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VIEW ALLLEGAL 500 2025John Annetts has become a real heavyweight for onshore tax-planning and complex probates. He calmly deals with ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families. He is unflappable and wears his considerable knowledge and expertise very lightly.
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John Annetts specialises in acting for UK HNW and UHNW individuals and families in relation to their tax and succession planning, and the administration of high-value and complex estates. John is Head of Private Wealth at Howard Kennedy.
John advises a broad client base that includes entrepreneurs, business owners, property investors, entertainers, and artists, with focus on estate and succession planning, inheritance tax and capital gains tax planning, asset protection and wealth structuring. This often involves preparing complex wills and creating trusts or corporate structures, including family investment companies, to fully utilise tax exemptions and reliefs, protecting and structuring family assets for future generations.
John guides executors through the practical complexities of the administration of estates process. Many of the estates that John deals with contain business assets and offshore elements. As part of his estate administration work, John advises on post-death planning and tax mitigation opportunities using deeds of variation and the restructuring of assets, for example, private company shareholdings.
John advises UK trustees and beneficiaries on both trust law and taxation issues related to the general administration of trusts and the exercise of the trustees' powers. He also deals with matters involving the Office of the Public Guardian, including preparing and registering lasting powers of attorney.
John is a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, the Association of Tax Technicians, and the Private Client Section of the Law Society.
- Advising the executors and beneficiaries of a multi-million pound estate on post-death tax mitigation strategies involving private company shareholdings and investment properties.
- Advising members of the executive management team of a private company worth in excess of £500m on tax and succession planning issues relating to their shareholdings in the company. He implemented bespoke estate planning strategies utilising Business Relief, complex wills and trusts.
- Advising the trustees of a number of family trusts on the reorganisation of the beneficiaries’ interests and the effective exercise of their trustee powers.
- Advising the administrators of an estate involving an application against the estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, French property (succession and tax issues), and private company share holdings.
- Advising the executors and trustees of a multi-million pound estate, which involved repatriating an offshore trust of significant value.
- "John Annetts is an unflappable and highly able lawyer with a wide range of expertise. He has a loyal following who appreciate his commercial awareness and technical ability. John is brilliant with clients, approachable, friendly and reassuring." Legal 500 2026
- Ranked Band 5, Private Wealth Law, Chambers HNW Guide 2025
- Recommended in Citywealth 2025 Leaders List
- "John is a first-class lawyer and adviser. He is technically very sound, is a problem solver and extremely approachable." Chambers HNW 2024
- "John Annetts is excellent at English estate administration in cross-border situations." Legal 500 UK 2024
- Ranked Band 5, Private Wealth Law, Chambers HNW 2023
- "John's knowledge and market awareness have been excellent. He assesses the scenario, works out best process for delivering advice, and uses his exceptional knowledge to offer an excellent service." Chambers HNW 2023
- "John is a really good lawyer at dealing with clients. He has a great client manner, obviously a lot of experience as well." Chambers HNW 2023
- Listed as Key Lawyer, Private client: Personal tax, trusts and probate, Legal 500 2023
- ''John Annetts – A wealth of experience and always unflappable'' Legal 500 2023
John spends his free time with his family, playing football and generally trying to stay fit to keep up with his children.