Canny thinking, outstanding results

Legal and tax issues can be complex and, at times, difficult to navigate.
Decisions you make today will have far-reaching consequences. Seeking out smart advice will help you plan effectively, to safeguard your own future and that of your family.


Put award-winning experts in your corner

You need a team who will listen with empathy and think intelligently about the best way for you to achieve what you want. Our services are comprehensive and highly bespoke. Our skills have been honed by many years’ experience advising individuals and families. We take the long view and are known for our proactive, problem-solving approach. Our services evolve to adapt and flex to suit you. We will work tirelessly to secure the very best outcome for you. We sometimes collaborate with professionals working in areas outside of our expertise – financial advisors, surveyors, property agents or lawyers practising in other areas of the law. As our client, you can be sure we will never recommend another professional we have not worked with before and would not use ourselves.

Genuine care, lifelong relationships

We deliver high-quality Bespoke WillsTax & Trusts and Contentious Wills and Estates advice.
Many of our advisers are recognised experts in their field, winning numerous awards.
We recognise however that technical excellence must be paired with empathy and approachability. Clients choose us because we make the complex straightforward, and deliver straight-talking, practical advice.

Chambers, High Net Worth | 2024

The Burnside Partnership offers exceptional expertise which surpasses expectations and delivers outstanding results with precision and professionalism

Chambers, High Net Worth | 2023

The Burnside team are excellent. They have achieved that balance between a deep understanding of the relevant law and the ability to place clients sufficiently at their ease so that they are able to get to the nub of any issue or concern and then find appropriate and pragmatic solutions

Legal 500 | 2024

The practice is highly esteemed, with a national reputation for the quality of their work. They provide a high-end service to rival any other private client practices

The Burnside Partnership Story

Our firm was founded in June 2015 by Anna Burnside and the late Fiona Wheeler, both recognised Private Client Solicitors, who worked together for more than 10 years. Today we are evolving into a new breed of private client consultancy, one that supports our clients throughout their lives.

Though the scope of our work continues to grow, the philosophy that guides what we do remains the same. Anna and Fiona established the firm to provide technically excellent advice delivered with sensitivity, in a clear and straightforward manner, and that is what clients continue to value from us today.

The Fiona Wheeler Charitable Foundation was established in memory of Fiona and over the years has supported a wide variety of charities and organisations whose causes were all close to Fiona’s heart.

Advice to other professionals

We provide our clients with clear and pragmatic advice often working in conjunction with their other professional advisers. We also provide advice direct to other professionals.

We are used to working with corporate, HR and family lawyers and other professionals to provide a seamless service to their clients. We can be as little or much involved as suits you – and working directly with your clients or working behind the scenes. We talk the same language and provide expert drafting and advice.

Examples of some of the tax advice we provide

Tax advice on a divorce

On the breakdown of a marriage some of the favourable tax advantages are lost for the transfer of assets between spouses or civil partners. We are able to review the position and advise on the potential tax position together with any tax breaks, so that both individuals are treated fairly when determining where assets should pass under the court order

Succession planning & exit

If you have clients who are thinking of passing on assets or looking at the consequences of selling their business we can provide advice for individuals.

The current tax rules offer several highly favourable tax saving options for owners of a family business. There is no guarantee that these rules will stay in place indefinitely, and now is a good time to take stock of the options available. Whilst the potential for saving tax is highly important, it is important to do what is right for your client and we are here to discuss the options with you.

Reporting non-resident capital gains

From 6 April 2019 all disposals of UK property and land need to be reported and the tax paid within 30 days, whether the asset is held directly or indirectly.

We can help with your report, as well as calculating the gain and tax payable.

Income tax planning


We are able to offer advice on issues relating to income tax such as remuneration planning, utilising income tax losses, gifting to charity and relief for interest paid.

We can also offer to review levels of taxable income with a view to equalising income for tax purposes between spouses and civil partners.

Additionally, we can advise on the tax aspects in relation to making investments under Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS), Venture Capital Trusts (VCT) and SEIS (Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme).

Capital gains tax planning

We can advise in relation to those aspects of capital gains tax which impact individuals. We can look at planning in advance of a sale or gift of a chargeable asset, and the timing of such transactions. We can also advise on private residence relief, reinvestment relief, business asset relief and entrepreneurs’ relief, as well as how best to utilise capital losses against income and other gains. For more information, please contact us.