Paula Shea

Paula joined the firm in 2019 and has over 15 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.

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 is particularly skilled in advising elderly clients and assisting families with vulnerable children. She also enjoys assisting entrepreneurs in regard to succession planning and believes in a holistic approach, working with other advisers to deliver the best outcome for their clients.

Clients

Paula acts for a diverse range of clients from private individuals with relatively straightforward affairs to those with significant business interests.

Recent work includes:

• Advice to a widow in a contentious estate about the capitalisation of her life interest.
• 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.
• Responding to Larke v Nugus request in contested estate.

Expertise

• Private Client
• Divorce and Separation
• Probate and the Administration of Estates
• Trusts
• Wills
• Sports Law

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