Testimonials | Penningtons Manches Cooper

Feel you are a fair, trustworthy and honest practice with solicitors who care about the individual.

Mr N

Always professional, prompt, polite and positive.

Mrs W

Every member of the PI team I have worked with has impressed me. Philippa Luscombe is to my mind quite simply the best PI solicitor who instructs me.

Barrister specialising in personal injury

My impression of the firm is that it is modern, hard working and client focused - client care being second to none in my experience.

Barrister specialising in personal injury

Exceptional private client team advising on domestic and international tax planning and asset structuring. Offers significant expertise in complex estate administration and succession issues.

Strengths: 'They have very high-powered and cutting-edge tax knowledge, but at the same time they know the families. They enjoy being part of the development of families.'

'They are extremely impressive and I feel very confident working with them.'

'They have very strong technical expertise and depth. With them, the client is always right; they adjust to what the client wants to do.'

Notable practitioners

Lesley Lintott is 'pragmatic and a pleasure to work with in a team. She is very supportive and motivated by doing the best by the client.' She brings a vast amount of experience to bear in estate planning and tax matters.

The 'highly intelligent' and 'very cerebral' Christopher Lintott 'is very good with clients,' observers note. His practice includes advising clients on the cross-border structuring of trusts and estates.

The 'very senior and experienced' Colin Russell 'is a good trust specialist' and 'is a very nice person to work with or against,' according to his peers.

Michael Cash is popular with clients, who praise his 'very personal involvement' in matters and add that 'he is very efficient, deals with sensitive matters extremely well and performs in an exemplary fashion.'

Laura Dadswell is praised by clients for her 'expert tax and legal knowledge' and her 'excellent bedside manner.' Sources say she 'handles sensitive matters extremely well and provides comprehensive and practical advice.'

Chambers UK - 2016 edition

Strong private client team handling cross-border and domestic matters for high net worth individuals, families and family offices. Administers and plans complex estates, offering tax planning and asset protection advice which frequently has international dimensions.

Strengths: ‘The firm as a whole is excellent. They have the requisite experience and knowledge of the law.’

‘They have very strong legal acumen. They are quick, responsive and know what they doing.’

‘They are always available to discuss matters, keeping us informed of progress and being very proactive in responding to requests.’

Notable practitioners

Clare Archer represents high net worth individuals and families with complex tax and estate planning and asset protection requirements. One source describes her as ‘exceptional’ and says: ‘In terms of handling things with sensitivity and pragmatism, Clare is second to none.’

Laura Dadswell advises clients on a range of estate planning matters and is well regarded for her work relating to US tax law. An interviewee says that she is ‘an extremely intelligent person with a great work ethic.’

Christopher Lintott is ‘very straightforward’ and ‘excellent to deal with’. He frequently advises high net worth families on cross-border estate planning matters.

Michael Cash is described as ‘one of the go-to names in this area,’ while another interviewee identifies him as ‘an excellent lawyer and a great tactician.’ He concentrates on assisting clients with domestic and international trust and estate litigation, including will disputes, Inheritance Act 1975 claims, breach of trust claims and matters concerning the administration of estates.

Liz Garvey ‘is fantastic. She is very personable and she takes a very holistic approach to clients and their problems. She has an excellent client manner. She is a real expert but is also a very understanding and sympathetic person.’ She advises clients on complex estate and probate matters and regularly handles Court of Protection work.

Caroline van Zyl is a key contact.

Chambers UK - 2017 edition

The practice offers comprehensive private wealth services for domestic and international clients, with a legal source noting: "They have got a really, really good team."

Sources praise the level of service provided by the team. "They are responsive and practical," says one interviewee, and another comments: "They are very easy to work with as an adviser of high net worth clients."

Penningtons Manches Cooper is impressively strong for private client work across the South. An interviewee notes: "They are professional, up to date with new laws and developments, friendly and easy to deal with. They are responsive and knowledgeable."

"The Penningtons Manches Cooper contentious trusts team is extremely strong in this area," enthuses a source, describing the team as: "Efficient, sensible and highly intelligent lawyers, and top-quality litigation strategists."

Notable practitioners

Clare Archer leads the London private client team and advises on estate planning and probate matters. Sources praise her client-handling skills. One says: "Her interaction with clients is excellent," and another interviewee reports: "She is very approachable, very client-friendly and very adaptable at dealing with complex clients."

