By Tom Gauterin, Legal Director, Goughs Solicitors
At Goughs Solicitors, Tom Gauterin of the Private Client Team specialises in tax and estate planning, advising families, trustees, business owners and farmers on complex personal and business matters.
“Tax affects most people at some point in their lives,” says Tom. “A lot of the clients I work with own and run businesses, often involving several generations of the same family. I also advise clients with international interests, where we need to consider how different tax systems interact and what that means for them in practical terms.”
As a dual-qualified Solicitor and Chartered Tax Adviser, Tom is able to provide clients with broader, joined-up advice across both legal and tax issues.
“It helps to look at someone’s overall position rather than focusing on one issue in isolation,” he explains. “For clients with business interests or more complex assets, that wider perspective means we can often make really good progress from the very first meeting. It also helps us work closely with accountants, financial advisers and other professionals to make sure everyone is moving in the same direction.”
Much of Tom’s current work is centred around inheritance tax planning, particularly following recent changes to inheritance tax reliefs.
“Many families are understandably reviewing their arrangements at the moment,” he says. “But tax planning should never happen in isolation. It’s important to consider the wider picture, including the family dynamics, the long-term future of the business and what clients are ultimately trying to achieve.”
In some cases, that means helping clients adjust business structures over time to ensure they qualify for valuable reliefs while still protecting the stability of the business itself.
“There’s no point creating a tax-efficient structure if it causes problems commercially or personally,” Tom adds. “The aim is always to find solutions that are practical as well as effective.”
Tom says clients often seek advice during periods of significant change, whether that is retirement, passing a business to the next generation, selling a company or responding to changes in legislation.
“We’re seeing more families starting succession planning conversations earlier than they might have done previously,” he says. “These decisions can feel daunting, but having the right advice early on can make a real difference.”
Because personal and business interests are often closely connected, Tom says collaboration across legal disciplines is key.
“At Goughs, we work very closely across our private client, corporate, real estate and family teams to provide a joined-up service,” he explains. “That means clients can deal with several connected issues efficiently and with the reassurance that everyone involved understands the bigger picture.”
A key part of Tom’s approach is making complex matters easier to understand.
“Tax can quickly become overwhelming, so I try to focus on what the advice means in practical terms and what steps a client actually needs to take,” he says. “Most importantly, I always encourage clients to ask questions. These are important decisions involving families, businesses and long-term planning, so clarity and confidence are essential.”
For more information and help, contact Tom Gauterin at Goughs Solicitors.
01249 717872
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