Meet the team

Moore Kingston Smith is uniquely placed to assist Executors or Administrators of an estate as our tax and legal specialists work collaboratively to make the process as efficient as possible. Alison Morris, a partner, oversees all probate matters. The tax aspects of the estate is supervised by Claire Roberts, a partner in the firm.

Legal team

Alison Morris | Partner – £545 per hour plus VAT

Alison Morris has been a private client solicitor for over 18 years, working with families and individuals in the preparation of Wills, obtaining Probate and dealing with the administration of estates, advising on estate and tax planning including lifetime gifts and post death Deeds of Variation, Powers of Attorney, Advance Decisions, issues of capacity and the application of the Mental Capacity Act including Court of Protection applications. Alison deals with obtaining Grants of Representation and the administration of both taxable and non taxable estates. She has particular experience in dealing with complex intestacies, insolvent estates and applying for limited grants including ad colligenda bona and attorney grants, applications to complete an unadministered estate by obtaining a grant of administration with will annexed or a grant de bonis non administratis and when necessary the revocation of grants.

Richard Burgess | Director – £435 per hour plus VAT

Richard studied French and Italian at the University of Warwick before completing his Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course with the College of Law, now the University of Law. Richard qualified as a solicitor in 2014 and has since assisted many clients from the very beginning of a complex estate to bring the matter to an efficient and timely conclusion.

Richard typically spends half of his time attending to probate matters and the remaining half preparing and addressing matters relating to Wills, various forms of trusts and lasting powers of attorney.

Adam Matthews | Solicitor – £335 per hour plus VAT  

Adam studied criminology at the University of Leicester before completing the Graduate Diploma in Law at the University of Westminster and finally the Legal Practice Course at the University of Law. Adam qualified as a solicitor in March 2018.

Adam’s experience in the administration of estates ranges from small estates to large complex estates, as well as estates with a foreign element. Adam has experience in assisting personal representatives with their responsibilities.

Adam advises clients who are making a Will for the first time and those who wish to make changes to their current Wills as their circumstances change. Adam also advises clients on the preparation and registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney and all aspects of trust work.

William Hilliard | Solicitor – £220 per hour plus VAT  

Will studied History at the University of York and then went on to complete the Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course at the University of Law’s centres in York and Leeds respectively.

Will supports the fee earners in our private client legal team with their work on the administration of estates and the drafting of wills, trusts and lasting powers of attorney. Approximately 70% of Will’s time is spent assisting with probate work.

Daria Dlugosz | Paralegal – £105 per hour plus VAT  

Daria works in the legal team, assisting the solicitors with the administration of deceased estates, lasting powers of attorney and general corporate matters, as well as EMI schemes. She works with a variety of clients including private clients and a wide range of companies.

Daria graduated from the University of Essex with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2018. Prior to joining Moore Kingston Smith, Daria worked as a paralegal at a law firm local to Ipswich where she specialised in employment law.

Muna Kallon | Paralegal – £105 per hour plus VAT

Muna graduated from the University of Leicester in 2019 with a Bachelor of Laws degree and further completed her Legal Practice Course at BPP University (Holborn) in 2020.

Muna supports our team working with corporate clients on reorganisations, share sales, share incentives and similar matters. Muna helps our private client lawyers with the administration of estates, drafting of wills, lasting powers of attorney and general matters.

Tax team

Claire Roberts | Partner – £830 per hour plus VAT

Claire qualified with the Chartered Institute of Taxation in January 2013 and has worked in private client tax services for over nine years, advising a diverse range of clients including individuals, partnerships and trusts and estates. Claire obtained her Certificate in Probate and Estate Administration in December 2017 and now increasingly assists the legal team in dealing with probate matters.

Claire spends the majority of her time advising clients on a wide range of areas such as succession planning, asset protection and domicile and residency planning whilst the rest of her time is spent overseeing tax compliance.

Frances Hume | Senior Manager – £430 per hour plus VAT

Frances studied Accountancy with Finance at the University of Glasgow before qualifying with the Association of Taxation Technicians in January 2014. In July 2017, Frances obtained her Certificate in Probate and Estate Administration and has since assisted with the tax aspects of probate work and estate administration.

Frances qualified with the Chartered Institute of Taxation in July 2018. As a member of the private client services team, Frances advises clients on tax compliance and planning as well as succession planning and residency issues.

Zahra Peacock | Senior Manager – £430 per hour plus VAT

Zahra qualified with the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners in December 2022 before having qualified with the Chartered Institute of Taxation in January 2014 and obtained her Certificate in Probate and Estate Administration in 2015.

Zahra has worked in private client tax services for over 13 years, advising a diverse range of clients including individuals; partnerships; trusts and estates. Zahra now predominantly deals with tax planning and compliance for Trusts and Estates.

Get in touch

How did you hear about us?

reCAPTCHA