Kerry Blackhurst

Senior Associate

Kerry specialises in all aspects of private client work, with a background in both contentious and non-contentious work. Combining professional expertise with empathy and understanding, and an ability to relay complex information in a relaxed and friendly manner, she seeks to put her clients at ease even through the most difficult of situations.

Email Me Call Me: 0161 302 8343

Expertise

Kerry’s clients include those acting as executors, administrators, beneficiaries, trustees and attorneys. She provides general succession, inheritance tax and asset protection planning to a predominantly high net worth client base, including business owners and wealthy families.

Kerry also undertakes estate administration work, and advises on the creation and administration of trusts, acting as a trustee herself.

Kerry has particular expertise in relation to elderly and disabled clients who are impacted by issues relating to mental capacity and the Court of Protection. She regularly advises clients on the creation of Lasting Powers of Attorney, and acts on behalf of those appointed as Attorney or Deputy, as well as being personally appointed to these roles directly.

Recent Experience

Working closely with multi-generational family to restructure trust and company assets, and prepare Wills for older parents to efficiently pass on family wealth to the next generation, incorporating effective protection for highly vulnerable family members.
Assisting clients in relation to a Family Asset Protection trust, mis-sold by an unregulated Will Writing company, saving the clients £000’s in fees and future tax.
Working with the BBS Corporate Team and professional tax advisors to prepare multiple trusts holding shares in newly incorporated Family Investment Companies
Preparing Wills and Lasting powers of Attorney for a high-net worth client with impaired capacity, working closely with a professional testamentary capacity assessor to reduce the risk of future challenge to the Will.
Instructed by an Attorney in a highly contentious dispute with their co-Attorney relating to compliance with a Court ordered divorce settlement.
Applying to the Charity Commission for a scheme to change the out-of-date charitable objects of a local charity, then applying to register a new corporate structure.
Appointed by the Court of Protection as deputy for an insolvent client, working closely with the Trustee in Bankruptcy to achieve the best outcome for creditors whilst protecting the best interests of the client
Application to the Court of Protection to approve a lifetime gift to recoup monies spent on care fees
Obtaining a six-figure restitution settlement relating to a disputed assessment for NHS Continuing Healthcare Funding for care fees
Successful mediated settlement for an unmarried co-habitee pursuant to the Inheritance (Provision for family & Dependants) Act 1975, ensuring the retention of a home and business.

Career History

Kerry received an MA (Hons) degree from the University of Glasgow before undertaking legal conversion qualifications at Manchester Metropolitan University in 1996/7.

Upon qualifying as a Solicitor in 1999, she initially specialised in contentious work before focusing upon non-contentious private client work in 2015, giving a broad depth of knowledge and experience.

Throughout her career Kerry has worked in Legal 500 national and large regional firms. She was a co-founder of one of the earliest SRA regulated ABS Law Firms, sitting within a private equity backed group of financial services companies.

Kerry joined the firm’s Private Client Team in 2019.

Kerry is a member of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and Solicitors for the Elderly.

Email Me Call Me: 0161 302 8343