Expertise

Oliver specialises in tax planning for high net worth UK domiciled and resident individuals with particular expertise in planning with residential property. He advises on Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, preparing Wills and administering high value and complex estates.

Oliver’s practice also covers contentious trusts and probate work including bringing and defending claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (”the ’75 Act”), mental capacity claims, and claims for and against trustees.

He was named as one of eprivateclient magazine’s Top 35 Under 35 in 2015 and 2018 and as a ‘rising star in the Legal 500 in 2020. Oliver is listed in the Citywealth Future Leaders List and was named Citywealth’s Lawyer of the Year, Senior/Managing Associate in 2020. In 2021 Oliver was named a ‘next generation Partner’ by the Legal 500 and he won Partner of the Year at the Citywealth Future Leaders Awards (Silver).

Recent Experience

• Acting for the trustees in the reported case of PQ and Another v RS and Others [2019] EWHC 1643 (Ch).
• Working with the firm’s Corporate team on the structuring and incorporation of Family Investment Companies.
• Advising the trustees of a family trust in an appeal against a decision by HM Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) that Entrepreneurs’ Relief was not available.
• Advising clients on IHT and CGT mitigation with residential property. This includes, co-occupation relief, Principal Private Residence advice, the use of trust structures and advice in relation to Agricultural Property Relief.
• Acting for the Independent Administrators of an estate facing four claims under the 75 Act.
• Administering various high value and/or complex estates, often where there is an HMRC compliance investigation and carrying out negotiations with HMRC.

Career History

Oliver joined Wedlake Bell as a trainee in September 2007. He qualified into the Private Client Team in March 2010 after spending six months in the firm’s marketing team.

Oliver was promoted to Associate in October 2012, to Senior Associate in October 2016, and he became a Partner in April 2021.

He is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and an Associate member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).

Oliver has a degree in History from The University of Leeds and a degree in Law from The University of Law.