Sophie Forsyth

Probate, Wills, Trusts and Lasting Powers of Attorney, Court of Protection

Senior Associate Solicitor

Career & Experience:

Sophie is an Associate Solicitor & Team Manager in the Probate, Wills and Trusts team.

Sophie mainly deals with complex Will and probate matters, providing trust advice and administration, and dealing with Court of Protection applications. Sophie has a particular interest in capacity issues and Court of Protection work, and her experience ranges from straightforward Deputyship applications through to complex statutory Wills and replacement Trustee applications. Sophie also provides ad hoc advice to Deputies and Attorneys on their obligations and responsibilities.

Sophie is increasingly working with families exploring trusts and inheritance tax and succession planning, and she has experience with untangling complicated family protection trusts including McClures Solicitors family protection trusts.

Sophie’s background is in complex personal injury claims, giving her a unique insight into the circumstances following a life changing injury.

Sophie is proud to have been ranked as a “key lawyer” in the independent Legal 500 rankings in 2021 and 2022. Sophie is also a registered Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), having completed a Diploma in Trusts and Estates and achieving a distinction.

Her notable work includes:

• Advising on a high value gifting application to the Court of Protection;

• Advising clients with a rental property portfolio on lifetime inheritance tax and broader estate planning;

• Assisting an Administrator on applying for probate as an Attorney, and successfully obtaining a rare grant on credit;

• Preparing a Will for a business owner with children from a previous marriage, focusing on asset protection, inheritance tax mitigation, and business continuity post-death.

Fun Facts:

Outside of her role at Lawson-West, Sophie teaches undergraduate and postgraduate Law students at a local university. Sophie also works with STEP to help train the next generation of trust and estate specialists.

In her spare time Sophie loves to visit theatres around Leicestershire, seeing around 20 shows per year.

Qualified: October 2019

Joined Lawson-West: January 2022