experienced and detailed and was clear about the next steps and offered very helpful advice and suggestions
Jan Atkinson is "terrific," "extremely professional" and "enormously experienced."
Jan Atkinson's "in-depth knowledge of the non-contentious work gives her an advantage when she's dealing with very difficult contentious issues, because she really understands what has gone wrong and how to get it right"
"Elspeth Neilson is very reliable and practical."
"They are an outstanding firm to work with. They are consistently impressive in their work."
"The team frequently deals with cross-border estates for high–net-worth individuals."
"An exceptional outfit. They take on difficult cases, fight hard and win."
"Osbornes feels like a local firm but with a Big City reach."
"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."
"Recognised for its expertise in both domestic and international adoption, as well as assisted conception."
"Mark Freedman draws acclaim for his work in high net worth divorce cases, including those involving company structures, family trusts and overseas assets."
The situation was handled by your extremely competent, efficient hands - I would not hesitate to recommend Osbornes to others.
"Service prompt and effective. I have absolute confidence in Maggie."
Elspeth explained everything very clearly and made us feel comfortable.
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 like to thank Elspeth Neilson for her kindness and professionalism in dealing with all our legal requirements during this difficult period. It has been a pleasure working with her.
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.
Osbornes Solicitors always responded promptly to any request for information I had.
“Geoffrey’s affairs were dealt with just the right combination of friendliness and professionalism, which really helped.”
Jan Atkinson is confident with a straightforward approach. Her practice covers both contentious and non-contentious matters, including wealth planning and estate administration.
Naomi Angell is the doyenne of inter-country adoption and the font of all knowledge in this area.
Elspeth's assistance and services are much appreciated. Her instructions are clear and she managed the process well despite the many external delays beyond her control.
I wanted to say that I am grateful beyond words at the effort Jan Atkinson has been putting in towards fixing our situation.
I would like to thank everyone in my case for the excellent job!
Jan Atkinson has helped me so very much! Thank you!
[The Family Law department] handles significant matrimonial finance cases and complex nuptial agreements. Respected for its expertise in cross-border children law matters.
Elspeth was unfailingly kind, responsive and very patient. At times she was like a counsellor. She is a star.
This team is perhaps best known for its children work, often involving complex international dynamics.
Osbornes handles a growing stable of wealthy international clients. The firm receives glowing plaudits from clients.
"Mark Freedman receives a lot of instructions from clients based abroad, often relating to complex divorce proceedings. Sources say: “His main strengths are his enthusiastic passion for the job in hand and his total dedication to his clients.”
Private Client News & InsightsVIEW ALL
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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...
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