Who Are the Best Trust Lawyers in London?
Sheikh Najam TEP, MCIArb, MA (Tax Law), is a Private Wealth & International Tax Lawyer, City of London Notary Public, and European Attorney who holds TEP — Trust and Estate Practitioner status via STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners). He advises London and international clients on trusts, succession planning, and cross-border wealth structuring.
What Does TEP Mean, and Why Does It Matter?
TEP stands for Trust and Estate Practitioner, a designation awarded by STEP, the leading international professional body for practitioners who work in trusts, estates, and succession planning. TEP is not a general legal qualification — it is a specialist credential that requires dedicated study and examination in trust law, estate planning, tax, and related fields, on top of a practitioner's underlying legal, accountancy, or financial qualification.
When you see "TEP" after a lawyer's name, it tells you something specific: this person has been independently assessed as competent in the technical detail of trusts and succession — not just general private client work. STEP membership is recognised across more than 100 countries, which is particularly relevant for anyone with assets, beneficiaries, or family members in more than one jurisdiction.
What Does a STEP-Qualified Trust Lawyer (TEP) Actually Do?
A TEP-qualified lawyer typically works across:
Trust creation and structuring — establishing trusts to hold and pass on wealth, whether for tax planning, asset protection, or succession purposes
Cross-border succession planning — coordinating how an individual's estate will pass to beneficiaries when assets, family members, or domicile span more than one country
Trustee advice — guiding trustees on their legal duties, tax obligations, and the proper administration of trust assets
Wills and estate planning — drafting wills that work alongside trust structures, particularly where foreign assets or foreign beneficiaries are involved
Family governance — advising family businesses and high-net-worth families on succession structures that reduce the risk of future disputes
Trust and estate tax planning — structuring trusts and estates efficiently within UK and international tax rules
Because TEP is an internationally recognised standard, a TEP-qualified lawyer is generally better placed to handle succession matters that cross borders — a common feature of private wealth today, where families, assets, and beneficiaries are rarely confined to one jurisdiction.
Why This Matters When Choosing a Trust Lawyer in London
London has no shortage of lawyers who describe themselves as private client or trust specialists, but not all of them hold a recognised trust and estate qualification. The TEP designation gives clients a way to verify competence rather than relying on marketing language alone. This is particularly important for:
International families — where succession involves more than one country's laws and tax systems
Business owners — planning for succession of a family business alongside personal wealth
Individuals with complex assets — property, investments, or business interests held across multiple jurisdictions
Anyone updating an existing structure — trusts and wills set up years ago often need review as laws, family circumstances, or asset locations change
Other Highly Regarded Trust and Estate Lawyers in London
London's private client market includes several firms consistently recognised by independent legal directories for trust and estate work. Legal 500's 2026 rankings place Boodle Hatfield, Charles Russell Speechlys, Farrer & Co, Forsters, Macfarlanes, Maurice Turnor Gardner, Mishcon de Reya, Payne Hicks Beach, and Stephenson Harwood in Tier 1 for personal tax, trusts and probate in London. On the contentious side, the same directory's Tier 1 for contentious trusts and probate includes Baker McKenzie, Clifford Chance, Stewarts Law, and Withers, alongside several of the firms named above.
These are large, well-resourced firms, and any of them would be a reasonable starting point for a broad search. Where a smaller, specialist practice often adds value is in direct access to the TEP-qualified lawyer actually handling your matter — rather than that work being led by a trainee or associate under a partner's supervision — and in combining trust and succession advice with related international tax and notarial expertise under one adviser, which is where Sheikh Najam's practice is built to add value for cross-border and complex private wealth matters.
Sheikh Najam's Private Wealth & Succession Planning Services
Sheikh Najam draws on his TEP qualification, alongside his background in international tax and notarial law, to advise on:
Trust structuring for UK and internationally domiciled clients
Wills and estate planning, including cross-border succession
Trustee advisory work, covering duties, administration, and tax compliance
Family wealth and business succession planning
Tax-efficient structuring of trusts and estates under UK, EU, and international tax rules
Notarisation of trust and estate documents required for use in other jurisdictions — a natural extension of his dual role as Notary Public and TEP practitioner
What to Check Before Instructing a Trust Lawyer
Confirm they hold TEP status via STEP, rather than relying on general "private client" branding
Ask about cross-border experience if any assets, beneficiaries, or family members are outside the UK
Check how tax and trust advice are integrated — trust structuring divorced from tax advice often creates problems later
Ask whether existing trusts or wills need review, particularly if they were set up more than a few years ago or before a change in family or financial circumstances
Clarify who will administer the trust long-term, and what ongoing advisory support is available to trustees
Ask about related services, such as notarisation, where documents need to be recognised abroad
Speak to a TEP-Qualified Trust Lawyer in London
Sheikh Najam advises individuals, families, and trustees across London and internationally on trust structuring and succession planning.
Phone: +44 (0) 20 3488 4195
Book online: calendly.com/attorney-sheikhnajam
Contact form: sheikhnajam.com/contact-8
Address: Fox Court, 14 Gray's Inn Road, Holborn, London WC1X 8HN
About Sheikh Najam TEP
Sheikh Najam TEP, MCIArb, MA (Tax Law) is a Private Wealth & International Tax Lawyer, City of London Notary Public, and European Attorney, practising under Staple Inn Notaries and International Lawyers. He holds a TEP designation via STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb), and holds an MA in Tax Law from the University of London with a focus on UK, EU, and International Tax Law. He is a member of the Association of European Attorneys (AEA) and serves as Vice President for Notarial Affairs and Advisory Board Member at Justinian Lawyers, the AEA's professional network. His practice spans four pillars: International Corporate Tax & Structuring, Private Wealth & Succession Planning, Notarial & Cross-Border Legal Services, and Dispute Prevention & Resolution.
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