
Louise Stoten
Founding Partner
When I founded New Quadrant Partners I wanted to create a team with skills that, together, could service the needs of today's wealthy families.
I have spent the past 30 years of my career advising HNW and UHNW families on the best way to preserve their wealth and the transition through the generations. I spent the first four years working as a private client stockbroker and after requalifying as a lawyer I have spent the rest of my career in commercial and leading private client firms.
I have built a strong team and we all share the vision that wealthy families need a broader service than is often provided by the traditional law firm model. We aim to fulfil the role of trusted advisor to the families that we work with, providing guidance on all their legal and wealth management needs and sourcing the best team to achieve success.
The families I work with come from varied backgrounds: large landed estates, business entrepreneurs, and sophisticated investors such as hedge fund managers and private equity principals. Whilst the backgrounds of these clients differ, their objectives are often similar – they are seeking ways to maintain and manage family wealth through multiple generations.
New clients principally contact me for advice on the most tax efficient way to structure their assets, but our approach is more holistic than pure structuring. We set out a family strategy and work with clients to implement this.
Many of my clients are not originally from the UK and have assets and interests all over the world. We are very well connected and we work with other professionals both in the UK and abroad to meet your needs. Whatever the client requirement may be, our selection is always truly independent.
I have been consistently recognised by Citywealth as one of the Top 20 Women in Private Wealth Management, one of the Top 20 Lawyers, a Power Woman and a Leading Lawyer and was winner of the Entrepreneurial Individual of the Year 2016 and runner-up in 2019.
I have also been named in both ePrivateclient’s 50 Most Influential and Legal Week’s Global Elite, for the past five years, am recommended in the Legal 500 and am ranked as a leading individual in the Chambers HNW Guide for Private Wealth Law.
What the directories say:
Sources say: “She is excellent,” and that “she is good at strategic thinking.” Chambers HNW 2020
“Very strong and capable of handling delicate matters for demanding UHNW clients.” Legal 500 20
“Louise has an incisive intellect, a formidable capacity to analyse, gets straight to the point and can envisage one or several solutions to any problem,” comments one interviewee, praising her further, saying: “She has a real lawyer’s mind coupled with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law.” Chambers HNW 201
Stately home and landed estate
This matter involved generational planning and has been crucial to the survivorship of a stately home, which has been in our client’s family for over 10 generations. We took on the estate as a...Strategic trustee advice to cross-border family
This matter involves acting for three generations of a prominent international family with significant UK trust interests invested through an open-ended investment company (OEIC), and in UK and foreign property. We provide the family...Relocation to Malta
Through our New Quadrant International office, based in Malta, we are able to advise individuals seeking to move to the jurisdiction and take up residence. In the past few years, we have assisted a...
Robert Smeath
Partner
Robert has assisted a number of my clients with Wills and estate planning. These range from business owners to recently retired clients. He makes the complicated easy to understand and reassures clients that their business is in safe hands.
I have worked on a variety of private client matters over the past 25 years. I work primarily with UK based individuals and families to protect their wealth from a number of threats.
I often advise on the most efficient way to structure assets to reduce the burden of taxation and, in particular, to take advantage of capital taxation reliefs for owners of farms, landed estates and businesses.
Ideally, this type of planning is best done during lifetime but I head the probate team at New Quadrant Partners and often have to advise on the best way to administer and reorganise an estate efficiently. This work also includes dealing with assets located in jurisdictions outside the UK.
In addition to the impact of taxation, I also advise on the best way to involve children and grandchildren in family businesses and assist with succession arrangements to these businesses whether by inheritance or a business sale.
I hold a Diploma in Financial Planning so that I can work with other advisors to make the best use of financial products, although the advice will always need to be given by a fully regulated professional.
I am a member of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) and Solicitors for the Elderly, and increasingly find myself advising on issues relating to mental capacity.
Administration of complex estate across jurisdictions
This matter dealt with the administration of an estate of a client for whom the firm had acted as attorney for many years. During her lifetime, we had assisted with an application for a...
Stephen Grace
Partner and Trust Director
I have worked in the private client field, including trust management, trust and personal tax compliance, for over 25 years. I act for a variety of clients, specialising in onshore relationships for family trusts and personal injury trusts. I have acted for some families for in excess of 25 years and in some cases I am now dealing with the third generation of the family.
As Trust Director, I oversee the trust management team at New Quadrant Partners, managing a large number of trusts, including all accounting, tax reporting and the day-to-day administration duties.
During the many years I have looked after private clients, I have developed an extensive knowledge of how to support and nurture private individuals especially those who have set up personal injury trusts after the award of a compensation payment. This includes cash profiling, assistance with managing monthly budgets, liaising with investment professionals, monitoring investment performance and completing trust and personal tax returns.
I also provide support to families who set up trusts to plan for the future to maintain the value of the family assets within a trust structure (particularly estates and businesses), so that future generations can be supported through education, helped with the purchase of property, and for the good of the family as a whole.
My primary aim is to build solid long-term relationships with my clients and help them and their families by providing them with an efficient, supportive and professional service.

