Francis Durrant, Personal Wealth Partner at Barr Ellison Law

Francis Durrant

Personal Wealth Consultant

Francis has been successfully advising Cambridgeshire clients on succession, tax planning, wills and probate for over 20 years.  He has particular expertise in the creation and administration of trusts and the administration of estates ensuring throughout that the needs and priorities of our clients and their beneficiaries are protected to the fullest extent possible.

Francis Durrant has always dealt with our affairs diligently giving best up-to-date advice on all aspects of inheritance tax etc.
2022 Legal 500 Guide

Recommended Lawyer Legal 500 2024Francis’ clients typically include academics, farmers, doctors, professionals and company directors. Recent instructions have included:

  • The creation of Wills for a couple each independently wealthy and each with children from previous marriages with the aim of protecting each party’s estate for their own children.
  • The administration of a large estate with a significant value made up of woodlands on which business property relief at 100% for inheritance tax was claimed and accepted by Revenue & Customs.
  • The creation of a Deed of Appointment to terminate a will trust (under the will of the first spouse to die) so as to enable the entire estate to qualify for the spouse exemption and thus for the survivor’s estate potentially to qualify for the double nil rate band under the current inheritance tax regime.

Francis is a partner at Barr Ellison dealing with probate, wills, trusts and elderly client matters.  He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and the Law Society Probate Section.

Barr Ellison Law Leading Legal 500 Firm 2024Barr Ellison LLP joins the ranking due to the strength of its personal wealth practice, which acts for world-renowned academics, high-net-worth individuals and business owners, as well as advising Cambridge colleges on private client matters. The firm is ‘extremely efficient and quick to deal with the work'.
Legal 500 Guide

The personal wealth practice at Barr Ellison LLP guides clients ‘through all the complexities of probate and existing trusts in a way that is efficient, sympathetic, and speedy‘. The firm handles a large volume of private client work for academics and, through its office in Addenbrookes Hospital, doctors and consultants.
2023 Legal 500 Guide

Barr Ellison has a “family feel” about its practice. It is very professional but at the same time is committed to tailoring its services for the needs of the individual client. Each matter is treated with the same respect and attention to detail. The last twelve months have been a test for everyone and Barr Ellison have still been able to deliver their product effectively to their clients.
2022 Legal 500 Guide testimonial

There is a real team ethos within Barr Ellison and this operates in a seamless manner for both clients and professional connections. There is a great depth of expertise that is nonetheless expressed in engaging and client-friendly terms, giving great confidence that objectives and priorities are completely understood, so that thorough advice across a wide variety of matters is effectively provided.
2022 Legal 500 Guide testimonial