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.’
‘Each member of the team we have met has been professional, knowledgeable and customer-centric.’
‘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.’
‘All the team members were professional, but also came across as very supportive.’
‘Penningtons Manches Cooper had very clear, very helpful communication all through the process and went over and beyond to make sure it went as fast as possible.’
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.’
‘Penningtons’ reputation for excellence is well-earned … their solicitors are diligent, hard-working, and knowledgeable. They are also compassionate and care deeply for their clients.’
‘Their combined experience makes them a tour de force and the place to go to for your divorce finances.’
The Legal 500 - 2023 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 UK - 2022 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.’
‘An esteemed name for trust litigation, the lawyers have experience of acting in many high-profile, high-stakes, and highly-sensitive or complex cases.’
‘An excellent firm with an excellent reputation. This firm has a wide breadth of individuals to suit any case – from the complex, high net worth case to the more straightforward middle money case.’
‘Penningtons Manches Cooper has a powerhouse team of lawyers that are leaders in the field across multiple areas of children law. It always goes the extra mile to provide a Rolls Royce service to clients, which translates to exceptional preparation of cases for trial.’
‘The firm is a sparkling collection of successful and empathetic family lawyers.’
The Legal 500 - 2022 edition
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP 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.
The family team has a multi-disciplinary approach and works closely with its property, litigation and private client/tax teams to provide a 360 degree Rolls-Royce service for clients.
The Legal 500 - 2020 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."
Chambers High Net Worth - 2020 edition
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Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC311575 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 419867.
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