Karen Marks
Partner
Karen is straightforward and down to earth making her very easy to work with. Her advice is clear cut, practical and relevant. She is also friendly, engaging and quick to establish a rapport with clients and peers.
I concentrate on tax and structuring advice for international individuals and families. My clients include very wealthy multi-national families, entrepreneurs and highly sophisticated investors from investment banking and hedge fund backgrounds. Many of my clients are non-UK domiciled and are not resident in the UK. I advise on their UK tax status both on departure and coming to the UK as well as on the structuring of their worldwide assets efficiently and to provide a workable method of holding their wealth for future generations. I also act for offshore trustees and private banks providing tax and trust advice on structures managed and administered by them.
I originally worked as a secondary school teacher in inner London for six years before requalifying as a solicitor over 20 years ago. Initially, I practised in corporate finance in the City before moving into private client work. I spent over nine years in the tax and private capital department of Lawrence Graham, being promoted to partner in 2003. I was also a partner in the private client department of Boodle Hatfield (2008 – 2011).
I am a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA), passing the ATII in 1997. I have been listed as a Leading Lawyer, a Power Women, and in the Honours Lists in the Citywealth Leaders Lists.

Vanessa Kemp
Partner
I act for high net worth UK resident and domiciled clients, often with cross-border elements, providing solutions for their succession planning and wealth preservation, which includes assets in multiple jurisdictions. Where family assets are concerned, I also support the next generation. My practical solutions have resulted in numerous long-term relationships with clients, many of which are multigenerational.
I also advise individuals who have unfortunately suffered a catastrophic injury by advising on and setting up personal injury trusts. As a director of the firm’s trust corporation, I work closely with the administration team and with investment managers to support the client.
I am also involved in Court of Protection (COP) work, to include appointing a deputy, acting as a professional deputy and making general COP applications such as for statutory wills/codicils and gifts.
I prepare witness statements and act as an expert for high value personal injury and clinical negligence claims.
Given their rise in popularity, I increasingly provide guidance on the devolution of digital property rights and interests.
I am a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and a full accredited member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE).
I have been named in eprivateclient’s “Top 35 under 35” in 2011 and 2012 and received a distinction in STEP’s Advanced Certificate in Cross-Border Estates.

Sophie Voelcker
Partner
Recommended in the Legal 500 2019 editorial with the comment: “very strong and capable of handling delicate matters for demanding UHNW clients”.
I advise some of the firm’s largest family clients regarding their wealth structuring, succession planning and trusts. My focus is primarily on UK resident and/or domiciled individuals, trustees and beneficiaries, with a particular interest in cross-border taxation and succession issues affecting UK expats in France and Malta.
I also have experience providing tax and trust advice in the context of matrimonial disputes and pre-nuptial agreements.
In addition to the firm’s own Foundation, I have established and registered a number of charitable trusts and companies for clients.
I am a member of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners).
I am listed as a Rising Leader in the Private Client Global Elite Directory 2022/23 which is a list of the world’s elite lawyers advising UHNW clients nominated by peers.
I was awarded the Gold award for “Lawyer of the Year – Partner” in the Citywealth Future Leaders Awards 2021 and the Silver award for “Lawyer of the Year – Partner” in the Citywealth Future Leaders Awards 2019. I was also selected as one of the 2019 Citywealth Future Leaders Top 100: Super Advisors and one of the 2017 Citywealth Future Leaders Top 100.
I have been recommended in the Legal 500 2019 editorial with the comment: “very strong and capable of handling delicate matters for demanding UHNW clients”.
I was also named as one of eprivateclient’s Top 35 Under 35 in 2014.
Tax, trust and succession advice to cross-border family We work with a prominent international family with significant UK trust interests invested through an open-ended investment company (OEIC) and in UK and foreign property. We act...

