Senior Partner & Head of Private Client
Chris Daynes
Chris is the firm’s Senior Partner and oversees the Private Client team.
Private Client
Blair Gould
Senior Associate
Blair is a highly experienced Private Client Senior Associate with over 20 years' experience advising individuals and families on wills, probate, estate planning, trusts and elderly client matters. Having worked across both the public and private sectors, he brings a wealth of knowledge, practical insight and compassion to every client relationship.
Blair explains complex legal issues in a clear and straightforward way. He understands that private client matters often involve significant personal and family decisions, and believes that empathy is central to providing effective legal advice. His focus is on helping clients feel informed, supported and confident when planning for the future.
“Empathy is at the heart of the work we do. Every person and family has their own unique circumstances and concerns. My role is to listen carefully, understand what matters most to them, and provide practical advice that gives clarity, confidence and peace of mind.”
With good experience in private client law, Blair has advised generations of families on protecting their wealth, planning for the future and navigating some of life's most important decisions.
His expertise covers every aspect of estate planning and administration, from straightforward wills and powers of attorney to high-value estates, trusts and complex succession planning arrangements. Blair has worked extensively with individuals, families, business owners and vulnerable clients, helping them achieve practical and effective outcomes tailored to their circumstances.
Blair has also worked in Jersey and held a variety of company roles throughout his career, giving him valuable insight into both personal and commercial matters. His broad experience enables him to provide commercially aware advice while always maintaining a strong focus on the individual needs of his clients.
Before embarking on his legal career, Blair was a History teacher. This background helped develop the communication skills that continue to define his practice today, allowing him to explain complex legal concepts clearly and accessibly.
Memberships & Accreditations
Blair is committed to maintaining the highest professional standards and is recognised by leading professional bodies within the private client sector.
- Full Member of STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), City of London Branch
- Accredited Member of the Association of Lifetime Lawyers
These memberships reflect Blair's specialist expertise and commitment to ongoing professional development within the ever evolving private client legal landscape. These memberships reflect Blair's specialist expertise and commitment to ongoing professional development within the ever-evolving private client legal landscape.
Insights
Blair regularly shares his knowledge and practical experience on developments affecting wills, trusts, estate planning, probate and elderly client law. Drawing upon decades of experience, Blair provides practical insight into succession planning, inheritance tax considerations, trust structures, capacity issues and other topics that are important to individuals and families seeking to protect their assets and plan effectively for the future. Blair is an experienced public speaker who regularly presents on developments in private client law. Recent topics have included Business Property Relief and the wide-ranging changes to tax and estate planning legislation introduced over the last two years.
Beyond the Law
Outside of his legal practice, Blair is passionate about rugby and enjoys the values the sport promotes, including teamwork, discipline and resilience. He is also actively involved in charity fundraising. In his spare time, Blair enjoys playing guitar, attending music festivals, theatre productions and live music events.
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Blair’s specialisms
Wills and succession planning
01Probate and Estate Administration
02Lasting Powers of Attorney
03Helping clients select appropriate primary and replacement attorneys, advising on when their powers should take effect, and guiding decisions about who should be appointed to make end–of-life decisions.
Trust creation, administration and restructuring
04Estate and Inheritance Tax Planning
05Advising clients on lifetime gifting strategies and estate planning, including analysing inheritance tax mitigation techniques, and identifying potential pitfalls to ensure effective tax efficiency
Elderly client law
06Court of Protection matters
07Including deputyship applications, applications for one-off decisions (e.g. buying/selling property, gifting), and generally advising Deputies and Attorneys
Wealth preservation strategies
08Complex private client work
09Cross-Border Estates
10Handling estates with international elements and liaising with overseas lawyers
The specialist view
Blair Gould
Senior Associate
Your team
Meet the experts
Partner & Head of Private Wealth Disputes
Gabriel Grant
Gabriel is a Partner and head of the Private Wealth Disputes department at Streathers Daynes Smith.
Consultant
Felix Appelbe
Felix Appelbe is a Consultant with Streathers, bringing more than five decades of legal experience to clients across a remarkably broad range of matters.
Paralegal
Lucy Bekheit
Lucy is a Paralegal within our Property and Private Client teams, specialising in residential conveyancing, probate, and estate planning.
Solicitor
Roger Boustred
Roger Boustred is a solicitor in our private client team, specialising in Wills, lasting powers of attorney, probate and trust work.
Solicitor
Charlotte Cossey
Charlotte Cossey is a Solicitor in our Private Client team, specialising in estate administration, wills, trusts, estate planning, and contentious private client matters.
Associate
Michael Hepburn
Michael is an Associate in our Private Client team, specialising in wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, trusts and estate planning.
Paralegal
Jessica Jakhu Milton
Jess is a paralegal in our private client team, specialising in wills, probate, and property disposals arising from estate administration.
Paralegal
Giaan Lange
Giaan Lange is a paralegal in our Islington Private Client team, specialising in probate and estate administration, including complex and multi-jurisdictional matters, as well as providing support in estate and trust disputes.
Associate
Max Loble
Max is an Associate working across our Property and Private Client teams, with extensive experience in both areas.
Senior Associate
Elizabeth Manchester
Elizabeth is a Senior Associate in our Private Client team, specialising in probate and Court of Protection work.
Senior Paralegal
Emilija Mikutyte
Emilija Mikutyte is a dedicated paralegal in the Highgate Private Client team at Streathers Daynes Smith, specialising in probate matters with over six years of experience navigating various legal challenges.
Trainee Solicitor
Himani Pandya
Himani Pandya is a Trainee Solicitor in our Private Client team.
Senior Associate
Jacalyn Rosenfeld
Jacalyn Rosenfeld is a Senior Probate solicitor in our Private Client team, specialising in estate administration and complex probate matters
Solicitor
Claire Splawn
Claire is a Solicitor in our Private Client team, specialising in Probate, Cross Border Estates, Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Trusts.
Paralegal
Lily Virtue
Lily is a paralegal in our Private Client team, specialising in wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and Probate.
Trainee Solicitor
Kate White
Kate White is a Trainee Solicitor in our Contentious Probate team, specialising in Trust and Estate disputes.
Trainee Solicitor
Hannah Whiterow
Hannah is a second year Trainee Solicitor. As part of her Training Contract, she has completed seats in Private Client and Family Law, and will go onto sit in Litigation and Commercial Property.
Solicitor
Arran Wilkinson
Arran Wilkinson is a solicitor in our Contentious Probate team, specialising in Trust and Estates Disputes.
