Michael Armstrong

• 29 August 2024

Michael advises individuals and families based in the UK and internationally on a broad range of tax, succession planning and estate matters.

With specialist expertise in working with older and vulnerable family members, Michael advises individuals, families and representatives on the estate planning options available to clients who have been diagnosed with dementia and other cognitive impairments. He collaborates with medical specialists to obtain suitable assessments of clients’ capacity to make gifts, execute wills and put lasting powers of attorney in place.

He also works with the families and representatives of vulnerable clients to ensure that they are supported in taking decisions for themselves where possible, and that decisions are otherwise taken in their best interests.

Michael takes a sensitive approach, providing clear and practical legal advice which takes into account the sensitivities surrounding our clients’ individual and family circumstances. He holds the STEP Advanced Certificate in Advising Vulnerable Clients and won the STEP Excellence Award on this specialist subject.

Michael has co-led the firm’s Community and Charity Committee with fellow Partner Jeremy Roberston, driving action aligned with the firm’s commitment to make a positive impact in our community.

Robert Keylock

• 29 August 2024

Robert is Counsel in our Private Client team where he advises individuals and trustees on all aspects of private client law, and in particular:
• wills, trusts and succession planning;
• taxes (particularly inheritance tax and capital gains tax); and
• probate and administration of trusts and estates.

Within those broad areas, Robert has specialist expertise in advising the owners of rural businesses. For the entirety of his career, Robert has acted for numerous traditional landed estates which has encompassed helping families with a wide variety of matters ranging from implementing succession strategies for whole estates, through to discrete transactions such as the structuring of purchases, sales or gifts.

Julia Ramsden Gunduz

• 29 August 2024

Julia is Counsel in Forsters’ Private Client team, specialising in advising trustees and financial institutions, both from a contentious and non-contentious angle, on tax and trust related issues arising in connection with such structures. This includes advising on global regulatory and exchange of information initiatives, tax regularisation and disclosure facilities, as well as legislative changes in the UK.

She also has extensive experience of advising international high net worth individuals and their families on their estate and wealth planning strategies and family governance. This includes developing and implementing complex cross-border structures, taking into account international tax planning considerations, domicile, the conflict of laws, forced heirship and asset protection issues.

Julia has experience of working in-house at financial institutions and is able to factor commercial realities (and constraints) into her advice and the solutions she provides.

She provides internal training on regulatory and exchange of information topics as well as mentoring junior associates. She is a native German speaker.