James is an associate in our Private Client department primarily advising on Estate Administration. James obtained a First Class law degree (LLB) and a Masters in Law (LLM) before qualifying as a Solicitor in September 2020 and joining Stephens Scown in 2021.

James has a broad range of experience which includes:

• Administration of Estates
• Advising on various IHT reliefs including APR and BPR
• Will drafting
• Preparing Deeds of Variation
• Advising on the preparation of Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Registration of Enduring Powers of Attorney

Examples of his recent work include:

• Administering an estate with assets held in non-UK jurisdictions.
• Administering an estate and registering a death where there were no immediate family or known beneficiaries and instructing a genealogy tracing company to locate potential beneficiaries.
• Claiming Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief on a high value estate to mitigate Inheritance Tax.
• Obtaining a capacity report prior to the preparation of Lasting Powers of Attorney for an elderly client.
• Advising on IHT lifetime tax planning for a high-net-worth individual.

Outside of work James enjoys surfing and kayaking at his favourite Devon and Cornwall beaches, walking with his German Shepherd puppy, and socialising with his friends.