Paul Fairbairn

Partner

Private wealth

[email protected]
+44 (0)1892 506 350 / +44 (0)7738 766 068

I’m a partner in the private wealth team helping domestic and international high net worth clients protect and enhance their wealth through succession and tax planning.

I have 15 years’ experience of working with families, their trusts and their businesses to ensure the devolution of their wealth in the most tax efficient manner.

My particular focus is estate planning and succession of family businesses, whether they be multigenerational landed estates or start ups.

I also regularly advise international clients on UK tax and how to structure their UK assets tax efficiently.

I am recommended in the Spear’s Tax & Offshore advisers’ index 2023 as a best tax lawyer for high-net-worth individuals.

Areas of expertise:

  • Domestic and international estate planning (including wills) and the administration of estates
  • Formation and management of trusts (onshore and offshore) as well as acting as a trustee
  • Succession planning for family businesses, including family investment companies
  • Tax and structuring for non-domiciled clients (non-dom)
  • Taxation of heritage assets
  • Family businesses

Qualifications and memberships

  • Admitted as a solicitor in September 2009
  • Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP)
If I'm unavailable, please contact:

Jackie Farrington

Legal Secretary
+44 (0)1892 765 435
[email protected]

Suzanne Chiles

Legal Secretary Team Leader
+44 (0)1892 506 320
[email protected]

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My experience

Acting as a trustee shareholder and director of a client’s family business throughout a restructuring of the business and a generation change.

How we made a difference

Paul Fairbairn has become a true family adviser. He has taken the time to understand our family and how we work, which has led to good solutions to the challenges thrown at us by the tax regime.

Paul Fairbairn is an excellent all-rounder. He is great with clients and contacts and a pleasure to deal with.

Paul Fairbairn is a very personable, responsive and technically knowledgeable lawyer who we can trust.

Paul is exceptional. He has huge empathy for his clients and is a wonderful mentor for people.

Paul is confident to make a decision and see it through. He has a wonderful balance of good judgement and being able to make tough calls. I cannot speak about him highly enough.

The team are very user friendly and great to have on your side. Paul Fairbairn in particular is a pleasure to work with and very practical in his approach.

Legal 500 2024

“Paul is very responsive to questions that deal with delicate matters.”

Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2023

“Paul Fairbairn is outstanding on trusts issues, he is not only able to steer the most sensible and level-headed course but also bring people around to his outcome - particularly on issues that are quite emotive in their nature in respect to law and professional. He is an incredibly calm and gentle influence, wise beyond his years. He has phenomenal judgement.”

Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2023

“Paul Fairbairn is outstanding on trusts issues, he is not only able to steer the most sensible and level-headed course but also bring people around to his outcome - particularly on issues that are quite emotive in their nature in respect to law and professional. He is an incredibly calm and gentle influence, wise beyond his years. He has phenomenal judgement.”

Chambers High Net Worth guide

“Paul is very responsive to questions that deal with delicate matters.”

Chambers High Net Worth guide

My thinking

29 Dec 2025

B(e) PR(epared) – business owners should act now to maximise inheritance tax relief
26 Nov 2025

Autumn Budget 2025 - the impact on private individuals
2 Aug 2024

The taxation of non-doms: one step closer to the dawn of a new era
30 Nov 2021

HMRC extend the deadline for UK property CGT returns
27 Nov 2021

How UHNWs re-evaluate risk
19 Nov 2021

Christmas is coming…but so is the tax return filing deadline
14 Nov 2021

HMRC bring forward payment date for CGT on residential property: what this means for taxpayers
1 Oct 2021

Is now the time to bank Business Property Relief from inheritance tax?
13 Aug 2021

Virtual Witnessing of Wills: A Welcome Change

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