Berin Jones And Elizabeth Byrne Welcomed To National Team

Top national law firm Irwin Mitchell has launched a new Tax, Trusts and Estates team for the Manchester and North West market, appointing a new senior associate and associate to the team.

Senior associate Berin Jones joins from WHN Solicitors, where he led the private client team. Berin is well-versed in handling a full range of tax, trusts and estates matters including complex Will arrangements, trusts creation and high-value and intricate estate administration cases among others. Berin’s background in contentious work also helps him to better understand the needs of his client base, including high-net-worth individuals, to avoid disputes.

Berin is also a specialist in elderly and vulnerable matters, regularly leading lasting powers of attorney matters. He has developed extensive links with local care homes in the greater Manchester area and is experienced in handling Court of Protection matters.

Associate Elizabeth Byrne joins from Napthens, having qualified as a solicitor in 2007. Elizabeth is an expert at handling a large range of matters including estate and inheritance tax planning for complex and high-value estates, powers of attorney matters and complex Wills among others.

Elizabeth’s particular specialism is in advising farming families and businesses on their private client matters, such as succession planning matters, having formerly been a company director in the agricultural industry. She is a student member of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

The new team will be led by partner Andrea Jones, who has already successfully recruited a Tax, Trusts and Estates team to the firm’s Leeds office. The Manchester Tax, Trusts and Estates team will also work closely with the other private client teams in the office, such as the top-ranked Family Law team which Manchester’s regional managing partner Ros Bever heads up nationally.

Irwin Mitchell’s Private Wealth division has seen a recent spate of new hires, including senior associate Fiona Farrell and associate Marie Kilgannen in the Birmingham Family Law team; partner Nicola Bushby in the London Will, Trust and Estate Disputes team; and an expansion of its Leeds Private Wealth team with the arrival of Will, trust and Estate Disputes associate Polly Coram and Tax, Trusts and Estates senior associate Katherine Wainman.

The firm’s Manchester office has also been expanding, having moved to a new location opposite St Peter’s Square in 2019. The office has recently seen the arrival of solicitor Laura Marsden to its commercial team following the appointment of partner Laura Harper in November 2019.

Expert Opinion

“Andrea and I are delighted to have recruited Berin and Elizabeth to our newly established Manchester team, which adds another string to the bow of our private client offering.

“Having a Tax, Trusts and Estates team in the Manchester region has been a long-term business goal for our private client division, and we’re very excited to see what entering this market will achieve for our existing client base as well as attracting new ones.

“Berin and Elizabeth are a perfect fit for our national team, with many years of experience behind them and a large range of expertise, and we’re looking forward to seeing how this team will grow in the years to come.” Paula Myers - Partner