Tess is an Associate in the Private Client team.
She advises individuals, families, trustees and family offices on a broad range of UK and international trust, tax and succession planning issues. She also has experience in probate matters and the administration of estates.
Tess’ work for UK and international clients includes bespoke estate planning advice (preparing Wills, Codicils, Letters of Wishes and Lasting Powers of Attorney) and personal tax advice (including advising on the implications of long-term residence in the UK and legal changes to the non-dom regime). Recently, she has worked closely with a family office to plan for changes to the Business Property Relief regime.
She regularly advises trustees of complex trust structures on the administration and UK taxation of those structures, as well as acting for settlors on the creation of new trusts.
Tess’ practice is a broad one, acting for high profile private collectors, art dealers and cultural institutions as part of the firm’s Art and Cultural Property group. She is experienced in advising clients on buying, selling and lending art in an international context, dealing with complex issues of ownership and title, and advising on inheritance tax relief for heritage assets. She has developed a particular interest and expertise in restitution and repatriation cases.
Tess trained and qualified at Farrer & Co, before joining Payne Hicks Beach in 2024. She read Classical Archaeology and Ancient History at the University of Oxford, obtaining First Class Honours. Tess went on to work at a bank and an auction house before training as a solicitor at BPP Law School.
Tess is a member of the Art Lawyers Association (ALA) and is co-chair of the Publicity & Social Media Committee of Westminster & Holborn Law Society.
