Veta Law

Who am I?

I am from Halifax originally and I’m very proud of my Yorkshire roots. As Managing Partner, I am responsible for helping to set the firm’s strategic direction and to head up the management of the firm.

I qualified as a solicitor in 2003 and have always specialised in tax, trusts, estates and succession planning. I’m an experienced trustee, attorney and executor and enjoy helping others who are carrying out this role.

I spent the first 15 years of my career working at larger commercial law firms and became Head of the Private Client department and Partner in 2010. I established Veta Law in 2017 with my business partner Lauren Killilea. Lauren and I have been working together since 2009. Our shared philosophy to combine technically excellent legal advice with exceptional client care informs the approach of everyone at Veta Law.

At work

My clients often include entrepreneurs and people in the worlds of sport and entertainment. Much work includes an international element, with cross-border estate planning and co-ordinating matters for clients with assets in a number of different jurisdictions.

As some of our clients require a team of advisors, I enjoy working alongside other professionals (such as financial planners, accountants, corporate and family lawyers) to help them meet the clients’ objectives. As a niche practice, we are very flexible and can quickly accommodate the specific needs of new and existing clients and their families. I get satisfaction from working with other professionals to ensure that a seamless service to clients is delivered.

We invest heavily in the training and development of our talented team. I supervise and support others with their careers at Veta. It is rewarding to see them progress through our career development framework.

When I am not at work

I enjoy playing netball for my local team, the Lions. Having played netball from a young age, I tend to favour the centre court positions which involve lots of running and incisive passing; keeping me on my toes!

I also love regular yoga sessions that keep me spiritually balanced and help push my body for those all important winning matches – Go Lions!

Who am I?

I come from Derbyshire and moved to study in Manchester.  I have spent most of my career working in the North-West and now live in Wilmslow.  As Senior Partner, I am the firm’s lead on technical matters and enjoy keeping our team up to date on the latest rules and legislation.

Since qualifying as a Solicitor in 1997, I have specialised in advising high-net-worth individuals and trustees about the use of trusts for asset protection, tax planning and as a tool to preserve family harmony. I act as professional executor and trustee for many families and I’m appointed by the Court to act as independent administrator in contested estates.

I first worked with Louise Berry in 2009. We enjoyed working together so much we decided to set up our own boutique private client practice, and Veta Law was established in 2017.

I am a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (“STEP”) and have contributed articles to legal journals including Private Client Advisor and the Trusts & Estates Law Journal.

At work

I enjoy meeting clients and finding solutions for them. I aim to build long-term relationships with my clients and other professional advisors, to put the best team in place to provide holistic advice. I am a trusted advisor to many entrepreneurs and family businesses. I enjoy putting together plans that provide for family succession, protection of the family business and avoid family disputes.

I advise individuals and families that require international estate planning, trust structuring, family governance, domicile and tax planning advice. I prepare tax efficient wills, family trusts and powers of attorney. I also manage cross-border probates and the administration of complex estates.

I enjoy training our team and seeing the progress our firm has made given the commitment of everyone working together.

When I am not at work

Outside of work, I am usually to be found near a sports pitch, either playing hockey or cheering on my children at football. I help train and manage a junior team at my local hockey club. I love spending time in the Lake District and have recently taken up paddleboarding.

I am also proud to be a trustee of Space4Autism, a charity based in Macclesfield which supports people with autism and their families.

Who am I?

I am from Cheshire originally and my time is now spent helping clients in our Liverpool office and our Cheadle Head Office.

I qualified as a solicitor in 2007 and I am a private client specialist.  I am a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (“STEP”).  My expertise includes advising a wide range of private clients including high-net-worth individuals, business clients, and clients with complex family circumstances in connection with their estate and tax planning to ensure that their wealth is protected for the next generation.

I started at Veta Law in November 2020 as a Senior Associate Solicitor and was promoted to Partner in February 2022. I am also the Training Partner for the firm and so it is my responsibility to co-ordinate the best training and development for our team and to support as they progress in their roles. Since joining Veta, I have enjoyed learning more about managing the business and supervising our growing team.

At work

I manage a full spectrum of private client matters, from the preparation of tax efficient wills, family trusts and powers of attorney to cross-border probates and the administration of complex estates.

I have considerable experience in succession planning and wealth structuring for families, tax mitigation and trusts.  I also provide expertise on trust transparency measures and UK tax compliance for individuals and trustees.

