Having qualified in 2008, James has gained a detailed understanding of tax and estate planning, trust creation, inheritance tax and capital gains tax, lasting power of attorney and probate.
Regularly working with high net worth clients, he is an expert in estate and succession planning and has presented seminars on the topic for the Cambridgeshire Law Society (CLS). He was also a CLS committee member from 2010 until 2019 and sat on the society’s newsletter subcommittee for much of that period, contributing articles for their quarterly newsletter, Light Blue Law.
The Legal 500 has previously described James as “exceptionally helpful” and “straightforward and professional”. In the 2021 edition, James was named as a ‘Rising Star’ and was recommended for his work on trusts, tax planning and the affairs of the elderly.
Commenting on his appointment, James said: “I’m delighted to join Birketts. The firm has a reputation for client service that I believe is crucial I private client practice. Having empathy and understanding those you are trying to support is as important as a detailed and technical understanding of the law they are attempting to navigate, whether they are writing a Will or trying to make their estate more tax-efficient. I look forward to working with the team and the firm as a whole – knowing I have colleagues ready to lend their expertise in a full-service firm means I can advise a client no matter their circumstances.”
Rachel Winter, Partner in Cambridge’s Private Client Team, added: “James will be a fantastic asset to the team and I’m sure clients will quickly benefit from his insight. Our Private Client team work incredibly hard to deliver the best result possible for every client, every time. James’ emphasis on that same client care will make him a great fit and I look forward to working with him in the coming months.”