6th July 2023

Presenting at Latham & Watkins: the importance of planning for the future

Sophia Smout

Trainee Solicitor

It was a real pleasure to be invited to the London offices of US law firm Latham & Watkins LLP on Thursday 29 June, to talk to fee earners and support staff about the importance of lifetime planning and preparing Wills.

Inspired by the film ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’ – in an attempt to make an otherwise fairly morbid topic a little more light-hearted – our presentation ran through a series of scenarios designed to outline the operation of the intestacy rules, which determine succession where a deceased person does not leave a Will, and to highlight how these don’t always result in desirable outcomes.

We also looked at the inheritance tax regime and the tools which can be used to mitigate liability on death, as well as talking through the roles of executors, guardians and trustees, how these differ from one another, and who might be best placed to act in each role.

We concluded with a brief discussion of Lasting Powers of Attorney, and how these can be important at any stage of life, allowing those you trust to make decisions for you in the event of a loss of capacity. The presentation was followed by a lively Q&A session.

The Private Client team at Hunters has over 300 years of experience in advising individuals on lifetime planning and the preparation of Wills. Our client base includes a number of City professionals, including those with complex estates and assets located in other jurisdictions. If you’re interested in seeing how we could assist you in planning for the future, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.