Roderick leads the Estates Tax Planning and Trusts team in our London office.

Since he qualified in 1998, Roderick has been advising on high value, complex and multi-jurisdictional matters, specialising in the creation, running, restructuring and transfer of domestic and cross-border estates and trusts as well as on Court of Protection and regulatory matters.

Roderick is also experienced in working through tax disclosure facilities and challenging decisions made by HMRC and others, including the IRS, particularly on domicile.

He has enjoyed notable successes advising executors, trustees and protectors of estates and trusts who have become dissatisfied with their previous advisers. Conversely, Roderick also acts for beneficiaries who have become dissatisfied with executors, trustees or protectors including applications for their removal. Roderick has also taken on the formal roles of a Court appointed independent administrator and expert witness.

At the forefront of his advice are opportunities to save tax. Whatever the issue, Roderick provides clients with advice that is easy to understand, no-nonsense and practical.

Roderick's primary goal is to provide clients with peace of mind.

Notable recent instructions include:

• application to the Home Office for a licence to exhume two bodies buried on a client’s land which she inherited and is considering selling. 
  
• successfully obtained a subpoena that a solicitor releases a Will. The subpoena contains a penal notice which means that if the solicitor doesn’t engage, she could face contempt of court and, worst case, a custodial sentence. 
  
• created a tax disclosure for a poorly advised Middle East company, and negotiated with HMRC that 12 years of penalties should be discounted.

Roderick is based in our London office, but can support you nationally.

What others say 

Roderick has been described by a client as 'human valium', reflecting his ability to quickly distil complex issues and deliver clear and practical advice with reassuring calm. 

What you might like to know

Roderick is a long standing and full member of the globally recognized Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and passed the Advanced Certificate in Cross-Border Estates with Distinction.

He is also a past Co-Chair of the Law Society's Wills and Equity committee, Observer to the Law Society’s Capital Taxes sub-committee and member of HMRC’s Trusts & Estates Agents’ Advisory Group.

Outside of work, Roderick enjoys travelling/backpacking with his family. The next destination is Borneo.

He has been fortunate enough to have been published in a range of channels including Bloomberg and The Guardian.

Other teams Roderick works with

Roderick regularly work with our residential property, family and company commercial teams, as well as our affiliated contentious trusts and probates team.  We advise on matters together providing a seamless, client driven service.