Inheritance Tax, Succession and Estate Planning

Home Services Private Client Inheritance Tax, Succession and Estate Planning

"The team is reliable, transparent, entrepreneurial, and has a high level of technical knowledge."

Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide 2025

Planning for the succession to your assets in a tax-efficient way is a major driving force for many of our clients as they look to provide for future generations or for the causes they have supported. Our specialist succession planning lawyers act for numerous UK and international families and individuals looking to pass on their wealth and who need expert succession and estate planning advice.

Succession planning is more than just the transfer of wealth on a transactional basis. It requires taking an overall view of clients’ lives and applying a holistic approach, factoring all the circumstances to work out a plan that is appropriate for an individual client.

Expert inheritance tax lawyers

Mitigation of inheritance tax is a consistent motivation when clients seek succession and estate planning advice. Our private client lawyers provide specialist advice on Inheritance Tax and Lifetime Gifting, as well as other capital taxes.

There is never a ‘one-size fits all’ approach and all clients’ needs will be determined by their circumstances. We concentrate on the wishes of the client and provide bespoke advice. In doing so, clients can rely on the full breadth of our expertise in the private client team, drawing as needed on the wider multi-disciplinary experience in our Private Wealth specialist group.

We will often work directly with clients’ existing financial advisors, such as accountants, bankers and trustees, or work with our network of accountancy, financial and cross-border advisors to offer you a comprehensive and coordinated service.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect from succession planning?

A typical succession planning process will be as follows:

Getting to know you and your aims;
Strategising – considering your options and preparing a bespoke plan;
Implementation;
Keeping the plan under review during your lifetime.

When should I start succession planning?

Succession planning requires timely advice and action. You will be rewarded by starting as early as possible, particularly ahead of important events (for example, selling your business).

What sort of succession planning strategies might I be thinking about?

A Will and Lasting Power(s) of Attorney are always to be recommended and are also an excellent starting point.

Depending on your assets and aims, you might also consider lifetime gifts, and specialist vehicles such as family investment companies, limited liability partnerships and trusts.

We do not advocate complex vehicles for the sake of it. We appreciate the benefit of simplicity and much of our advice will be about how to keep things simple.

Do you work with Family Investment Companies (FICs)?

Yes, Kingsley Napley's Private Client and Corporate & Commercial teams work together to assist clients with setting up and managing Family Investment Companies.

To learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of using FICs for succession planning, please see our Family Investment Companies factsheet.

What clients and directories say about us

Kingsley Napley is excellent and efficient, the team gets to the root of the problem and gives clear and concise advice."

Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide 2025

I found them to be thorough, efficient and professional at all times."

Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide 2025

The team is reliable, transparent, entrepreneurial, and has a high level of technical knowledge."

Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide 2025

The team is hugely experienced covering multiple client sectors and backgrounds."

Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide 2024

The approach taken and the understanding of both ours and the client's needs makes dealing with the firm a simple and relaxed process."

Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide 2024

I have found Kingsley Napley to be reliably very responsive. The firm hosts seminars exploring how different service offerings are relevant to real-world client scenarios."

Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide 2024

The firm quickly understood the issues and clearly put a focus on bringing together complementary specialisms to give clients well-rounded advice that considers their affairs from all perspectives.

Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide 2024