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Lawyers in Edinburgh
Solicitors in Edinburgh
Family Solicitors/Lawyers in Edinburgh

Latest news and insights

Shifting Ground: Making Sense of the Government’s Changing IHT Proposals

We explore the latest changes to IHT, the practical challenges for business owners, and why the current approach risks creating an unworkable system.

Scottish Ports and the UK Emissions Trading Scheme: Leading the Clean Energy Transition

Scottish ports are reshaping their role in the energy transition as the UK ETS brings new expectations, opportunities, and momentum for maritime decarbonisation

Irritancy and Commercial Leases: When Leases Don’t Do What They Say on the Tin

An overview of irritancy in commercial leases, examining how legal safeguards and practical considerations can alter outcomes beyond the contract wording.

Latest news and insights

03 February 2026 | Time to read: 4 mins

Shifting Ground: Making Sense of the Government’s Changing IHT Proposals

By John McArthur

We explore the latest changes to IHT, the practical challenges for business owners, and why the current approach risks creating an unworkable system.

29 January 2026 | Time to read: 6 mins

Scottish Ports and the UK Emissions Trading Scheme: Leading the Clean Energy Transition

By Derek McCulloch, Jack Cuthbertson

Scottish ports are reshaping their role in the energy transition as the UK ETS brings new expectations, opportunities, and momentum for maritime decarbonisation

28 January 2026 | Time to read: 6 mins

Irritancy and Commercial Leases: When Leases Don’t Do What They Say on the Tin

By John Stirling

An overview of irritancy in commercial leases, examining how legal safeguards and practical considerations can alter outcomes beyond the contract wording.

27 January 2026 | Time to read: 7 mins

Ban of Upward-Only Rent Reviews in England & Wales: What It Means for Commercial Leases

By Tamzin Munro

A proposed ban on upward‑only rent reviews could reshape commercial leasing in England and Wales. Here’s what it means for landlords, tenants and wider market.

Trusts

Creating a Trust can be an effective way to manage assets, protect vulnerable beneficiaries, assist in passing family wealth down to future generations and for tax planning purposes.

We can advise on the creation, administration and taxation of Trusts.  Our experienced team includes 18 members of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP), including 10 full members, and two chartered tax advisors.

Find out more about how we can help in the event of a dispute involving a Trust, by clicking here.

Benefits of Trusts

We can help you set up a Trust in order to:

  • Hold assets for young children/grandchildren to safeguard inheritance
  • Hold assets for beneficiaries who may need additional protection because they are financially vulnerable, for example due to disability, incapacity, business risk  or unstable relationships
  • Make appropriate provision for members of a blended family
  • Provide for your grandchildren’s education in a tax efficient manner
  • Assist with planning for residential care costs
  • Hold compensation awards for personal injury
  • Assist with wider tax planning

Trust administration

Our team can assist in the ongoing administration of a Trust, including:

  • Assisting with tax efficient distributions of income to beneficiaries
  • Helping Trustees meet their legal, regulatory and tax compliance obligations through the preparation of regular Trust Accounts, maintaining accurate Trust records and preparing annual Trust tax filings to HMRC
  • Dealing with changes of Trustees
  • Providing advice on varying Trusts and/or assisting with winding up Trusts

Taxation of Trusts

Our team includes Chartered Tax Advisors who can provide you with advice on:

  • Income Tax
  • Capital Gains Tax
  • Inheritance Tax
  • All Property Taxes

We work alongside Trustees’ existing advisers to ensure efficient management of Trust assets for the longer-term benefit of the beneficiaries. We can provide specific guidance on Business and Agricultural reliefs as well as how to manage Trusts assets to maximise available tax reliefs and exemptions.

Request a free callback

We understand the need for discretion and that you may not be clear on your options or indeed the process of instructing a lawyer. If you would like to arrange for someone in our private client team to get in touch at a time that suits you, please provide a few details.

Gillespie Macandrew have been proactive, creative, diligent and detailed in all work done to date.

The Legal 500

Lawyers in Edinburgh
Solicitors in Edinburgh
Family Solicitors/Lawyers in Edinburgh

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