Business Details
11 Years
experience
Expert Private Client Legal Services in St Andrews
Established by award-winning solicitor Fiona McDonald, we are a specialist Scottish private client law firm with deep expertise in succession planning, tax law, and estate administration. Our practice is authorised and regulated by the Law Society of Scotland, offering tailored legal solutions for individuals, charities, and trusts. With Fiona's recognition as one of Scotland's leading private client tax law specialists and her authorship of key legal texts, we combine academic excellence with practical experience to deliver tax-efficient, compliant solutions.Our services span will drafting, powers of attorney, executry administration, trust management, and charity law compliance, delivered with professional empathy and technical precision. We maintain rigorous adherence to legislative changes and industry standards, ensuring clients receive forward-thinking advice that adapts to evolving personal and legal circumstances.
Services
Making a Will
Powers of Attorney
Succession Planning
Executries
Trusts
Charities
Guardianships
Tax
Details
- Year established: 2015
Highlights and features
- We have Scotland's leading private client tax law specialist accredited by the Law Society of Scotland
- Our practice combines academic expertise with practical legal solutions
- We provide tax-efficient succession planning tailored to individual circumstances
- Our compassionate approach balances professional rigour with client care
- We maintain compliance with evolving charity and trust legislation
Associations and certifications
- Law Society of Scotland
Services
Making a Will
Our will drafting service ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes while optimising tax efficiency. We help clients structure their estates to provide for loved ones and appoint guardians for children. The service includes legal compliance checks and funeral wish documentation, ensuring comprehensive estate planning solutions that adapt to changing legislation and personal circumstances.
Powers of Attorney
We specialise in creating tailored powers of attorney documents that protect clients' interests during incapacity. Our service covers financial affairs and welfare decisions, with flexible scope options to match individual needs. We ensure compliance with Scottish legal requirements while maintaining clients' autonomy through carefully structured documentation that balances protection with personal control.
Succession Planning
Our succession planning service helps clients safeguard assets and family interests through tax-efficient structures. We conduct comprehensive reviews to align plans with current legislation and life changes, offering flexible solutions that adapt to evolving circumstances. The service includes regular client consultations to maintain relevance and effectiveness of estate planning arrangements over time.
Executries
We provide professional executry services managing estate administration through all legal procedures. Our support covers tax compliance, asset distribution, and deed of variation considerations with compassionate guidance throughout the process. The service ensures efficient winding up of estates while maintaining strict adherence to Scottish legal requirements and HMRC obligations.
Charities
Our charity law service covers formation, compliance, and tax optimisation for Scottish charitable organisations. We assist with regulatory requirements, account preparation, and tax relief strategies while ensuring operational efficiency. The service includes ongoing support for charity administration and adaptation to legislative changes affecting charitable entities.
People
Fiona McDonald
Founder & Solicitor
Award-winning solicitor and Law Society of Scotland-accredited private client specialist with expertise in tax law. Author of 'Inheritance Tax in Scotland' and 'The Elder Client', former Edinburgh University tutor, and conference speaker on private client matters. Recognised for professional, empathetic legal solutions.
Questions
What areas of law do you specialise in?
We specialise in private client law including wills, powers of attorney, succession planning, executry administration, trust management, and charity law compliance across Scotland.
How can I update an existing Will?
Contact us for a consultation to review your current Will and make necessary amendments considering your current circumstances and tax planning opportunities.
Do you provide charity regulatory advice?
Yes, we offer comprehensive charity law services covering formation, compliance, tax reporting, and operational efficiency for Scottish charitable organisations.
What happens during estate administration?
We guide executors through legal procedures, tax compliance, asset distribution, and deed of variation considerations to efficiently settle estates according to Scottish law.
How do you handle tax planning?
Our tax specialists provide inheritance tax planning, income tax returns, and capital gains tax strategies to structure estates and trusts as tax-efficiently as possible.
