Following a significant increase in demand, the North East’s leading independent law firm for businesses, Muckle LLP, has expanded its Private Client team, from just two lawyers to a team of six in the last 12 months.
The Private Client team, led by partner and head of Private Client Keith Hately, provides a dedicated service for business owners, executives, landowners, senior professionals and other wealthy individuals and has seen growing demand from people wishing to plan for their families’ future.
Senior associate Julie Garbutt, solicitor Olivia Colbeck and Keith all specialise in all aspects of estate planning, including wills, succession, inheritance tax, family trusts, power of attorney and probate.
Solicitor Alex Blenkinsop, who is also an associate member of ACTAPS (the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists), advises on all inheritance and trusts disputes. David Towns, head of the firm’s Agricultural, Estates and Rural Property team, and senior associate Elizabeth Earle, provides a dedicated property service to landowners, farmers and anyone involved in the sale, purchase or letting of rural property.
Keith Hately said: “Through a number of new client wins, the establishment of our Agriculture, Estates and Rural Property team, and working closely with our other specialist legal teams, we have seen a sharp increase in the number of people seeking personal legal advice.
“There will always be successful business owners and executives, landowners and professionals, whose personal and financial situation is such that they require expert specialist advice.
“Discrete, sensitive and effective, we believe the service we offer is second to none and we’re delighted to see an increase in this area of our business. With the expansion of the team, we have more strength and depth than ever before in the private client services we offer, and we continue to work with accountants and financial advisers to ensure that our clients’ needs are fully met.”