Thrings expands tax and trusts team with senior executive appointment

Leading commercial law firm Thrings has continued with the expansion of its tax planning and trusts offering to private clients with the appointment of experienced legal and tax professional, Stephen Horton.

Stephen joins Thrings as a senior executive from estate administration service providers, Kings Court Trust.

Prior to this, he was a self-employed solicitors’ agent undertaking litigation across the South West, worked as a consultant in capital tax, estate planning and share valuations at Parmentier Arthur, and lectured in personal tax and trusts at King’s College London and the London School of Economics.

In his new role, Stephen will work closely with tax and trusts director, Michael Young, and private client director, Ann Carlton, to advise Thrings’ clients across the South West and London on wills, probate, capital tax planning and the use of taxation of trusts.

Stephen - who will be based at Thrings’ offices in Queen Square in central Bath – will also work with Thrings’ commercial, commercial property and contentious probate teams in Bath, Bristol, Swindon and London for private clients.

Stephen said: “Tax remains one of the most politically driven areas of law, with people across the country having to adapt to an ever-changing tax landscape. This tax year alone has seen a radical change to Capital Gains Tax, which is now being applied to non-UK residents upon their disposal of a UK residential property. Next April will also see the phasing in of a new residence nil-rate band which establishes the value of a residential property that is not subject to inheritance tax.

“Having grown up, lived and worked in Bath, I am fully aware of Thrings’ strong and enduring reputation for private client work. Whether it’s providing advice on succession planning for family-held property companies, or speaking to young business owners about their private tax affairs, I am looking forward to reintegrating myself into the local market and putting tax planning and trusts strategies in place which help clients minimise their liabilities and maximise reliefs.”

Fiona Kellow, head of private client at Thrings, added: “Stephen is a highly experienced legal and tax professional, who throughout his career has consistently demonstrated an ability to quickly, clearly and accurately understand his clients’ personal legal needs.

“Stephen’s own area of specialism is about legacy, and we are very pleased to be welcoming him to a firm which combines a long and proud association with Bath and the South West region with a modern, forward-looking approach to working with clients.”