Paul Davidoff
Partner
“Able to explain very technical issues in layman’s terms and then suggest solutions to issues. He is very precise, very technical and very charming" - Legal 500 2018
I advise UK and international individuals, families, trustees and beneficiaries in relation to a wide range of Private Client matters, including establishing, using and all other aspects of UK and offshore trusts and other asset-holding structures, as well as wills and succession planning generally and personal tax planning.
My advice frequently covers residence, domicile and the “remittance basis” of taxation, particularly in the context of my clients’ imminent arrival in the UK, or their departure from it.
My aim is to help my clients organise their affairs in an appropriate and tax-efficient way, which is suitable for them in their particular circumstances, and to help them understand the implications of any arrangements that they have put in place. My work often requires me to liaise with foreign advisers in order to implement a coherent plan which will achieve my clients’ goals both in the UK and elsewhere.
I am a member of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP), having received the STEP President’s Prize for Excellence in 2008 and subsequently a Distinction in STEP’s Advanced Certificate in ‘UK Tax for International Clients’. I have a degree in Classics and Arabic from Queens’ College, Cambridge University.
In recent years, I have been recognised in (as a recommended “Tax & Trust Adviser”), Chambers HNW for Private Wealth Law 2020, Legal 500 for Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate and Citywealth Leaders List.
I have been recognized in a number of legal rankings over recent years, most recently being recommended in the category of “Tax & Trust Advisers” in The Spear’s 500 2021 Directory and in the Citywealth Leaders List for “Lawyers, Non-contentious Trusts, Tax, Estate Planning”.
Recent comments about me from clients in these directories include:
“He has the ability to explain complex areas to clients in a way that they will understand.” The adviser continues: “He has the ability to focus on the critical decisions that the clients need to make, and can help them make those decisions.” Chambers HNW 2020
“Paul is highly knowledgeable, efficient, meticulous and thorough.” Chambers HNW 2019
“Able to explain very technical issues in layman’s terms and then suggest solutions to issues. He is very precise, very technical and very charming”. Legal 500 2018
“I’m always impressed by his technical expertise – he’s clearly knowledgeable in his field and the area in which he specialises is one of the more complex areas of private client law. His real skill is being able to explain that in a way that is accessible and easy to understand but at the same time not being patronising,” says a wealth manager, adding: “He has quite a strong empathy with both clients and other advisers, that’s something that sets him apart. His knowledge and technical abilities are exceptional.” Chambers HNW 2018
“Impressive and competent” and “he really knows his stuff and he cares about his clients”. Legal 500 2017
“In addition to his technical prowess, Paul is adept at explaining legal topics in a manner that can be readily understood, by both clients and other practitioners.” Citywealth Leaders List 2018

Darren Austin-Smith
Partner and Trust Director
Darren is a sound and responsive professional. He knows his stuff. I am happy to recommend him in all the areas in which he works.
I specialise in advising clients on all aspects of trust and estate tax compliance, accounting and administration. Over the years, this has extended to Inheritance Tax planning and reporting, offshore trusts and structures, and personal tax compliance. With the introduction of non-resident Capital Gains Tax, Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) and ATED-related Capital Gains Tax, I have provided assistance to clients with their ongoing compliance as well as fulfilling their reporting obligations on the disposal of properties or de-enveloping of structures.
I joined the firm in October 2013, having spent eight years at Coutts & Co in their trusts and estates department before moving to the private client team at Crowe Clark Whitehill as a Trust Manager, where I spent a further five years.
I am a full member of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) and an affiliate member of ACIE (The Association of Charity Independent Examiners).
Are you ready for Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) reporting?
ATED was introduced with effect from 1 April 2013, and for the reporting period starting 1 April 2018 a return will need to be filed by all “non-natural” persons (eg companies) owning UK residential...
George Francis
Consultant
George has been the solicitor for our family for over 40 years dealing with trust, taxation, property and personal family matters. His expertise has been invaluable and he has been throughout a wise counsellor and valued friend to all of us.
Since qualifying in 1974 I have worked almost exclusively in the field of private client work, with an emphasis on all aspects of trusts, tax planning, Wills and estate management. I have acted for a number of families including several generations, over the years, and have been closely involved in succession planning, wealth and family issues. I believe it is important as a family lawyer to understand the challenges involving succession and individuals, as these are as vital as tax considerations and administrative structures. I also believe in working closely with a family’s other professionals, and visiting clients as often as necessary. I hope to continue to practice for many years to come.