Helen Ratcliffe

Senior Partner

+44(0)20 7783 3657

+44(0)7973 254230
HelenRatcliffe@bdbpitmans.com
Location

London

Profile

Services

Helen has an international client base– she acts for clients from offshore trust jurisdictions, Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and the US.

She advises clients on estate planning, asset protection, tax planning, changes in UK tax legislation, regulatory developments, governance issues, vehicles for wealth and business, and succession, often across several jurisdictions.

She acts for individuals, families, trustees and beneficiaries. For example she advises international families with wealth in trusts and business structures on how to deal with changing family circumstances, generational transition and governance requirements. She has also acted as trustee of various UK private trusts and advised on landed estates, heritage property and business assets.

Helen has experience of advising on the Common Reporting Standard, Persons of Significant Control, the UK trust register, beneficial property ownership, and the Requirement to Correct.

She balances structuring and planning advice with more contentious work and works closely with advisers in other jurisdictions.

Helen has been named in the 2019 eprivateclient 50 Most Influential list, Legal Week Private Client Global Elite and Citywealth’s Top 20 Lawyers initiative.

Recommended in the Ninth Edition of The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom and the Best Lawyers Business Edition for Trusts and personal tax law in London. Helen is also recommended by Who’s Who Legal.

"
A true family adviser, always considering issues in the context of overall family dynamics and long-term relationships in addition to providing excellent technical advice on both tax and trust law matters. She teams up very well with other advisers, whether they are lawyers advising on aspects she does not herself cover, trust administrators or investment managers.
Legal 500 UK 2021
An excellent team player - technically adept, professional yet warm with clients and team members, never competitive but rather focused on getting the best results for the client as efficiently and thoughtfully as possible.
Legal 500 UK 2020
"

Career highlights

Advising a group of minority individual and trust shareholders on exit via a private company reconstruction
Advising on the succession of UK tax changes for non-UK domiciled client
Advising trustees in Jersey on a ‘momentous’ decision requiring application to the Jersey Court
Detailed advice for Middle Eastern families on their trusts and business structures over many years
Two current Variation of Trust Act 1958 applications