Michael Cash is a long-standing private client lawyer in the Hampshire market. "He is very experienced and pragmatic - there isn't a lot he hasn't seen," says a source. "He is great. He comes across as very mild-mannered, quietly spoken and very thoughtful but he can be really tough and that is quite a good combo," states a market insider, who describes Cash as an "iron fist in a velvet glove."

Laura Dadswell has considerable expertise in international tax and trust matters. A source says: "She is very intelligent and a jewel of a private client lawyer," adding: "She has a very good grasp of her field and is a pleasure to work with." A peer highlights that "she has got a great reputation in the international space."

James D'Aquino advises domestic and international clients on estate and succession planning as well as trust and tax matters. A barrister enthuses: "He is an exemplary private client practitioner; he has massive technical expertise and is cool-headed." Another interviewee says: "He is precise, detail-oriented and has a strong knowledge of international advisory work."

Liz Garvey works in the firm's private client team in Guildford, assisting clients with inheritance tax planning, trust administration and Court of Protection applications. "I respect her greatly - I would have no problem in recommending Liz," says a peer, who explains: "She's a safe pair of hands. She's direct, and you have a straight conversation with her."

Hannah Gearey focuses her practice on private client and tax matters, assisting clients with the drafting of wills and tax planning. Sources say she is "friendly, knowledgeable and easy to deal with."

Sarah Lee is focused on advising affluent individuals and families on contentious and non-contentious private client matters. She is well versed in handling breach of trust claims and administration disputes.

Ryan Myint focuses his practice on estate and succession planning, and his clients include wealthy families, trust companies and financial institutions. He has particular experience advising high net worth clients with links to the Asian market.

Elizabeth Nicholas "has a calm, measured and reassuring air about her," says a source. Nicholas advises wealthy clients on inheritance and capital gains tax matters. One interviewee reports: "She is very, very good with clients. She was greatly analytical and incredibly knowledgeable."

Caroline van Zyl is a senior associate in the private client and tax team in Oxford. "Her communication is clear, concise and easy to digest for someone who is not an expert in the law," says an interviewee, adding: "She is quick to build rapport, which is crucial when dealing with private clients."

Cecelia Ward is a senior associate in the firm's Guildford private client team. She assists with a broad range of work including tax planning, drafting wills and probate. "She has always given wise counsel," says a client source.

Chambers High Net Worth - 2020 edition

The ‘supremely capable’ Lesley Lintott spearheads the nationwide team – ‘a great amalgam of wise heads and dynamic young stars’. Highly rated are the ‘personable and pragmatic’ Clare Archer, ‘efficient and constructive’ Chris Lintott, ‘sound’ Robert Macro, and ‘highly experienced’ Neil Morris. ‘An exceptional team that is outstanding across the full spectrum of private client advice, delivered in a sensitive and commercial manner’, comments one client. Senior associate and ‘rising star’ James d’Aquino joined in 2014.

Michael Cash leads a strong bench of senior associates.

Penningtons Manches LLP hired greatly respected senior associate Sallyann Short.

Laura Dadswell’s team at Penningtons Manches LLP is centred in Godalming.

The Legal 500 - 2015 edition

Penningtons Manches LLP’s Clare Archer is ‘an exceptional lawyer with great technical expertise; she provides a high level of client care and is sensitive to the families’ needs when dealing with complex issues’. Newly promoted partner James d’Aquino has the ability to ‘focus on the key issues very rapidly’.

The team stands out for its ‘wealth of knowledge, experience and substantial resources’. Recent highlights include advising PennTrust on a claimant issue concerning a Georgian businessman’s estate. Michael Cash and senior associate Sian Hodgson have ‘an impressive knowledge of the technical law’.

Liz Garvey ‘is excellent with clients’. 2015 highlights for Garvey included advising on complex probate issues and high-value estate administrations.

Caroline van Zyl handles the full range of private client tax matters, including estates, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and dispute resolution. Associate Iain Managhan is another key contact.

The Legal 500 - 2016 edition

Penningtons Manches LLP is ‘a top tax firm with excellent and very helpful staff who are exceptionally well organised and have a wide range of experience’. Clare Archer is ‘exceptionally personable and technically proficient. She has the right combination of experience, technical experience and diplomacy that ensures that sensitive matters are handled with great care’. James d’Aquino is ‘certainly a rising star with superb client handling skills and a degree of sensitivity that is uncommon in a partner of his age. He is able to get to the key issues very rapidly, and is a problem solver. He has excellent multi-jurisdictional skills’. Senior associate Lucy Edwards is ‘experienced on complex issues of UK res non-dom clients and ultra-high-net-worth clients’.

