Stephen is a private client lawyer whose practice covers a wide range of work types for high net worth private clients, families and charities.
Stephen’s areas of specialism include personal tax work, HMRC enquiries and disclosures, complex wills and succession planning, charity law, UK and non-UK trust and foundation laws, structuring and succession of owner-managed businesses as well as creating and advising family offices.
Stephen has been a member of the Law Society’s Tax Law Committee (and Capital Taxes Sub-Committee) since 2009 and is frequently involved in HMRC and Treasury consultation processes on tax matters. He was also a member of the Law Society’s Wills and Equity Committee between 1998 and 2009.
Stephen is a regular conference speaker, article writer and contributor to national and professional media on tax, trusts and charity law.
Career
Stephen joined Wiggin Osborne Fullerlove in 2010.
Stephen began his legal career at Macfarlanes, undertaking training between 1987 to 1989 and working for the same firm until 1994. He then joined Osborne Clarke’s tax and trusts group until 1998.
In 1998 Stephen joined Pinsent Masons as a partner and Head of Personal Tax and Charities, remaining in that role until 2003. Stephen joined Charles Russell (now Charles Russell Speechlys) as a partner in 2003, working at the same firm until 2010.
Professional Memberships/ AwardsRanked in the Chambers ‘High Net Worth’ Directory as a leading lawyer (2020, 2021, 2022)STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners)Law Society Tax Law CommitteeHon Fellow, Centre for International Legal StudiesCharity Law AssociationITPA (International Tax Planning Association)Fellow, Royal Society of ArtsEducation1982 - 1986 MA (Hons), History & Law, Downing College, CambridgePersonal InterestsIn his spare time, Stephen has a wide range of interests, including architecture, chess and supporting various charitable bodies.