Press Release

Shoosmiths has again been recognised for its work in advising high net worth (HNW) clients on a range of matters in this year’s Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide.

Steady organic growth has delivered a wealth protection team that is going from strength to strength, with Charlotte Dunn (based in Milton Keynes) and Adam Draper (based in Manchester) retaining their Band 1 rankings with Melissa Maple (Thames Valley) retaining her Band 3 ranking.

Sarah Cairns is again marked as an associate to watch. Laura Abbott, who only recently joined the firm as a principal associate advising wealthy clients on contested wills and trusts disputes, is similarly spotlighted being described as a very talented lawyer and certainly one to watch. Practice area rankings have also been retained with a new Band 3 ranking for Thames Valley (Reading and surrounds).

Legal Director Charlotte Dunn, head of the firm’s Wealth Protection team, many of whom are STEP accredited, stresses that all those recognised individuals are part of a wider team providing services to high net worth individuals working in close collaboration with, for example, the firm’s national Family Law team, winners of the Family Law Firm of the year award for the Midlands region at the Family Law Awards 2019.

Shoosmiths service to high net worth Individuals is extended by the addition of an in-house Private Property team. Headed by Karen Stewart, the team has evolved over the last 12 months and has dealt with an increasing number of £multi-million property transactions. Also based in Milton Keynes and close to London and countryside alike, Karen’s team can advise on a mix of property transactions for high net worth individuals, both “country” and “city” related (legal advisers in this space generally tend to deal in only one or the other by the nature of their geographical office base).

In addition, the Luxury Asset Team, which includes Elliot Bishop and Sarah Fairweather, brings a wealth of experience to owners who are looking for expertise combined with first-class service. The firm has an all-round perspective given its work for many of the world’s largest lenders and family offices and can provide clients with an expert steer whether they are looking at financing, sale and purchase, chartering, building and refit, sponsorship, crew, project management agreements, and dispute resolution for both leisure marine and general aviation (including private and corporate jets and helicopters), as well as marine collision and salvage advice.

Mark Elder’s litigation and reputation management team also advises high profile clients, including, business owners and executives, professional sportspeople and celebrities on a wide variety of reputational management issues, defamation and harassment issues (on and off-line), privacy, media and press intrusion and crisis management. The team has particular expertise in phone hacking, e-mail interception and computer hacking claims against tabloid newspapers, corporations and private individuals.

David Parton, head of the Personal Advisory Division of Shoosmiths, said: “We’re extremely pleased to receive such positive feedback in Chambers which confirms that so many of our clients are clearly impressed by our technical knowledge and willingness to deliver the levels of service that high net worth individuals expect.”