I enjoy my area of expertise because I like to get to know my clients really well and help them to arrange unique legal solutions to help them and their families in the future.  I work best as part of a team and enjoy working alongside my clients’ other trusted advisors, including Financial Planners, Accountants and other professionals.

When I am not at work

With a busy job and two children, if I get any time to myself I’ll put my feet up and enjoy no-one asking me any questions… even listen to a good podcast or two.

I also like running, swimming and just spending time with my family and friends.

Who am I?

I am originally from Bradford and I am now head of the Veta Law Leeds office.  I studied in Dublin and Leeds and then worked in London before returning to the North.  I qualified as a solicitor in 2006 at a large commercial law firm where I worked for many years.  I joined Veta Law as a partner and solicitor in January 2022.  Throughout my career, I have specialised in providing complex inheritance tax and succession planning advice for individuals and families and I have particular expertise in advising business owners and entrepreneurs.

I am a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (‘STEP’).  I have had multiple articles published in the Press including articles in the Financial Times, The Times, Private Client Adviser, PS Magazine and Taxation Magazine.

At work

I act as a professional trustee, executor and attorney. I also have extensive expertise in the administration of high value and complex estates, particularly where businesses and cross-jurisdictional issues are involved.  I am a specialist in advising clients on ways to pass on their wealth and businesses in ways that are tax efficient and appropriate for the family as a whole

When I am at work, I love building relationships with clients, my team and other professional advisors. For me there is no greater sense of satisfaction than working together in a holistic manner to find legal solutions for my clients and this often involves working with other professional advisors.

I also helped to set up “HUB” – an informal and friendly private client network based in Leeds and the surrounding areas.

When I am not at work

Outside of work, I have two children, a dog and a cat that keep me extremely busy and we live on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. I love the great outdoors, music, travel and food – eating and cooking! I have been to Glastonbury four times and am hoping to go again next year. I took my children to Sri Lanka earlier this year, which was very exciting for all of us.

I am extremely excited to be part of the Veta Law Team and cannot wait to see what the future brings.

Who am I?

I am originally from Westhoughton but I now live in Manchester.

My undergraduate degree is in Theology which I studied at Nottingham University and absolutely loved, but I was not cut out for church life. I went on to study the Graduate Diploma in Law at Nottingham Law School and found my calling!

I qualified as a solicitor in 2019 and I joined Veta Law in November 2021. I am building my skills in all aspects of private client work.

At work

I specialise in advice relating to complex Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney. I administer taxable and non-taxable estates. I enjoy helping my clients with probate work in a sensitive way, and to ensure that matters are progressed as quickly as possible for them. I also advise about the use of trusts and inheritance tax planning.

I particularly enjoy meeting and getting to know my clients and find enormous satisfaction in helping them to achieve their goals. I also love sinking my teeth into a good piece of legal drafting.

We are a wonderful team here at Veta Law (which is growing and growing!). We have some excellent lawyers who I am excited to learn from. I am looking forward to building my expertise and continuing my professional development and, in time, to becoming an Associate Solicitor.

When I am not at work

I have always loved to travel, having spent time in Namibia, South Africa, South America, Indonesia, and a few more. I would love to be able to get to as many countries as I can. Next on my list is Canada, I think, particularly British Columbia.

I enjoy the outdoors and now I’m in my 30s I find myself more and more interested in gardening!

I also enjoy watching sport, including football rugby, cricket, tennis and the NHL.

Who am I?

I am originally from Port Elizabeth, South Africa but now live in Manchester. I moved to the UK in May 2002.

I started at Veta Law in September 2021 as a Legal Assistant. I have been a Legal Assistant specialising in the administration of wills, LPAs and probate since 2010. I get a buzz from being busy and helping our clients achieve their goals.

Since joining Veta Law, I have become an expert in progressing applications through the Probate Registry’s online systems and at registering UK trusts with HMRC’s Trusts Registration Service. I am always keen to learn more! I am currently working on our online HM Land Registry digital applications.

At work

I particularly enjoy a busy day! There is enormous satisfaction in being able to help, by not only taking the pressure off my colleagues, but also reassuring our clients. I love helping our clients with their enquiries as best as I can, and if I do not know the answer, I will find it out for them.

My lifetime ambition is to become a qualified lawyer and my training at Veta Law is helping me to achieve this.

When I am not at work

I enjoy watching crime dramas and a lot of TikToks. I have 4 children (5 if you include my husband!), and they all keep me busy with various things (especially my husband who doesn’t think pandas are real!).

