About
Mary works with high net worth individuals, business owners and trustees to help them put clear, robust estate and succession plans in place. Her advice is grounded in an understanding of how personal wealth, family priorities and commercial interests intersect.
Clients value Mary’s practical approach and her ability to work collaboratively, particularly where private client planning connects closely with corporate structures and long term investment strategies.
Estate and succession planning for business owners
A core part of Mary’s practice is advising business owners, investors and entrepreneurs on UK estate planning. She helps clients put asset protective and tax efficient succession plans in place that support both family and business objectives.
Her work ranges from advising on wills and powers of attorney to more complex planning involving trusts, deeds of variation, gifting strategies and partnership arrangements, including farming partnerships.
Mary’s expertise in business property relief has enabled may clients to navigate the changes ahead of 5 April 2026.
Family investment companies and corporate collaboration
Mary has particular experience advising on the structuring of family investment companies (FICs) as part of wider succession and tax planning. She regularly works alongside colleagues in the Firm’s corporate and corporate tax teams to ensure that private client and corporate advice is aligned and joined up.
Whether in the context of FICs or succession of an existing company, this collaborative approach is especially valued by entrepreneurial families and investors whose wealth is closely connected to trading or investment businesses.
Trusts, trustees and beneficiaries
Mary advises trustees and beneficiaries on all aspects of trust administration, including the exercise of trustee powers, beneficiary rights and trustee duties. Her work includes advising on succession, extending or bringing trusts to an end, and the associated tax and practical issues.
She is experienced in guiding trustees and families through decisions that require both technical clarity and sound judgment.
Long term planning
Mary works closely with clients over time, adapting structures as circumstances, legislation and family dynamics evolve. Her focus is always on helping clients plan with confidence and clarity for the long term.
Practising jurisdiction
Mary is admitted to practise in England and Wales.
Mary has completed her Society of Estate and Trusts Practitioners (STEP) Diploma.
Experience
- Advising UHNW individual in relation to the transfer of their shareholding in a privately owned trading company valued in excess of £500m in trust pre April 2026
- Advising UNHW in relation to a gift of shares on the impact that retained shareholdings and ongoing role as a director may have in the context of gift with a reservation of benefit.
- Advising on the formation of family investment companies bespoke and tailored to an individual and family’s needs and circumstances.
- Advising on the introduction of growth shares within and existing company structure as part of an individual’s succession planning
- Drafting complex documentation to restructure existing trusts holding shares in a £900m trading company, ahead of the implementation of new BPR regime; working alongside external tax advisers.
- Advising on and completing the appointment of private trust companies to replace individual trustees;
- Advising on an application to Court under the Variation of Trusts Act
- Working closely with the Family shareholders of a FIC to ensure their shareholdings passes appropriately in their Will and Letter of Wishes; retain control at appropriate level.
