Laura Willis
Specialisms & Areas of Work
Legal 500
Biography
Laura advises individuals, families, business owners, personal representatives and trustees in relation to Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning and Probate.
Her work has a particular emphasis on high-value estate matters involving international assets, complex tax considerations and sophisticated trust structures. She also acts in cases where Myerson Trust Corporation has been appointed as Independent Administrator, often involving disputed beneficiaries and sensitive family dynamics. Taking a practical and pragmatic approach, she focuses on clear communication, early issue resolution and proportionate decision-making to minimise conflict, control costs and progress matters efficiently while protecting the interests of the estate.
She is known for advising on succession planning and drafting Wills tailored to personal, family and commercial needs, frequently involving sophisticated Will and Trust structures designed to achieve tax efficiency and asset protection. Working closely with Myerson’s nationally recognised Corporate Team, she regularly advises business owners and their families on the tax-efficient transfer of wealth across generations.
Laura also advises trustees and beneficiaries on ongoing trust matters, including trust administration, governance, distributions and compliance, supporting trustees in the effective and proportionate management of their duties.
After studying Politics and History at Newcastle University, Laura completed her Law degree in York. She trained at a Manchester city centre firm and qualified as a Solicitor in 2013, before specialising exclusively in Wills, Trusts and Probate work from 2014.
A fully qualified Trusts and Estate Practitioner, Laura completed the STEP diploma in Trusts and Estates in 2017, achieving the highest mark in her sitting for Taxation of Trusts and Estates. She regularly attends STEP events and is a member of the Manchester Law Society Private Client Committee.
She is known for being personable, efficient and providing clear, practical advice focused on achieving clients’ objectives.
Client Feedback
Mrs & Mr Wells
Laura Willis was very professional and dedicated a great deal of time to preparing our wills. Overall, we felt we were truly getting our money’s worth.
Mrs S
I would definitely use Myerson Solicitors again. Laura helped me enormously. Thankful
Ms A
Excellent, timely and personal service.
Anonymous
We received clear and timely advice from Laura, resulting in reduced stress in relation to the issue concerned. Thank you
Legal 500, 2021
Laura Willis and Bik-ki Wong have been a credit in resolving my issue and ensured the process was both timely and transparent. Thank you!
Recent Experience
Acting for family who own multi £Million Business
Acting for multi‑generational, business‑owning familyon succession planning, advising on and drafting wills incorporating bespoke trust structures to maximise Business Property Relief. These arrangements were designed to preserve family businesses, pass assets efficiently down the generations and achieve significant inheritance tax savings, while balancing control, flexibility and asset protection for future beneficiaries.
Taxable Estate with beneficiaries in conflict
Acting on a complex intestacy estate matter, requiring the identification of multiple previously unknown beneficiaries and the tracing of overseas assets. The matter involved managing significant inter‑beneficiary conflict arising from sensitive family dynamics, alongside successfully claiming relief for loss on sale of estate property to mitigate inheritance tax exposure. I also worked closely with the firm’s real estate dispute team to resolve a dispute involving a beneficiary trespassing at the deceased’s property, enabling the estate to be administered efficiently and brought to a successful conclusion.
£6m Family Trusts
Acting for trustees of multiple family trusts with an aggregate value in excess of £5 million, overseeing the ongoing administration of the trusts. This has involved advising trustees on their duties and decision‑making, assisting with regular and discretionary distributions, maintaining clear and effective communication with beneficiaries, and providing pragmatic guidance to ensure the trusts are administered efficiently, compliantly and in accordance with their governing documentation.
Cross-Border Estate
Acting for Attorneys appointed by personal representatives on a complex intestate and cross‑border probate matter. Laura successfully claimed the residence nil‑rate band to mitigate inheritance tax exposure, and prepared bespoke estate accounts to reflect the distribution of the estate in accordance with differing succession laws applicable across multiple jurisdictions, enabling the estate to be administered accurately and efficiently.
High-Value Commercial Double Estate
Acting on a complex probate matter involving a husband and wife who died in quick succession, one leaving a will and the other dying intestate. The work included negotiating with the District Valuer on date‑of‑death asset valuations to mitigate inheritance tax, coordinating the sale of a company‑owned property portfolio in which both estates held share interests, and managing the differing and complex needs of multiple beneficiaries. Through careful coordination and pragmatic advice, the estates were administered efficiently, and tax exposure was effectively controlled.
Limited Grant Application
Acting on a probate matter where there was an ongoing dispute concerning the validity of the Deceased’s will, requiring urgent steps to protect the estate. I successfully applied for a limited Grant of Representation to enable the sale of the Deceased’s property, ensuring funds were available to meet the inheritance tax liability whilst the validity claim was ongoing. This pragmatic approach safeguarded the estate, managed risk, and allowed the matter to progress without prejudicing the parties’ substantive positions.
Winding up Asset Protection Trusts
Acting for multiple Settlors and Trustees on the options for winding up asset protection trusts that had been mis‑sold by Will‑writing companies as a means of protecting property from care fees. This work involved reviewing the powers and beneficiaries of the Trust structures, advising on the legal, tax and practical implications of termination, and guiding Trustees through an orderly wind‑up to simplify estate arrangements, reduce ongoing costs and achieve a more appropriate outcome for beneficiaries.
Awards & Rankings
Legal 500 — Recommended Lawyer
2026Memberships
- STEP Accredited
Insights & Media
16
Building a Successful Exit Strategy for Professional Services Owners
Planning an exit from a professional services business involves far more than simply finding a buyer. Whether you are considering a trade sale, management buyout, employee ownership trust, or gradual internal succession, careful legal, corporate and personal planning is essential to maximise value and protect your long-term interests. Join...
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Gifting Shares and Family Wealth: Legal Guidance and Protection
Many people consider how best to share their success with loved ones, from transferring property or company shares to gifting luxury items or substantial cash sums. While generosity is often well-intentioned, large gifts can have lasting legal, financial and personal consequences. In this blog, our Corporate , Residential Property and Family...
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Resealing a Foreign Grant of Probate
At Myerson, we deal with many situations where someone has died overseas, and the Deceased owned assets worldwide , including in England and Wales. A Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration is a legal document issued by the Courts in England and Wales. A Grant confirms who is entitled to administer the Estate and allows them to...
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Five Reasons to Set Up a Trust
Trusts can be a useful way to protect assets and mitigate tax, but there is often a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about the purposes of Trusts. Our Wills, Trusts, and Probate team have identified some of the main reasons for creating a Trust below. Firstly, a Trust is a separate legal entity (like a company) which usually involves several...
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What Is the Difference Between Grant of Probate and Letters of Administration?
When a person dies in England and Wales, all their personal assets, including property, bank accounts, investments and personal belongings in their sole name, collectively form part of their estate. Assets in joint names are usually passed to the...
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Cross-Border Estates: What To Do When An Individual Dies Whilst Living Abroad
When an individual dies, dealing with their estate can be difficult and overwhelming. Added complexities arise when the individual dies outside of England and Wales because different jurisdictions have different rules for dealing with estates. If you are acting as a Personal Representative (PR) (for example, an Executor or an Administrator), our...
Read BlogMeet Our Wills, Trusts, and Probate Lawyers
Home-grown or recruited from national, regional or City firms. Our wills, trusts, and probate lawyers are experts in their fields and respected by their peers.
Darren Christopherson-Smith
Darren is a Solicitor in our Wills, Trusts and Probate Team