Bringing over 20 years of experience, Melissa is the leader of the national Private Wealth team. Her understanding of her clients and their priorities sets her apart in her field.
Melissa uses sophisticated structures to mitigate tax and safeguard wealth for successive generations, but she is also dedicated to protecting and preserving the values that generated that wealth.
Deploying a holistic approach to her clients’ world, Melissa has created a niche advising business entrepreneurs, directors, property owners, and developers as part of corporate deals, as well as advising companies on life assurance and pension schemes.
She is ranked in both Chambers High Net Worth directory and Legal 500, which note Melissa’s “ability to take legal jargon and make it quite accessible” and comment that “she is highly technical, and her knowledge is unsurpassed”. In addition to this clients have remarked that her “delightful interpersonal skills… win her high praise and loyalty”.
Melissa undertook her legal qualification at the College of Law in Guildford before going on to train at niche London firm, Rooks Rider, where she remained until 2005. Melissa has also held positions at Henmans Freeth (now Freeths) and Hedges Law where she was a director and Head of Private Client. More recently, Melissa was a partner at national law firm Shoosmiths.
“Melissa Maple breaks down complex situations easily for clients and non-legal people.”
“Melissa always provides a high level of service and her efficiency and precision in dealing with any queries makes work run smoothly.”
Professional highlights
- I successfully co-ordinated a rectification claim in respect of a Will which was incorrectly drafted by the deceased’s advisers, resulting in an Inheritance Tax saving of circa £60m for the client.
- I working in conjunction with offshore trustees and HMRC to vary wording in an existing Employee Benefit Trust to bring it within legislative requirements and negate a substantial (circa £10m) tax charge.
- I advised on the structuring of a property transaction in order to protect the anonymity of a high profile ultra-high net worth family.