Wills, trusts and executries conference

Fiona McDonald is a Partner with private client firm Fyfe McDonald Solicitors. She is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Private Client Tax Law. Fiona is the author of the book “Inheritance Tax in Scotland” published by Bloomsbury Professional. Fiona also co-authored the book “The Elder Client” published by W. Greens, and is an editor of the Scottish Older Client Law Review Series published by Bloomsbury Professional. 

William is now a full-time Consultant with Mitchells Roberton, Solicitors, Glasgow focusing mainly, but not exclusively, on Private Client work. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners; a part-time tutor on the Diploma in Legal Practice at Glasgow University; a member of the Law Society of Scotland Trust and Succession sub-committee; was a member of the Advisory Group for the Scottish Law Commission Trust Review Project; and co-authored, with James Kessler QC, Drafting Trusts and Will Trusts in Scotland (2nd edn., 2018) described in its foreword by Lord Tyre as “a milestone in the expression and development of Scots trust law.

Nicola is an Associate in Brodies’ Personal & Family department. She is involved in a broad range of work within the Personal team. Nicola has a particular interest in contentious Private Client matters, including advising on challenges to the validity of wills by disappointed beneficiaries, claims by cohabitants on death and legal rights.  She also has experience administering judicial factories and with actions of count, reckoning and payment. Nicola also advises on the preparation of wills, adult incapacity issues including the preparation of powers of attorney and guardianship orders, the administration of executries and trusts, and succession planning.

Ian has been Private Client Partner since 1984 to date at Wright Johnston & Mackenzie LLP, in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dunblane and Inverness. Ian is involved in a wide range of tax and estate planning for private clients and families, including drafting wills, trusts and other structures, some for non-UK resident clients and offshore trusts; administering estates and trusts, powers of attorney and guardianships (2 current appointments as Financial Guardian), investment advice and general financial administration; advice on income tax, CGT and IHT. Ian is a regular speaker at internal and external seminars on wills, trusts and tax planning, money laundering and compliance, Family Businesses and Plain English and the Law.

A Chartered Financial Planner and Divisional Director at Brewin Dolphin. Chris has been in the financial service sector since graduating in 1998.  Firstly working for the independent financial advising firm, Aitken MacDonald Ltd, who were then acquired by Brewin Dolphin Ltd in 2002. At Brewins Chris’ career started as a Financial Planning Manager and he is now part of the Dundee Office management team as a Divisional Director overseeing the financial planning side in the Dundee office.

Suzanne joined Brewin Dolphin as a graduate Trainee in 2006 after graduating from Dundee University with an Honours degree in Accounting and Finance. Since then, Suzanne gained professional qualifications with the CISI to become a Fellow and Chartered Wealth Manager with the CISI. She is now an Investment Manager and Assistant Director in the Dundee office where she provides a bespoke investment management service to her clients based on their individual needs and has a wealth of expertise in this area.

Stewart is an Associate within the Private Client team at Blackadders, operating principally in Edinburgh after several years in Dundee, though still with active involvement in Tayside. He splits his time between (1) Wills, Powers of Attorney and succession planning, (2) Trusts and tax matters, and (3) Adults with Incapacity work including applications for guardianships and the preparation of suitability reports. Stewart tutors on the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Edinburgh, and has previously tutored at the University of Dundee.  He is also involved with the STEP Diploma, where he acts as the examiner on the Trusts module.