The team attracts praise for providing ‘an excellent and extremely knowledgeable service’. Guildford department head Liz Garvey ‘leads her team very well’; other key figures include Hannah Gearey, who is ‘very knowledgeable and has great empathy for complex client situations’; Cecelia Ward, who is ‘a walking textbook and able to find a solution to any problem’. Vanessa Riley is also recommended.

According to clients, Penningtons Manches LLP’s ‘level of service is second to none’. The Basingstoke team advises national and international clients on succession planning, high-value estate administration, obtaining court orders for executor actions and trust management. The team also has experience in Court of Protection orders for vulnerable persons, as well as handling offshore asset management and international tax planning matters. The ‘indomitable and formidable’ Michael Cash heads the practice; he ‘consistently provides sympathetic and helpful advice’. Henrietta Mason ‘is whip-smart, direct, and pulls no punches’. Also recommended are Nicola Hibbert, who is ‘accessible, knowledgeable and a good communicator’; Siân Hodgson (who is a ‘first-class lawyer’) and Sarah Lee. ‘Very knowledgeable and efficient’ senior associate Caroline van Zyl leads the team [in Oxford] and her recent workload includes advising on wills, deputyship and inheritance tax. Associate Iain Managhan is another key contact along with ‘very knowledgeable, patient, caring and flexible’ senior associate Louise Lewis, who has niche expertise in digital assets.

The Legal 500 - 2017 edition

Penningtons Manches LLP provides ‘exceptional service to clients. The highly motivated team is also structured in an efficient way to provide cost effective advice’. Clare Archer heads the department and has ‘the rare combination of experience, expertise and personable approach to be a true trusted adviser in what is often quite a sensitive and problematic area of practice’. James d’Aquino ‘has the global expertise and experience to be trusted on very complex matters’. Archer and d’Aquino are both ‘very sensitive to client needs and have the ability to handle diverse and often conflicting or competing elements very well’. Laura Dadswell is ‘excellent’ and newly promoted partner Lucy Edwards is ‘highly effective’.

Penningtons Manches LLP's advice is 'highly rated' and its 'charges are reasonable for the quality of advice and service offered'. The team [in Basingstoke] has extensive expertise in trusts law, including that with an international aspect, and contentious issues such as the removal of trustees and disputes between trustees and beneficiaries. Practice head Michael Cash's 'knowledge is first rate and he has a calm reassuring manner about him'. Other noted team members include Henrietta Mason, Siân Hodgson and Sarah Lee.

The 'excellent' team at Penningtons Manches LLP [in Guildford] is 'prompt to respond and compassionate in its interactions with beneficiaries' and has 'a wide area of expertise with specialists in all required sectors'. Liz Garvey, who heads the team, is also a director of PennTrust, the firm's trust management company, and frequently acts as a trustee on large family trusts. Senior associates Cecelia Ward and Hannah Gearey, who is valued for 'keeping on top of many areas of business', are other names to note. The team was further boosted by the arrival of senior associate Elizabeth Nicholas in January 2017.

‘Very knowledgeable and efficient’ senior associate Caroline Van Zyl heads Penningtons Manches LLP's Oxford office private client and tax team and specialises in all matters relating to estate planning, succession, tax and trusts. Senior associate Louise Lewis joined the firm in May 2017 and holds detailed knowledge of complex estate and trust administration and tax planning, while also receiving instructions to draft wills, set up trusts and put in place powers of attorney.

The Legal 500 - 2019 edition

Clare Archer heads the team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP that advises ultra-high-net-worth individuals, their families, family offices and private wealth firms on a wide range of complicated tax, family law and succession issues. Many of its clients have instructed the firm for generations to advise them on trust administration, succession planning and wills. The team is also skilled at advising on multi-jurisdictional matters and was pleased to recently add Ryan Myint to its ranks.

Liz Garvey is trusted for her handling of high-value estates which involve assets in both the UK and abroad and, with notable associate Hannah Gearey, also deals with complex probate cases and Court of Protection applications. Senior associate Cecelia Ward is dual qualified as a Chartered Tax Advisor. Elizabeth Nicholas is also recommended. Director Adrian Moss manages the accounting and tax compliance service.

Caroline Van Zyl heads up the private client practice at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP Oxford office, where she primarily assists high-net-worth individuals and families with succession and tax planning, often with an international element.

The Legal 500 - 2020 edition

Penningtons Manches Cooper advises high net worth individuals and families on cross-border succession planning and wealth structuring.

