Cecelia Ward

Managing associate

Cecelia Ward

Managing associate

Email Cecelia

+44 (0)1483 791866

Guildford

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Services

Sectors

Cecelia advises clients and their families on how to organize their affairs to their best advantage. She is dual qualified as a chartered tax advisor which, together with her many years of experience, gives her a unique perspective for tax planning.

Her particular expertise comprises clients with complex assets and/or family circumstances; structuring assets to best suit the family while ensuring the best fiscal result; entrepreneurs and family businesses including farming businesses on tax efficient structuring and succession planning, to the best advantage of the family; and the use of trusts, partnerships and companies as a means of structuring family wealth. Cecelia delivers practical solutions with an eye to the costs of creating, maintaining and collapsing these structures, as against the advantages, both in tax terms and in family terms.

I am known for my ability to communicate complex legal issues in an understandable way. I always strive to find the best solution for my clients, which may not necessarily be the best financial result in the short term, but one that ensures family harmony and has the flexibility to adapt to future changing circumstances.

Cecelia Ward, Managing associate

She acts for multiple generations of families, who rely upon her as their ‘trusted advisor’. She is proactive and supportive of her families over the years and this enables her to spot and avert family tensions that may adversely impact a family business or business problems that may cause family tensions. Cecelia helps the next generation to understand their responsibilities towards family assets and wealth, manage their advisory requirements and develop strategies for family wealth for generations to come. While many of Cecelia’s clients are Surrey-based, the majority reside elsewhere in the UK or overseas.

She qualified with a Magic Circle law firm in 1997 and joined Penningtons Manches Cooper in 2004. The latest edition of Chambers High Net Worth recognises her as a leading individual in her field.

Recent work highlights

Maintaining equality

Acting for two generations of a farming family in structuring assets in the most effective way to achieve the best fiscal result, avoid family conflict and ensure equality between farming and non-farming family members.

Realisation of complex assets

Advising the executors of an estate with significant assets in four different jurisdictions – some of which are challenging to value – to settle with HMRC on inheritance tax issues, realising the assets and ending the administration of the estate.

Continuity of family business

Advising three generations of a family with succession issues and family difficulties on their family businesses. The advice is important for not only the eldest generation but also the middle and youngest generations to have a strategy for the future.

Tax planning for farming estate

Advising the executors of an estate incorporating business interests and farmland on structuring the development of that land and cashflow, as well as claiming inheritance tax reliefs and providing advice on tax planning for the next generation.

Rearrangement of assets

Advising the executors of a couple on family assets, including a farm, let residential properties and a business. Guidance was required on ownership of various assets, taxation, family trusts, land development and ensuring that the farm survived.

Managing family dynamics

Advising two beneficiaries of a long-standing family trust in relation to a landed estate which includes their homes, let residential properties and farmland, and from which various businesses are run by family members.

External recognition

What people are saying

Cecelia is very knowledgeable and has been able to suggest new routes and solutions for my estate planning.

Private client

Cecelia has a really good forensic approach, she is able to take a step back and work her way through the problems.

Private client