New head of wills, trusts and tax appointed by Aaron & Partners
A new head of wills, trusts and tax has been appointed by Aaron & Partners.
By Chester Standard
Chester-based law firm Aaron & Partners has appointed James Wallace to lead its Wills, Trusts and Tax team.
Chester-based law firm Aaron & Partners has appointed James Wallace as its new Head of Wills, Trusts and Tax.
Mr Wallace, a partner at the firm, takes on the role as part of a wider reshaping of Aaron & Partners’ senior leadership team.
He succeeds Clive Pointon, who has been appointed Head of Private Client Services.
In his new role, Mr Pointon will have responsibility for the firm’s Wills, Trusts and Tax team as well as its Family team.
Aaron & Partners said the leadership changes are intended to support the firm’s next phase of growth.
Mr Wallace joined Aaron & Partners in 2010 as a solicitor in the Wills, Trusts and Tax team.
He has since developed a specialism in complex and high-value estate and trust disputes, including cases with cross-border or overseas elements.
His work includes will challenges, estate administration disputes, Inheritance Act 1975 claims, disputes involving lasting powers of attorney and Court of Protection matters.
The appointment comes at a time when estate planning, inheritance tax and probate issues are becoming more important for many families.
Rising house values, blended families, business ownership and more complex personal finances mean wills and trusts advice is no longer only a concern for the very wealthy.
For families in Cheshire, proper estate planning can help reduce uncertainty, avoid disputes and make sure assets are passed on in line with a person’s wishes.
It can also help people consider inheritance tax, care planning, business succession and who should make decisions if they lose capacity.
Aaron & Partners’ Wills, Trusts and Tax team advises on areas including estate administration and probate, inheritance tax planning, statutory will applications, trust administration, will writing, powers of attorney and deputyships.
The firm has offices in Chester, Shrewsbury, Altrincham and the Wirral.
Its Chester office remains a key base for the firm’s private client and business services work.
The appointment also reflects wider demand for specialist legal advice as families deal with more complicated estates and disputes.
Contested probate and inheritance claims can be emotionally difficult, particularly where there are disagreements between relatives, unclear wills or concerns about capacity.
By appointing a dedicated head for the team, Aaron & Partners is aiming to strengthen its private client offer while giving the wider leadership team more focus.
For clients, the change means James Wallace will now lead the team dealing with wills, trusts, tax and estate disputes, while Clive Pointon takes on a broader private client leadership role.