I am not a fan of sport, although I played a lot of sport in school. I now prefer to eat food! I love a barbecue, come rain or shine I will still barbecue. Nothing like a great big steak sizzling away on a fire.

My lifetime ambition for the future outside of work is to live in a house in the Caribbean where I can just walk out of my front door straight on to the beach and sit in the sun with a good book and a cocktail. I don’t really mind the new music but you can’t beat the 80s and 90s tunes.

Who am I?

I’m from Bolton. My degree is in mathematics which I studied at Manchester University (a lot longer ago than I care to admit). I started at Veta Law in July 2020 as a Legal Cashier. I’ve been a Legal Cashier since 2013 and I’m a member of the ILFM with a diploma in legal bookkeeping.

At work

There is a great sense of achievement to be found in a job well done and I enjoy the challenge of a difficult task which keeps my mental faculties on their toes. I’m always on the look-out for new skills to help enhance and improve how effective I am in my role.

When I am not at work

Outside of work I enjoy going to the gym, watching probably far too much TV, reading, walking, and spending time with friends and family, in particular, with my adorable niece and nephew who are becoming more of a handful by the day.

I’m a huge fan of going to watch live music so, apart from festival season, I go to gigs on a regular basis at all different types of venues. From small shows by relatively unknown artists to big stadium tours by household names. I like visiting and exploring new places, preferably somewhere warm, and I love visiting architectural & cultural marvels. A dream of mine is to hike the Machu Picchu trail.

Who am I?

I’m from Wigan and my qualifications are in business administration, AAT Bookkeeping, sports development and rehabilitation.

I started at Veta Law in July 2020 as an Accounts Manager and I really enjoy being part of this rapidly expanding team.

At work

I am always looking to improve my legal accounting skills, whether that be familiarising myself with the latest developments in accounting rules or learning about different accounts software to broaden my skills on a range of packages.

I personally look forward to enhancing my knowledge base with my continued professional development.

When I am not at work

I enjoy going to the gym after work, socialising with my friends, going for food and drinks and watching any sports, usually watching Manchester United lose!

I am passionate about keeping in shape, health and wellbeing (even though I love food). I like all things athletic and my ultimate holiday destination is Orlando. My favourite food is sushi and I would love to visit Japan to taste the real thing.

My favourite singer is Drake, and my favourite music is techno and rap, really anything with a good beat!

Who am I?

I’m from Stockport originally but moved away in 1987, spending 9 years as Casino Manager on board cruise ships (I did get time off!).  I came back to England in 1996 and lived in London, working in large commercial law firms for over 15 years as a Legal Personal Assistant specialising in tax, corporate and private client work.

I returned to Manchester in 2016 and started at Veta Law in January 2021 as Office Manager and Legal Assistant.

Since joining, I have learnt how to draft trusts, wills and lasting powers of attorney, and I am keen to learn more about probates and estate administration.

At work

I particularly enjoy working with all my colleagues; we have a great team here and everyone is really friendly.  As Office Manager, I am responsible for ensuring our office runs smoothly.  I also update our practice and case management systems, and deal with IT issues together with our IT Support Team.

I get a buzz from formatting a document to make it look perfect; being a bit of a perfectionist, I get enormous satisfaction in turning out fantastic work and important documents for our clients.

I love helping our clients with anything and everything – that’s what we’re here for, after all! – and I’m excited for where Veta Law is going to go next; I’m looking forward to us growing and growing.

Something I’m very proud of is organising last year’s office move to larger premises and getting everything set up at our new office, which now looks splendid!

My aspiration at work is to be happy, which I already am.  I feel very lucky to work here.

When I am not at work

I enjoy doing cryptic crosswords and Sudokus, love a good quiz (I’m quite competitive on the quiet!), and I like going to the cinema, theatre, catching up with friends and family, and bingeing on Netflix.  I also love Coronation Street, which I’m not going to apologise for as it’s part of my Northern DNA!

I like a wide selection of music; Bruce Springsteen (best concerts ever), The Cure, The Beautiful South, The Smiths, Danny Wilson, JX, dance music, pop, classical; I have fairly eclectic tastes.  I am fortunate to have travelled widely and my favourite places to visit would have to be Buenos Aires, Bermuda and Barcelona.  The only place I would like to visit that I haven’t been to so far is Peru / Machu Picchu but I may have to get fitter before I tackle that one.

One of my most memorable achievements was teaching Elaine Paige how to play blackjack. I expect I’m unique in that!