Growth Of Leeds Tax, Trusts and Estates Team Sees 14 Hires In Three Years

Irwin Mitchell has further strengthened its Tax, Trusts and Estates Team in West Yorkshire with a trio of new senior hires joining the Leeds office.

The private client team has welcomed Elizabeth Pearson, Fiona Wheeler and Helen Dawson as three new associates, who bring years of experience to a team that has expanded into treble figures over the last three years, despite the difficulties the pandemic caused to recruitment.

Elizabeth joined the team on 28 September from Wrigleys. With over nine years’ experience in private client law, Elizabeth is STEP qualified and specialises in advising family business owners, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals in respect of succession planning and asset protection, including the formation of trusts and Family Investment Companies. She is also experienced in advising trustees in relation to complex trust structures and the reorganisation of family trusts.

Fiona Wheeler and Helen Dawson both joined the following week as associates, all with strong backgrounds and qualifications in private client work.

Joining the Leeds team from Hursts accountants, Fiona is a tax adviser, STEP, CTA and ATT qualified and specialises in providing advice on a broad range of taxes to private clients and business owners including inheritance tax, capital gains tax and income tax.

Fiona is also working closely with the firm’s tax teams in London, Sheffield and Chichester, supporting clients across the country with tax advice on succession planning, divorce, disputes and employment related issues. She also has experience advising on Family Investment Companies (FICs).

With over 10 years’ experience in private client law, Helen Dawson was formerly at Knights and advises business and property owners, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals on succession planning and wealth protection.

Helen sits on the STEP Yorkshire committee and at Irwin Mitchell she will be joining forces again with Leeds partner and chair of STEP Yorkshire Andrea Jones, as the pair already work together on the committee to arrange events for STEP members in the region.

A full member of Solicitors for the Elderly, Helen also has years of experience acting for trustees and personal representatives of estates in obtaining  probate and dealing with the administration of estates and trusts.

Expert Opinion

“Many of our regions are now forging ahead with recruitment and the Leeds office is seeing considerable growth, with 14 new hires in tax, trusts and estates alone over the last three years, despite the challenges of the pandemic.

“There’s no doubt that Elizabeth, Fiona and Helen are joining a growing and successful team at an exciting moment for the firm as a whole, as we look to have the key personnel in place to meet the needs of our clients in the months and years ahead.

“All three boast considerable experience which really strengthens our private client offering both in Yorkshire and nationally and it’s a pleasure to welcome them all to Irwin Mitchell.” Andrea Jones - Partner

Elizabeth Pearson said: “I’m delighted to join a firm, and team, that shares my passion for building lasting relationships with clients, and providing practical solutions to their family, and business, succession needs. I’m really looking forward to working with Andrea and the team to provide a first class service to our business clients in the region.”

Fiona Wheeler said: “It’s a pleasure to be joining Irwin Mitchell and a team that has clearly grown in size and importance along with the development of the city of Leeds. I’m really looking forward to getting started in working with new colleagues in the city and across the country as we all look for a fresh start after what has been a challenging few months.”

Helen Dawson said: “Joining Irwin Mitchell was an easy choice to make. I already knew a lot about the firm through working with Andrea and it will be great to work more closely with her and the team as we move in to what is the start of a period of growth and opportunity for the Leeds office and supporting our clients in the wider region.”