William Hadley | Head of Tax & Estate Planning Skip to content

William Hadley

Partner -  Head of Tax & Estate Planning

My experience

I am a partner and head up the Tax & Estate Planning team.  My expertise is in:

  • inheritance and capital gains tax planning (including business, agricultural and heritage property);
  • drafting Wills and variations of Wills;
  • drafting and advising in relation to trusts;
  • powers of attorney;
  • declarations of trusts of land; and
  • Estate administration.

I advise a number of estates and farming clients on succession planning and inheritance tax issues. These issues often involve a combination of technical capital tax issues, the commercial viability of the farm or estate in question, the dynamics of the family relationships and of course the objectives of the client.

In terms of the structures often in place with agricultural and landed clients, I am experienced at advising family farming partnerships and on the drafting, management and capital taxation of family trusts.

I work closely with each client’s accountant and land agent to ensure that my advice is part of joined up advice from all the professional advisers.

I trained at a City firm and now live in Winchester. 

I listen to what my clients want. My clients’ objectives are likely to be a combination of factors such as planning for complicated family circumstances and the protection of family assets from bankruptcy, divorce and tax, especially inheritance tax and capital gains tax. Secondly, I give clear advice in an approachable and efficient manner in response.

I am recorded as a notable practitioner in the Chambers UK High Net Worth Legal Directory 2022.

I am a Chartered Tax Adviser and member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. I am also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).

How I’ve helped our clients

Sources say 'William Hadley is very knowledgeable. He is always very clear and helpful. He answers queries efficiently and gets things done' and ‘William Hadley listens to the needs of his clients and takes time to consider the most appropriate way forward.’

Legal 500 2025 Edition - Client Testimonials

William Hadley understood our situation and came up with positive recommendations which he helped us put into practice.

Michael Hart

I have used PS both for my work and private legal affairs and always found the service provided to be highly professional and with excellent customer care. I always suggest PS as a first point if call for anyone wanting legal advice. The service provided is not cheap but I always feel I am paying for best and the results are good vfm

NT - Will

I found WiIliam clearly and concisely explained what the issues were surrounding my will and the options open to me to manage my estate to the best advantage for the beneficiaries. His manner was professional without being overwhelming and he demonstrated patience throughout. I left the meeting feeling at ease and confident in the advice I had been given.

Penelope Mayson - New Will and LPA

Thank you very much for your efforts on our behalf in finalising the Wills and LPA’s so quickly. We really appreciate the way you must have worked very hard to get all this finalised before we went away.

Jean and John

Thank you for attending to my mother's estate and doing so in such a quietly efficient and pleasant manner.

Christine

Thank you so much for all your help with Mum's estate. You have been a great support at a very difficult time for me and Dad. We really appreciate it.

David Ward

Thank you for the Wills and information. We are more than happy with the work you have done for us and it has been a pleasure to meet you.

Roy and Jill

We were very pleased with the knowledgeable and efficient service from William Hadley - thank you very much. We are comparing this to the protracted and very expensive process of working with a top West End of London firm a few years ago and this was much better. Thank you!

Name withheld

I look forward to meeting you some day; you have been a pleasure to work with.

Client based in the U.S.

Very good service from William Hadley. I will highly recommend him to my friends.

Bruce Merrikin

After contacting Paris Smith, I received a reply swiftly and was able to have a zoom meeting to make arrangements for what I wanted done. This has been followed up efficiently and I have been kept well informed about progress.

Sale of Shares Client