Ian Flavell

I was admitted as a solicitor in 1983 and joined Lodders in 2011 as a partner in the Private Client team. I specialise in a range of private client matters, including estate and tax planning, trusts and wills – in particular, succession planning – which often means handing on assets to the next generation in a timely and economic way. I also advise on the taxation of heritage property assets, that have been given a tax exemption because of their historical, architectural or artistic interest.

I have been recognised in Chambers & Partners as being a notable practitioner in the field of Agriculture & Rural Affairs, having been noted for my focus on trusts and estates practice work for farming clients – “a nice guy who is strong on tax matters.”

What do you most enjoy about your job?

Hopefully finding a simple and effective solution to what appears to be (for a client) a complicated and insoluble problem.

What sort of clients do you work with?

Mostly farming and landowning families.

When did you start at Lodders? Any interesting past employers?

I have been Lodders since 2011, before that I spent 21 years at a well-known firm in Birmingham, and I started my legal career in London.

Have you always worked in the legal sector? If not, what did you do before?

Before I started my legal career I spent some time farming abroad.

Are you a member of any societies, committees or organisations either at work or externally?

I sit on the Warwickshire committee of the Country Land & Business Association (CLA), and I was chairman of this committee between 2016 and 2018. Before I became chairman I spent five years on the CLA taxation committee, which sits in London. I am also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), a body that brings together lawyers, accountants and others who work in the private client field. STEP now has over 10,000 members, of which I am member 414, so I joined quite early on. I am also a member of the Agricultural Law Association.

Any interesting qualifications?

As well as a Bachelor of Laws degree from Exeter University, I also have a Master’s degree in Agricultural Law from De Montford University Leicester.