Succession planning - Protecting your family's private wealth

Effectively, succession planning is about taking a strategic view of how you and your family want to use and pass on your wealth and business interests, so the wealth you have worked hard to generate is a force for good, and then understanding the tax implications for you and family. Our experience of working closely with families on their succession planning is that it works better if it involves, sometimes difficult, conversations about what different family members actually want and need.

You can work with us to define your own and your family's objectives. We will advise and support you, share the experiences of other families who have gone through a similar process and help you to put in place and implement robust succession plans that will stand the test of time.

The planned reforms to IHT for business owners will take full effect from April 2026, so it is important for you to consider immediately how the changes affect any succession planning you already have in place and how the new rules will impact on your family's financial future.

Succession planning tailored to your unique situation

Establishing succession plans, either for a business or for a family, can be a long process. It should not be rushed. Your family is unique but some of the challenges we can help you tackle are surprisingly common. These can include planning for the involvement of younger family members in the business, managing a large group of family shareholders and implementing family councils or other family governance arrangements. A different set of challenges emerge if you are trying to decide whether to retain or sell the family business or you want broaden your investments and diversify away from the core business.

A network of succession planning consultants

Our private wealth team’s success is built on knowledge sharing networks and expert "tax champions". This approach to delivering the best advice to clients was recognised at the eprivateclient Excellence Awards where the team won the Private Client Accountancy Firm (Large) category in 2024 and was shortlisted in the same category in 2025.

You will be able to meet someone from our team at a location that suits you, as we have 18 offices throughout the UK and we are happy to travel to meet you at your home if your prefer. You get all the benefits of a local specialist and the breadth of knowledge of a large national team. Our engagements with clients are led by our Partners who have extensive practical experience and technical knowledge.

Meet three of our senior Partners:

Ben Handley

Private Clients and Owner-Managed Business, Tax Partner London

I focus on advising the owners of private companies on transactions, life events and planning for the future against a complex backdrop of continual law changes. My experience has helped me become a rounded and pragmatic adviser with commercial as well as tax knowledge.

I will take a holistic, practical approach to supporting you, your family and your business realise your objectives.

Paul Townson

Private Clients and Owner-Managed Business, Tax Partner Birmingham and Head of Private Wealth North

I specialise in dealing with the tax affairs of businesses and their owners. This encompasses a range of work including advising on the buying and selling businesses, inheritance tax planning, using trusts in tax planning, family wealth protection, extraction planning, tax-free disposals to employee ownership trusts and property transactions.

I work closely with colleagues in our M&A and Outsourcing teams advising on the tax structuring of acquisition and disposals, and tax due diligence on acquisition targets. I pride myself on providing imaginative, risk-appraised and cost-effective solutions that deliver the right outcomes for my clients.

Hilary Sharpe

Private Clients and Owner-Managed Business, Tax Partner Manchester

I specialise in advising Owner-Managed Businesses (OMBs) and their shareholders on succession planning including inheritance tax advice, corporate reorganisations, share sales and acquisitions, employee incentives, profit extraction, and exit planning. I have a particular interest in assisting clients in structuring their family wealth and dealing with complex tax issues. I enjoy working with clients to develop solutions that are appropriate to their personal situations, providing a co-ordinated approach to personal, corporate and trust planning that is geared towards protecting the family’s wealth and preserving the assets for the next generation.

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