Taylor Wessing expands leading International Private Wealth sector group with new partners

International law firm Taylor Wessing has further enhanced its International Private Wealth sector group with the appointment of Damian Bloom and Simon Phelps, joining from BCLP.

Damian, Global co-leader Private Client at BCLP, specialises in UK and international tax and estate planning, with a focus on long term planning for UK and non-UK domiciled individuals. He also advises individuals and trustees on the UK taxation of investments, as well as all aspects of UK personal taxation, with an emphasis on advising entrepreneurial clients. Many of Damian’s clients are high net worth families, who he advises on tax and trust issues, and on longer term succession planning across multiple generations.

Simon specialises in estate planning, capital and income taxation, and offshore and onshore trusts, particularly for non-UK individuals and families. He has an emphasis on business owners and UK property investment. Increasingly, Simon’s focus is on advising clients and their family offices based in the Middle East and Far East, on their UK tax and asset structuring.

Partner and Head of the firm's International Private Wealth sector group Nick Warr said: "We are absolutely delighted that Damian and Simon are joining Taylor Wessing. They will further enhance the private client service that we can offer clients as part of the holistic approach we take to their wealth portfolios. As well as both being highly regarded private client lawyers, they have also built extremely successful private wealth practices which will complement and enhance our own market-leading international offering."

Managing Partner Shane Gleghorn added: “The continued expansion of our leading position in the international private wealth sector is a strategic priority and these hires are a significant development towards meeting that ambition. We are looking forward to welcoming our new team members on board in due course."

Damian Bloom said: “I am thrilled to be joining Taylor Wessing and its leading Private Wealth team. They have one of the strongest reputations in the market with a diverse and notable client base that cuts across borders. I'm really looking forward to using my experience to enhance the practice further.”

Simon Phelps added: "Taylor Wessing has built highly successful and well-regarded private client and private wealth practices, with a strong international base. For this reason, I am looking forward to joining the firm and working closely with my new colleagues."

The appointments follow Murray North joining the firm in May this year and Kunal Vyas joining in 2018, both from BCLP, and brings Taylor Wessing's UK private client partner team to 11, following internal promotions of Rachel Davison and Alexander Erskine to the partnership in the past two years.

In addition, the firm has made a number of hires across 2020: Alison Dennis joined the firm as the International Co-Head of our Life Sciences and Healthcare team and Adrian Toutoungi, who also joined the firm's Cambridge office as a patents partner. The firm also confirmed the appointment of Ross McNaughton as a corporate technology partner, Matthew Swainston to its real estate team from Forsters and Helen Farr in its employment team from Fox Williams.