Penningtons Manches Cooper is an acclaimed private wealth team. The team advises on private client planning and disputes matters and is particularly praised for its depths and breadth of knowledge.

Strengths: ‘The Penningtons team was able to demonstrate out-of-the-box thinking and provide innovative advice to help us achieve specific aims and goals.’

‘The team at Penningtons has extensive experience in both UK and international tax and can handle complex succession planning matters.’

‘Each member of the team we have met has been professional, knowledgeable and customer-centric.’

‘I was very impressed by the Penningtons team, who were able to reassure people … that everything would be okay and that they could make things better. That reassurance and comfort is a real strength for them … The firm is really good at both the law and handling clients.’

‘They have consistently demonstrated exemplary technical knowledge and they excel at explaining the issues in a clear and concise manner.’

‘Penningtons is very knowledgeable and professional, and gives the best possible advice.’

Notable practitioners

Clare Archer: ‘Clare is always very practical and supportive.’

James D’Aquino: ‘James is really good on international cases with structuring and trust issues. He gives real-world advice to clients.’

Laura Dadswell: ‘Laura is an absolute pleasure to work with. She is exceptional at her job.’

Lucy Edwards advises on wills, estate planning and tax matters.

Hannah Gearey: ‘Hannah offers excellent advice. She is knowledgeable about the subject, very experienced, and a great mentor to junior associates.’

Ryan Myint: ‘Ryan has strong technical grounding and excellent client skills. He is able to think creatively and synthesise innovative structuring solutions to achieve clients' goals.’

Elizabeth Nicholas: ‘Elizabeth's client service level is very high. She always responds in a timely manner and very quickly if the matter is urgent. I continue to be impressed by the depth and breadth of her knowledge.’

Tristan Smale: ‘Tristan is very good. He is very amenable, quick to respond and provides information in a well-documented way and easy-to-understand manner.’

Chambers High Net Worth - 2023 edition

‘A very strong team who work well together, exude confidence, charm clients and are a pleasure to work with. I never hesitate to recommend them.’

‘Responsive and savvy team, very competent and creative which is important for cross-border tax structuring work. Would highly recommend.’

‘A very experienced team, very knowledgeable in areas of inheritance tax and probate. They operated within a structured methodology and took a detailed and logical approach to the task, which was exactly what was needed.’

‘Clare Archer. Meticulous. Has a high profile.’

‘James d’Aquino – a charming and technically excellent private client partner who is rightly recognised as a market leader.’

‘Lucy Edwards has been exceptional with clients – delivering an excellent service, on a variety of different legal matters, within tight timeframes and always within budget.’

‘Hannah Gearey has expertise in complex probate issues, substantial philanthropy matters, and vulnerable beneficiaries and those in receipt of personal injury awards.’

‘Ryan Myint is an excellent tax and trusts advisor, very sound in law and able to work out solutions that are commercially sensible across complicated structures.’

‘Elizabeth Nicholas – an absolutely first-rate lawyer who has deservedly been promoted to partnership and will doubtless continue to apply her excellent technical skills and charm for the benefit of clients with the most complex and interesting circumstances.’

‘James Sedgley. Good at detail. A good point man accessing other disciplines.’

‘I have always found Cecilia Ward to be technically strong…She has very strong people skills and communicates well. The ability to relate to people and inspire confidence is a reason I have returned back to Cecilia and also referred others to her.’

The Legal 500 - 2023 edition

‘This firm has a strong private client presence. The lawyers are commercial and pragmatic and they have a good depth to be able to provide a full service offering.’

‘The firm has an exceptionally strong tax advisory practice. The lawyers simply do not get things wrong. They bring their own technical expertise, thoughtful approach and diligence to bear to great effect. The team’s clients – an international and diverse mix – respect them and take the advice.’

‘Their compassion and empathy is incredible and a rarity within their profession. They bring an immense amount of expertise, patience and professionalism to each interaction with the client, whether that’s on the phone, in person or in writing.’

‘Clare Archer provides an excellent personalised service to clients. She is extremely dedicated, with an excellent eye for detail and a firm focus on client needs. Clare is always on top of all the details of her cases. She thinks through each step carefully and is always a step ahead.’

‘James d’Aquino is a stellar partner with everything that the role requires. He is astute, calm under pressure, responsive and a pleasure to work with. His clients trust him.’

‘Laura Dadswell is a gem. She is personable and intelligent and is able to relate to her clients in a way that puts them at ease and gives them the confidence that she will find the right outcome.’

‘Lucy Edwards leads the team [in Guildford] and is a top-class private client lawyer.’

