Alexander Shah (Alex) is a Senior Associate in our Wills and Estate Planning team, based in the firm’s London office. He advises high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families on wills, succession planning and the management of wealth across generations.
Alex’s work often goes beyond preparing a will. He helps clients consider how their estate may be structured during their lifetime and after death, including lifetime gifts, trusts and Family Investment Companies. He takes a practical, personal approach, helping clients consider their family circumstances, assets and long-term plans.
His experience in estate administration and dealing with HMRC informs his approach to planning. Alex also advises on cross-border estate planning, working with clients’ advisers in the UK and overseas where appropriate.
Career and education history
- Swansea University, LLB Law and Psychology: 2010
- Trained at Wrigleys Solicitors, Leeds and qualified in 2019
- Solicitor at Meridian Private Client: 2019 – 2021
- Associate at Browne Jacobson: 2021 – 2023
- Senior Associate at Underwood & Co: 2023 – 2026
- Senior Associate at Hugh James: 2026 – present
Areas of work
- Wills and succession planning
- Lifetime gifts and inheritance planning
- Trust creation and administration
- Family Investment Companies
- Estate administration and HMRC matters
- Cross-border estate planning
Memberships
- STEP affiliate
Case examples
- Planning across generations: Advised a successful entrepreneur in the creation of multiple family trusts with different purposes, and later wills, co-ordinating with the family’s tax advisors and supporting the creation of a family constitution.
- Planning to reduce familial tensions – Guided a high-net-worth individual in the preparation of a Will structure to balance competing family interests, building in provisions to reduce the likelihood of litigation whilst achieving long-term fairness. Over a number of years this work led, to the client’s reconciliation with estranged family members.
- UK and overseas assets: Worked at speed with an internationally mobile family and their family office to ensure that provision was in place for the succession of estates in several countries for an individual with a short life-expectancy. This included preparation of the individual’s English Will.
- Estate administration and HMRC: Successfully argued against an informal change in practice by HMRC with regards to the allocation of Inheritance Tax payments, achieving a five-figure interest refund.