Experience
Charles joined Birketts in 1987. He is a Consultant Solicitor in our Private Client Advisory Team.
Charles qualified as a Solicitor in January 1984, having been educated at Eton and Cambridge. He was a Partner from 1989 until 2018 and specialises in Wills and Trusts / Settlements; Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax planning, establishment and termination of trusts, Agricultural Property Relief, Business Property Relief and Domicile. He also advises in regard to Lasting Powers of Attorney.
Much of his time is spent advising families about issues relating to succession from one generation to the next. Invariably, these are not purely tax issues but also personal issues between family members that require delicate handling. All families are different and Charles well understands that families need to be able to continue living together whatever decisions may be made.
Charles has acted for clients of all types, wealthy and not so wealthy, including farmers, business owners, trustees and trust companies, old and young. He also acts as a trustee of a large number of trusts most of which are managed by Birketts.
Following his retirement of a Partner in 2018, Charles now only occasionally acts as an executor personally. However, his experience of dealing with a multitude of different situations and problems within estate since the 1980s means that he is well placed to offer considered advice within the team when needed.
Charles continues to act directly for a relatively small number of clients on trust and personal matters. Otherwise he assists members of the Private Client Team generally including, in particular, on matters relating to agricultural and business property reliefs from Inheritance Tax.
Charles has always subscribed to the view that, wherever possible, solutions should be simple. Complex structures, while superficially attractive, can have unforeseen and sometimes disastrous consequences in the longer terms and should therefore be approached with caution.
Charles is based at our Ipswich office.