Freeths Nottingham expands Trusts, Estates and Tax team with senior hires

Leading law firm Freeths has strengthened its Trusts, Estates and Tax (TET) practice in Nottingham with two senior appointments, continuing the expansion of its market-leading private client offering across the East Midlands.

The growth reflects increasing demand for specialist private client advice across the region and beyond, as well as Freeths’ ongoing investment in building depth and expertise within its Nottingham team. Over the past year, the TET practice has experienced significant growth and was recognised nationally after being named Large Private Client Team of the Year at the British Wills and Probate Awards.

The team is led by Director Rahul Kotecha, with the close support of fellow Director Marie Cooper, and has established a strong reputation for advising high net worth individuals, business owners and families on complex estate, succession and tax planning matters.

To further enhance the department's capability, Freeths has welcomed two highly experienced Senior Associates, Carly Harwood and Tom Newton.

Carly joins the firm with extensive experience in estate administration and estate planning, and is well known for her ability to manage sensitive, high-value matters with care and precision. Her appointment strengthens the team’s capacity to deliver trusted, client-focused advice across a broad range of private client matters.

Tom brings a strong background in estates work, with particular expertise in advising on international assets. His analytical approach and strong advisory skillset broaden the team’s capability in supporting clients with complex, cross-border estate and succession planning.

In addition to these appointments, Senior Associate Lizzie Connolly will also be joining the TET team to work closely with Managing Associate Sarah Phillips on trust administration matters. Lizzie, who has been at Freeths since August 2024, is moving across from the Court of Protection team and brings valuable experience in dealing with complex, sensitive and ongoing client relationships, further strengthening the team’s specialist trust administration offering.

Carly is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), and Tom has successfully passed all four STEP exams and is in the process of upgrading his membership to full, reflecting their commitment to the highest professional standards within private client practice.

Commenting on the pair’s arrival, Rahul Kotecha said: “The expansion of our team marks an important milestone in the development of our private client offering in Nottingham. Carly and Tom bring an exceptional combination of technical knowledge, practical experience and a genuinely client focused approach. Their arrival further strengthens our ability to support our clients with increasingly complex succession, estate and tax planning needs.”

Tom Newton added: “I’m delighted to be joining Freeths’ Trusts, Estates and Tax team, which has an outstanding reputation for its expertise and the quality of its client service. Everyone has made me feel incredibly welcome from day one, and I’m looking forward to supporting our clients with their needs by continuing to provide clear and practical advice.”

With these appointments, Freeths’ Nottingham TET team is well positioned as one of the region’s strongest and most technically capable private client practices, supporting clients with trust structuring, inheritance tax mitigation, wealth preservation, estate administration and multi-generational planning.