Secure Your Business Future
Expert Advice for Managing Business Assets and Inheritance
Plan for the future of your business with bespoke Wills and LPAs designed to protect your assets and legacy
Not only do we provide services for individuals who wish to make a Will or enter into a Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs), we also offer the same for clients who own businesses, business assets such as shares, or are in a partnership.
Just like a person entering into an LPA, business owners are able to do the same which will allow a chosen person to act as an agent on their behalf. It is important to consider this if you own a business because it will ensure that someone is appointed to manage your business affairs should you lose capacity. You may feel that those people who are best placed to manage your business interests are not necessarily those you would want to manage your personal finances or welfare decisions therefore we can help you put in place separate arrangements for the two areas of your life.
Our specialist Will drafting team will tailor your Will to ensure your business assets, such as shares or property, are protected in the best way possible, both for tax planning and ensuring that your business can carry on after death. Our team at Beers are highly experienced in Inheritance Tax planning and can therefore help your business assets pass through your estate in the smoothest and most effective way possible. We will guide you through each stage of the process to make sure that you are happy with every aspect of your Will and any business assets you may wish to include so that your loved ones can enjoy more of what you have worked so hard to leave them.
We will guide you through each stage of the process to make sure that you are happy with every aspect of your Will and any business assets you may wish to include so that your loved ones can enjoy more of what you have worked so hard to leave them.
Meet The Private Client for Business Team

Zoë Le Fort
Partner & Head of Private Client
Kingsbridge: 01548 857000

Zoë Le Fort
Zoë is Head of our Private Client Department and joined Beers initially as a locum solicitor in August 2021, having relocated from a firm in Hampshire where she was an equity Partner.
Zoë specialises in advising clients on Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Administration of Estates, creation and administration of Trusts, Court of Protection and general tax advice. As a fully qualified member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and accredited member of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers (formerly Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE)), she is able to advise clients on all aspects of their personal lifetime planning and tax queries, including protection for the more vulnerable and elderly clients.
Zoë has over thirteen years’ experience dealing with administration of estates and has advised on hundreds of probate and estate matters since qualifying. She is happy to see clients either in the office or in their homes, to ensure the process is as comfortable as possible for them.
Away from work Zoë can be found with her husband working on their 17th Century North Cornish cottage renovation project.

Michael Le Fort
Partner and Higher Rights Solicitor

Michael Le Fort
Michael started his career outside law when he worked for his family business manufacturing and supplying cosmetics and fragrances to the likes of Superdrug, Tesco and New Look. However, nail polish colours were not for him, and he left the business and qualified as a Barrister. He worked as a Barrister for several years specialising in family law in particular financial remedies and public law matters, civil litigation, contract matters, personal insolvency and crime. He remains a member of Middle Temple and is a fully accredited member of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers (formerly Solicitors for the Elderly).
He later cross qualified as a Solicitor and was awarded higher rights of audience by the Law Society. He has spent most of his career acting in divorce, children law and private client work and has been head of three private client departments and so is well versed in all aspects of private client work.
Michael specialises in advising clients in the preparation of new Wills and in reviewing existing Wills both for individuals and couples. He also deals with the question of succession planning which includes advising on Inheritance Tax, Agricultural Property Relief, Business reliefs and Capital Gains Tax issues with a view to helping you think about ways in which tax after death can be mitigated as far as possible. He advises on and prepares Lasting Powers of Attorney and deals with the registration of Enduring Powers of Attorney, this also includes Court of Protection matters including deputy applications. He advises clients in estate administration, deeds of variation and Trust matters. Michael also deals with cases with a more contentious element when necessary. His wide experience of different areas of law and of the Court process allows Michael to bring a different and pragmatic approach to any issue that may arise.

Kate Shute
Associate Member of CILEx
Kingsbridge: 01548 857000

Kate Shute
Kate joined Beers in July 2000 as an office assistant following her graduation from Agricultural College. Since joining Beers, she has progressed through the ranks and has been part of the Private Client team since 2002. She is a valued and trusted member of the team. Kate continued her education with the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) and became an Associate Member of CILEX in 2012. Kate is also a member of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers (formerly Solicitors for the Elderly).
Kate currently deals with all aspects of private client work to include Administration of Estates and Trusts, preparation of Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney, registration of Enduring Powers of Attorneys, applications for Deputy Orders and management of clients’ financial affairs. This includes dealing with clients’ day to day finances, arranging payment of their bills and household expenses, settling their tax position and ensuring that their investments are properly managed.