About Us
Private client advice reimagined
Established in 2005 to uniquely combine technical tax skills with legal expertise, we are now a multi-disciplinary firm of over 30 solicitors and tax specialists providing advice to individuals, trustees and wealthy families. We help plan and protect wealth now and for future generations, also dealing with disputes related to property, Wills and trusts.
Based centrally in one office in the West Midlands, the breadth and depth of our tax and legal expertise makes us unique as well as being one of the largest private client practices in the region.
Legal advice for all generations
We forge long lasting relationships with our clients, often working with multiple generations within families. Our Family Office service seamlessly delivers our combined specialisms, providing legal and tax advice and dealing with the full range of tax compliance for wealthy families.
We provide expert and practical advice on Wills, trusts and estate planning and can advise trustees and executors and administer trusts and estates. Where requested, we also act as trustees and executors. Our team includes Society of Trust and Estate qualified practitioners (STEP).
Tax planning and compliance
Our tax team advise on a wide range of issues, including property and share transactions, and specialise in advising both business owners and individuals with international backgrounds and financial interests. We also deal with the tax compliance for individuals and trustees as well as dealing with HMRC enquiries and investigations.
International legal and tax advice
As private client specialists our team has extensive experience of international issues and this cuts across much of what we do. This ranges from dealing with international estate planning and cross-border probates to complex tax situations arising from families moving between territories, investing outside the UK, or having interests in offshore trust and company structures. Our team has a comprehensive appreciation of the interplay between UK and foreign law as well as international tax treaties.
Resolving probate and property disputes
Our Disputes resolution team includes solicitors who are members of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialist (ACTAPS) and offers support and guidance for those involved in contentious Wills and probate issues, and trust and property disputes.
Multi-disciplinary tax and legal support
As a blended team of tax and legal professionals, we have extensive knowledge of domestic legislation and regulations, dealing regularly with governing bodies such as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and the Land Registry in addition to the judiciary and court system.
“(Meridian) brings different perspectives to a knotty problem and a level of original, clever and lateral thinking and commercial acumen”
- Legal 500
Understanding your wealth preservation objectives
Our objective is to be your long-term advisor. To be able to do this, we want to understand you and your objectives. In so doing, we often establish long-lasting and meaningful relationships with our clients and other professionals who we work with.
Our service is specialist-led meaning every matter is overseen by a Partner or senior specialist with many years’ professional services experience.
Our clients often have complex problems to resolve but want simple solutions. We understand this and do our best to meet objectives in a way that makes you feel comfortable.
Growing with your family
As private client specialists with many years of experience, we understand the complexity of family and life circumstances and can help you deal with some of life’s biggest challenges.
Working with wealthy families, we understand the interplay between generations and how to help deal with this through sensitive yet meticulous planning.
In the modern world, many families are complex and blended from more than one relationship. In these circumstances, Will and estate planning becomes very important as does finding the right way to meet key objectives, for example, ensuring that assets pass to the intended beneficiaries. To achieve this, we use sophisticated techniques in drafting Wills and advising on suitable succession and investment structures such as trusts and family investment companies (“FIC’s”).
Growing with your business
We often talk of the life cycle of a business. In much the same way as an individual, a business is born and will go through many changes as it matures.
Our tax specialists can guide you through these stages, whether that is starting a new business, incentivising employees, merging business interests, splitting business apart (for example, demergers) or selling a business. In fact, for some clients, we have dealt with many or most of these stages.
There are various taxes to consider in these scenarios, and we look holistically at the impact on the business and the owners.
By your side during dispute
Whether it takes six months or six years, in court or otherwise, settling a disagreement requires careful handling and a level-headed yet empathetic approach.
Our Disputes team has significant experience in helping clients navigate their way through contentious situations. These include contested Wills, breaches of trust, trustee and beneficiary disputes, property disputes and related professional negligence claims.
We use our experience to give each matter the considered and personal attention necessary to help achieve the best possible outcome.
Quietly professional
We respect the private and sensitive nature of our clients’ personal and business affairs.
In getting to understand your circumstances and objectives, we will listen carefully to you and provide a professional sounding board to help you make decisions.
Throughout our advice, our teams act with integrity, confidentiality and compassion, including engagement with the external advisors we often work closely with to meet the exact needs of our clients.
To speak to one of our team, call us on 01675 442430 or send us an email and we will get back to you.