“Its commitment to customer service and the need for timely and sometimes robust advice is highly valued.”
Legal 500“Extremely thorough and clearly experts in the field of Charity and governance”
Muslim Council of Britain“LBMW has continued to provide the excellent service my family has always enjoyed”
“In a complex and challenging case, your performance was exemplary”
“A professional team that provided commercial and user-friendly advice and got the deal done for us”
“The lawyers are experts in their field and they provide comprehensive advice. They have good communication skills and quick response times along with availability”
Legal 500"LBMW provides a wide spectrum of services without diluting the in-depth expertise of any particular area."
Legal 500
"[...] a one-stop-shop for all legal services where seamless communication and referrals between areas of expertise and partners allow for all aspects of one’s needs to be met."
Legal 500
"LBMW excels at maintaining relationships by instilling confidence through the quality of its work and advice which is thorough, timely, well reasoned and comprehensive."
Legal 500
Laura Southern
Laura Southern is an Associate in the Private Client Department at Lee Bolton Monier-Williams LLP
Experience
Laura considers the individual needs of the client in order to provide specialised, independent and considered advice. Laura regularly advises clients on the preparation of their Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney.
Laura also advises the trustees of a number of trusts. This advice includes, re-structuring the assets held by the trustees of the trust, ensuring that the trustees have complied with their obligations in regard to the Trust Registration Service and ensuring that any necessary tax returns are filed accurately and in a timely fashion.
Laura also regularly advises executors of an estate on their duties and obligations. Laura has assisted executors with the administration of estates that have cross border elements whether this be due to the deceased having held assets abroad at the time of their death or due to their tax residency at the date of their death.
Recent Work
• Advising a client on the capital gains tax implications of surrendering an existing tenancy under the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 in favour of the grant of a Farm Business Tenancy.
• Advising a non-resident owner of a leasehold property on the implications of the sale of the asset including the tax reporting that would be required on the realisation of the capital gain.
• Advising the trustees of a trust that holds primarily agricultural land, considering the needs of the beneficiaries and future beneficiaries of the various trusts.
• Assisting the recipient of a gift in the UK of their UK IHT liability due to the gift becoming a failed Potentially Exempt Transfer. Working with advisors in the jurisdiction in which the donor was domiciled at their death to consider whether a Double Taxation Treaty could be relied upon.
• Considering the ownership structure for a client who owns a number of residential rental properties and advising on the Stamp Duty Land Tax and Capital Gains Tax implications of changing the existing structure.
• Advising the executors of an estate in which the deceased held assets abroad. Working with the lawyer in the other jurisdiction to ensure that the administration of the estate is carried out efficiently.
Career to Date
Laura joined LBMW as a trainee solicitor in September 2021 having read History and Sociology at the University of Warwick before completing her law conversion course and LPC. Laura qualified as a solicitor in September 2023 and has worked in the Private Client department since then.
Laura is an affiliate member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and is working towards her STEP diploma. To date, Laura has completed her advanced certificate in Administration of Estates – England and Wales. In 2026 Laura will work towards her advanced certificate in Administration of Trusts – England and Wales.
Whilst in her first year as a trainee, Laura assisted Catherine Pugsley with writing an article on the ability of executors to charge for their services in relation to the administration of an estate. Executors: When profession counts Solicitors in Westminster - Lee Bolton Monier Williams
During her time off, Laura enjoys road cycling and Hyrox competitions. In 2022 Laura represented LBMW in the JLL Property Triathlon. Laura finished 97th overall and 8th in the women’s category. In 2023 along with two colleagues, Laura took part in the London Team Triathlon to raise funds for the St Andrews Club. The team finished 4th overall.