Transatlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has strengthened its Bristol office with the appointment of James Radcliffe, who has joined as a partner in its private wealth team.
James, pictured, specialises in tax, succession and estate planning issues for UK resident and domiciled families interested in the long-term preservation of their wealth. 
He also advises on the mitigation of capital taxes through the use of suitable lifetime gifting strategies, the creation of trusts and other asset holding structures, as well as the preparation of Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney.
WBD said James boasts a strong international practice advising non-UK domiciled individuals, particularly on US/UK estate planning and tax-related matters and works closely with US-qualified professionals to provide cross-border transatlantic estate plans. He regularly advises the trustees of offshore trusts on tax implications for UK-based beneficiaries.
James joined WBD after seven years as a partner at the regional law firm Michelmores’ Bristol office. He has also worked for Clarke Willmott in Bristol and Withers in London.
WBD private wealth partner Mark Woodward said: “WBD has been advising families and their businesses for over 200 years, combining legal expertise, commercial advice and local knowledge.
“We’re delighted to welcome James to our growing private wealth team in Bristol. His strong track record advising families on complex tax, succession and estate planning issues as well as his transatlantic specialism, will enhance our offering and provide added value to both our UK and US-based clients.”
James Radcliffe added: “WBD’s national private wealth team boasts an impressive client portfolio, presenting many exciting projects to get involved in. I look forward to working with the team here in Bristol, throughout the UK, and on the other side of the Atlantic.”
WBD was ranked highly in this year’s Chambers High Net Worth guide and was praised for having “one of the best private client teams in the West” for high-end private client work. The guide also recognised 10 of the firm’s lawyers as ‘leading individuals’, including Bristol-based partner Mark Woodward and legal director Christopher Kerr-Smiley.
James Radcliffe is listed as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ in the Legal 500 directory and was praised in Chambers, where he is described as “highly experienced at handling trust planning matters for domestic and international clients” and “able to adapt to different generations of the family with different levels of knowledge”.
Womble Bond Dickinson has eight UK bases – of which Bristol is the second largest – and 19 offices in the US.
