At Hugh James, the 'empathetic and professional' Matthew Evans spearheads the firm's overarching private wealth group which has the strength-in-depth to advise individuals, financial institutions, charities and trust corporations across tremendous range and volume of contentious and non-contentious work. The 'very accomplished' Eleanor Evans heads up the firm's trusts and estates administration offering, providing a 'cost-effective and professional' service to the firm's impressive roster of financial institution and trust corporation clients. Senior associate Austin Gill  is also engaged in administration work, although his workflow is more aligned to individual clients (as opposed to fiduciary ones); he is particularly adept at ensuring IHT exemptions are properly applied and that death duty taxes are structured in an efficient manner. Led by the 'incredibly commercial' Gareth Wisdom, the firm has a traditionally strong reputation handling volume will writing for financial institution clients, while the arrival in September 2022 of Catrin Griffiths  from Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice strengthens its capacity to provide a bespoke service to high-net-worth-individuals. For litigation, Roman Kubiak is a market-leading contentious probate practitioner, whose 'charming charisma combined with a first rate intellect, and tough negotiation skills’ ensure that he is a formidable opponent both locally and nationally.

The ‘experienced and very professional’ team at Blake Morgan LLP has ‘a great depth of knowledge’ across succession and tax planning matters. ‘Extremely proactive’ team head Lisa Davies shows ‘real technical expertise along with practical experience‘, often drawing upon resources from complementary practice areas at the firm, to ensure that clients receive a holistic service in relation to their wealth preservation needs, in particular. Senior associate Nicky Sherrard is also recommended for estate planning matters and administration, as is ‘very professional, yet compassionate’ senior solicitor Holly Jones , including as it relates to the preparation of wills and Power of Attorney.

Led on the wealth planning front by Anne Taylor and for trusts and estate administration work by Gillian Crouch, the ‘technically excellent’ team at Geldards LLP provides a comprehensive offering to a varied mix of clients, both on a standalone basis, as well as work which is sourced from professional referrals both inside and outside of Wales. A significant proportion of instructions flow from high-net-worth individuals, including local business owners seeking effective succession planning, as well as newly wealthy individuals as a result of the firm’s panel appointment to the operator of the UK national lottery Camelot. On the probate/administration side, the firm generates a significant amount of work from its extensive will bank as well as in a referral capacity, including from other solicitors. Senior associate Andrew Jones, who joined the firm from Hugh James in November 2021, is also recommended, and has a particular specialisation in the affairs of clients with overseas aspects to their estates.

The ‘approachable, knowledgeable and professional’ team at Howells Solicitors has a strong reputation among individuals and wealthy families for lifetime planning and advice relating to the administration of trusts and wills. Sarah Cash heads the team that also includes the ‘very personable, considerate and diligent’ Laith Khatib, whose contentious probate background adds value in relation to complex wills and lifetime trusts designed to protect assets and/or reduce inheritance tax.

One of the largest teams in the market, JCP Solicitors has the resources to handle a significant volume and range of work for local clients throughout its growing phalanx of offices throughout South West and South East Wales which have, in recent years grown its will bank, and consequently the volume of estate administration work. Cowbridge-based head of lifetime planning, Chris Shaw ‘sets the tone for the running of the department’, adept as he is at dealing with administration of estates, as well as tax planning work for professional sports men and women, musicians and high-net-worth-individuals/business owners. Lynne Morgan  heads up the Court of Protection team and in her role as a Deputy ‘advocates the best for her clients’, which include many that the firm represented in relation to catastrophic personal injury and clinical negligence matters.

The ’professional and approachable’ team at Douglas-Jones Mercer is adept at handling a range of estate/succession planning work, including for a ‘significant number of high-net-worth-individuals’. Team head Jonathan Powell ‘has a great way of taking very technical matters and explaining them in an easy to understand way’, ensuring that he is a popular choice in relation to complex estates, as well as succession planning for corporate clients.

With a strong following from its Newport headquarters and a growing one in Cardiff, Harding Evans LLP provides a 'very personalised service' to clients in South East Wales on their will and Power of Attorney requirements, as well as in the subsequent administration of their estates. With the 'ability to be empathetic, yet practical', Newport-based team head Laura Selby provides 'exceptional advice' to clients, ranging from high-net-worth local business people through to vulnerable clients, where she acts in her capacity as a Professional Deputy. Associate Afonwy Howell-Pryce  spearheads the work flowing from the Cardiff office and is noted for her 'helpful, approachable and professional' service.

Led by the ‘responsive and well-liked’ David King and recently strengthened by the recruitment of several associates, Harrison Clark Rickerbys ‘knowledgeable and very efficient’ team continues to grow its presence in South Wales and is frequently sought out directly by clients, as well as in a referral capacity, to advise on wealth and estate planning matters. King ‘displays excellent technical ability when involved in complex estate planning matters’, including the creation of family investment companies and lifetime trusts.

The ‘technically excellent’ team at NewLaw Solicitors is a ‘safe pair of hands’ for a range of referral providers, including the Royal College of Nursing, across will writing and estate administration services (including grant only services). As well as the expertise of the individual lawyers, key to the success in some of this more commoditised work relies on the firm’s excellent use of technology to streamline the process, including an internal case management system. Katie-Anne Edwards is ‘very experienced, responsive and commercially aware’, traits which she deploys to good effect, both in a commoditised as well as a more bespoke individualised setting, including for higher-net-worth clients. Edwards is one of several within the team, including the ‘incredibly calm and patient’ Robert Thomas, who are regularly appointed as Professional Deputy to look after the finances of vulnerable clients, with many of these mandates flowing internally from the firm’s clinical negligence department.

Continuing to grow its presence throughout West Wales, as a result of organic growth and law firm acquisitions, the ‘very helpful and efficient’ team at Red Kite Law LLP has the resources and geographical breadth to handle a range of estate planning and administration matters for local clients. In this context, the firm has effectively gained trusted adviser status among the local community and is thereby instructed on the panoply of their wills and estate planning matters. Carmarthen-based team head Mathew Bowen is ‘a great non-contentious probate lawyer’ and excels in handling work for local high-net-worth individuals including many with estates with agricultural and business interests.

At Berry Smith, 'exceptionally personable' team head Chris Beames 'imbues trust and relaxation among clients', including high-net-worth-individuals, across a range of wills, estate planning and administration matters. Beames also handles Court of Protection work and acts as a Deputy for vulnerable individuals and their families.

The ‘friendly and approachable’ team at Newport-based firm RDP Law has a strong reputation among local clients, including high-net-worth-individuals, who have complex financial or family circumstances. Much of the estate planning and administration work originates from farming clients, where ‘highly skilled’ team head Sioned Thomas is able to advise clients through the medium of Welsh, if required.