Paula Shea

Paula joined the firm in 2019 and has over 20 years’ experience in most aspects of private client work, including trusts, wills, probate and associated tax planning. She is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales and in her home jurisdiction of Northern Ireland. Paula acts as a professional attorney, deputy and executor.

Paula leads our South Coast Succession and Tax Team ranked Tier 1 in the Legal 500, with Paula consistently listed as a ‘Leading Individual’.

Main areas of practice

Paula is well liked by her clients and is known for her practical and sensitive approach. She thrives on the technically challenging, unusual and interesting cases and creates innovative solutions to tricky problems.

Paula believes in a holistic approach, working with other advisers and those within her team and the firm to deliver the best outcome for their clients.

Clients

Paula acts for a diverse range of clients including entrepreneurs and those with significant business interests.

She also acts for a number of well-known sports and media clients in connection with Wills, probate, and tax-related matters. Paula is increasingly the “go to” specialist in this area and is able to draw on the expertise of our specialist Sports Law team led by Dov Katz. These high-profile clients value our discretion and understanding of this area.

Paula is particularly skilled in advising those with vulnerabilities.

Recent work includes:

• Advice to various business owner in connection with tax efficient estate planning including business LPAs.
• Advice to a company directors/trustees in connection with a shareholder protection trust.
• Estate planning advice to complement nuptial agreements in respect of lifetime gifts and wills.
• Advising an executor in a complex estate involving private company shares with various complex / contentious issues.
• Advice regarding tax-efficient deeds of variation.
• Creation of tax-efficient Wills to maximise availability of IHT reliefs (Business Property Relief, Residence Nil Rate Band, etc.).
• Creation of lifetime settlements and ongoing tax advice.

Expertise

• Private Client
• Probate and the Administration of Estates
• Trusts
• Wills
• Sports Law
• Tax Planning
• Lasting Power of Attorney
• Court of Protection

Career

Paula trained at Dickinson Manser (now Trethowans) and qualified as a private client solicitor in 2004. Paula joined Lester Aldridge in 2006 and following various promotions became a partner in 2015.

• University of Wales – Aberystwyth LLB (Hons) 2:1
• Cardiff University – Legal Practice Course