Fiona joined the team in 2020 as Director, having gained a wealth of experience and an excellent reputation as an advisor in the private client team of another leading city centre firm. Fiona became Private Client Partner in 2023.
Fiona is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and completed the STEP Diploma in Trusts and Estates (NI) with distinction, gaining two Worldwide Excellence Awards for qualifying top of her year and also for her performance in the Advanced Certificate in Trust & Estate Accounting (NI). She currently sits on the committee of the NI branch of STEP.
Fiona has a strong portfolio of clients and advises a number of high and ultra-high net worth individuals, including the shareholders of top 100 companies and high profile family businesses. She also has an excellent track record in dealing with high value and complex estate administrations and has a wealth of experience in the administration of a number of locally prestigious trusts.
Fiona has a particular interest in the development of advice around succession/exit planning for successful family run businesses and she has presented numerous seminars on the issue of estate planning for business owners to members of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce and to various other organisations.
Fiona was a co-author on the Northern Ireland chapter of the legal textbook International Succession (4th Edition OUP Oxford, 2015). She is a member of the Elder Law Group of the Law Society of Northern Ireland.
She holds practicing certificates in both Northern Ireland and England & Wales.
Fiona has extensive experience in advising on a wide range of private client matters such as:
- Estate Planning, including Wills, Trusts (both private and charitable) and Enduring Powers of Attorney;
- Other Succession Planning structures such as Family Investment Companies;
- Administration of Estates;
- Administration of Trusts;
- Mental capacity matters, including Controllerships and Statutory Will applications.
“Fiona is an excellent technical lawyer with an ability to understand the law in the wider context of the work.” Chambers UK
“Fiona is excellent at communicating complex matters in a clear, concise and considerate manner.” Chambers UK