Elizabeth Nicholas: ‘She is always pragmatic, determined and persuasive. She achieves solutions for clients that others could not through a combination of strategic thinking and technical expertise.’

‘Vanessa Riley is superb at explaining extremely complex areas of law which enabled me to keep fully across what we were doing and why.’

The Legal 500 - 2022 edition

The 'excellent' Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP has strong international capabilities and routinely advises UK resident and non-resident, non-domiciled individuals, international families, trustees, private banks, family offices and business owners around the world. Team head Clare Archer has a focus on advising landed and business families, and assists clients with generational planning and governance matters. Ryan Myint is adept at advising on multi-jurisdictional planning issues such as cross-border tax reporting, disclosure and transparency matters. Senior associate Tristan Smale joined in June 2020.

James d’Aquino is an excellent lawyer with a sharp commercial edge. He is a mine of information and practical experience in international tax planning.

Lucy Edwards is an outstanding solicitor who has worked closely with a number of my UHNW and HNW clients and has received stellar feedback on a consistent basis.

Laura Dadswell is the shining star. She is responsive and communicates in a clear and decisive way.

Liz Garvey is particularly skilled in the challenging areas of family conflicts and cases involving the Court of Protection and vulnerable beneficiaries. The firm [in Guildford] has a strong team of associates including Cecelia Ward, Hannah Gearey and Elizabeth Nicholas.

Elizabeth Nicholas is one of the most adept and accomplished private client practitioners I work with.

Hannah Gearey and Liz Garvey have a very effective approach to their work which makes a difference to our client group.

'Exceptionally professional' Caroline Van Zyl leads the practice [in Oxford] and advises on all aspects of personal wealth planning. An increasing number of her clients have interests overseas or foreign domicile considerations.

Michael Cash is a giant of the contentious private client world. His experience and calm approach are deeply impressive, the service he offers clients is superb and he is a delight to work with.

The Legal 500 - 2021 edition

Strengths: The firm has ‘strong technical ability, a responsive team and offers creative solutions’, states a source.

Penningtons Manches Cooper ‘have a great reputation with quality staff’, says a source. The team advises on private client planning and disputes matters.

Notable practitioners

Clare Archer is described as ‘one of the most brilliant lawyers, she is intelligent, hard-working and creative’ by a source. Archer focuses her practice on matters relating to trusts and structuring. She has particular expertise in landed estates.

Michael Cash is ‘an exceptional lawyer at the top of his game’, enthuses a source. Cash represents high net worth clients in complex trust and estate disputes. A market commentator notes: ‘He is a master of strategy.’

James D'Aquino is described as ‘a very good technical tax lawyer’ by a source. Another adds: ‘I have been very pleased with the service provided by James. He has been a great sounding board on a particular matter and I would not hesitate engaging with him again on private client matters.’

Laura Dadswell is ‘extremely good, a safe pair of hands, and has a good bedside manner’, states a source. A commentator adds, Dadswell has a ‘good balance of technical excellence and client-facing skills’. She focuses her practice on matters relating to tax, estates and structuring.

Lucy Edwards: An interviewee says: ‘She is very knowledgeable with creative solutions’

Hannah Gearey: An impressed client says: ‘Hannah was professional, considerate, responsive, knowledgeable, empathetic and willing to answer questions and explain elements I didn't understand.’

Ryan Myint is highlighted for his particular expertise in Singaporean private wealth matters, as well as those with a connection to the Singapore market. He advises high net worth clients on a broad range of matters.

Elizabeth Nicholas: A source says: ‘She has enormous technical expertise and a very good strategic approach.’ Another interviewee notes: ‘Elizabeth is responsive, practical and client-friendly.’

Tristan Smale ‘has been very good’, says a market commentator; ‘his advice is very joined up, it covers all aspects of the transaction; he not only provides it in a manner that senior staff can understand but also juniors. He is so practical, which is what we look for.’

Caroline van Zyl advises on probate, lasting powers of attorney and estate administration. She also advises on wills and trusts.

Chambers High Net Worth – 2022 edition

Strengths: The firm has ‘strong technical ability, a responsive team and offers creative solutions’, states a source.

Penningtons Manches Cooper ‘have a great reputation with quality staff’, says a source. The team advises on private client planning and disputes matters.

Notable practitioners
Clare Archer is described as ‘one of the most brilliant lawyers, she is intelligent, hard-working and creative’ by a source. Archer focuses her practice on matters relating to trusts and structuring. She has particular expertise in landed estates.