Brachers bolsters private client team with new tax and trusts specialist

Brachers law firm, based in Maidstone and Canterbury and a Patron of Kent Invicta Chamber, has appointed a new tax and trusts specialist to strengthen its private client team.

Joining with more than 18 years’ experience, Miranda Wood is Senior Tax Manager and brings a wealth of expertise related to trusts and tax issues. Miranda’s specialisms include the management of trusts, advising trustees, trust taxation and compliance, and tax planning.

Miranda will work closely with Trusts Director Justine Sloover and the wider Private Client team to support clients with their wealth and succession planning requirements.

Justine Sloover said: “We are pleased to welcome Miranda to the team. Her reputation precedes her as a tax and trusts expert, and she is respected for her ability to advise clients clearly on what is often a very complex area of law. We look forward to the positive impact Miranda will bring to Brachers and our clients.”

Miranda added: “I’m delighted to be joining Brachers’ Private Client team, which is esteemed by clients and their professional advisors, and highly ranked in the Chambers and Legal 500 legal directories. I look forward to working with the team and our clients.”

Brachers holds a band 1 ranking in the prestigious Legal 500 directory for personal tax, trusts and probate (Kent, Surrey, Sussex). The directory notes the “highly regarded” team are “efficient, knowledgeable and diligent” with “an in-depth understanding of trusts spanning trust structures and offshore trust exposure as well as tax-related matters.”

In their feedback to the Legal 500, one client remarked: “Brachers has the personal touch, listening carefully to clients’ needs in a friendly, sensitive and helpful manner. It has a wealth of experience, gathered over many decades, and is highly regarded by its local clients in Kent. Such loyalty from locals is reassuring.”

Miranda will be based at the firm’s Canterbury Office.

Following an internal application process, Boys & Maughan selected Orla Priston and Ihcene Khalfi for training contracts (now referred to by the SRA as Qualifying Work Experience or QWE) which started in September.

Orla attained her first-class LLB at the University of Kent Law School in 2022. She joined Boys & Maughan on a summer placement in 2021 and initially worked with the firm for one day a week, combining work and study. Currently a paralegal in their Margate conveyancing team, Orla transitioned to full-time in 2022 and has been promoted four times over the past two years.

Orla is due to qualify in 2026 and is following the SQE (Single Qualifying Examination) approach to qualification.

Ihcene Khalfi is also pursuing qualification through the SQE and obtained her law degree from the University of Kent in July 2023. Ihcene expects to qualify in 2026.

Based at their Canterbury St George’s Place office, Ihcene has been steadily advancing, with the training contract role marking her third promotion in the last 12 months. Ihcene began her career with Boys & Maughan after attending their annual Kent Law School insight afternoon and applying for a summer internship.

Andrew Baker, Senior Partner at Boys & Maughan, said: “Orla and Ihcene have demonstrated high levels of commitment, skills and client care. On behalf of our partners, I would like to congratulate them on their progression toward qualifying as solicitors and wish them well with the challenges ahead.

“Investing in the lawyers of tomorrow and cultivating homegrown talent is crucial to ensuring that we have the best skillset across all our legal services.

“We have a strong cohort of local law graduates and many of them value the experience of working for a firm after completing their degree. It allows them to make informed decisions about their future paths and they don’t incur any more debt as they take the first steps in their legal careers.

“Some of our graduates are eager to quickly pursue becoming a solicitor and others choose alternative routes such as becoming a Chartered Legal Executive or Licensed Conveyancer. Our programme also supports those who wish to gradually obtain more experience or focus on work-life balance after years of study.”