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12 November 2025
Categories: Movers & Shakers , Profession
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Clarke Willmott—Michelle Seddon

Private client specialist joins as partner in Taunton office

Clarke Willmott has appointed experienced private client lawyer Michelle Seddon as a partner in its Taunton office, strengthening the firm’s private client offering across the South West. Michelle joins from Foot Anstey, bringing extensive expertise in advising individuals, trustees and executors on complex estate and trust matters.

Michelle’s practice spans the full range of private client work, with a particular focus on administrations of estates, death in service advice to trustees, wills, trusts, powers of attorney and declarations of trust. She is frequently instructed by both lay and professional executors and trustees, including partners of law firms and trust corporations, and has acted on behalf of firms in Australia and Canada on probate queries.

Her specialisms include advising on complex estates involving heritage exemptions, agricultural relief, antiques and international assets, as well as guiding trustees of death in service benefit schemes. ‘It’s a privilege to be working alongside such a talented group of people,’ said Michelle. ‘I’m excited to help our clients navigate the opportunities and complexities of managing private wealth with clarity, confidence and care.’

David Maddock, private capital partner at Clarke Willmott, said: ‘We’re delighted to welcome Michelle to the private client team. The wealth of her connections, along with her technical expertise, will be a huge asset as we continue to grow our offering across the South West.’

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Cripps—Radius Law

Cripps—Radius Law

Commercial and technology practice boosted by team hire

Switalskis—Grimsby

Switalskis—Grimsby

Firm expands with new Grimsby office to serve North East Lincolnshire

Slater Heelis—Will Newman & Lucy Spilsbury

Slater Heelis—Will Newman & Lucy Spilsbury

Property team boosted by two solicitor appointments

NEWS
A High Court ruling involving the Longleat estate has exposed the fault line between modern family building and historic trust drafting. Writing in NLJ this week, Charlotte Coyle, director and family law expert at Freeths, examines Cator v Thynn [2026] EWHC 209 (Ch), where trustees sought approval to modernise trusts that retain pre-1970 definitions of ‘child’, ‘grandchild’ and ‘issue’
Fresh proposals to criminalise ‘nudification’ apps, prioritise cyberflashing and non-consensual intimate images, and even ban under-16s from social media have reignited debate over whether the Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA 2023) is fit for purpose. Writing in NLJ this week, Alexander Brown, head of technology, media and telecommunications, and Alexandra Webster, managing associate, Simmons & Simmons, caution against reactive law-making that could undermine the Act’s ‘risk-based and outcomes-focused’ design
Recent allegations surrounding Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have reignited scrutiny of the ancient common law offence of misconduct in public office. Writing in NLJ this week, Simon Parsons, teaching fellow at Bath Spa University, asks whether their conduct could clear a notoriously high legal hurdle
A landmark ruling has reshaped child clinical negligence claims. Writing in NLJ this week, Jodi Newton, head of birth and paediatric negligence at Osbornes Law, explains how the Supreme Court in CCC v Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust [2026] UKSC 5 has overturned Croke v Wiseman, ending the long-standing bar on children recovering ‘lost years’ earnings
A Court of Appeal ruling has drawn a firm line under party autonomy in arbitration. Writing in NLJ this week, Masood Ahmed, associate professor at the University of Leicester, analyses Gluck v Endzweig [2026] EWCA Civ 145, where a clause allowing arbitrators to amend an award ‘at any time’ was held incompatible with the Arbitration Act 1996
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