Claire joined Farnfields in 2009 and has a Bachelor of Laws degree from Leicester University and is also a member of STEP (a professional association for practitioners who specialise in Family Inheritance and Succession Planning). Claire is a Private Client solicitor with over 13 years experience specialising in:
- Administration and Taxation of Trusts
- Tax Planning
- Administration of Estates
- Powers of Attorney
- Wills and Trust drafting
Some recent examples of Claire’s work include:
Trust / Will and Taxation Review:
A couple had a small trust query. After reviewing their circumstances fully, Claire introduced them to an Independent Financial Advisor to review their finances generally with a view to undertaking some Tax Planning. By working together, new Wills were drafted, Powers of Attorney put in place, creation of a new Trust and their existing Trust reviewed. They now have all of their affairs in order, providing them with peace of mind and reducing their Inheritance Tax liability.
Complicated Estate Administration
Claire was involved, as part of a team in dealing with the administration of a very complicated Estate, dealing with the Tax Returns, Income and Capital Gains tax calculations and Estate Accounts (which ran to approx. 100 pages).
Complicated Will
Claire has recently updated the Will of a client for whom she has acted for a number of years. This time the changes were incredibly complicated as a result of her family situation (no immediate family members, along with a stepfamily), foreign element, taxation and inheriting a substantial sum of money. Numerous trust and tax considerations were required to ensure the Will met the client’s overall wishes and intentions.
The Private Client Department is headed up by Fiona Thomas who has overall responsibility for the work of the department.
Claire’s interests include spending time with her family, mountain biking and table tennis.
Awards & accreditations
