Senior Partner & Head of Private Client
Chris Daynes
Chris is the firm’s Senior Partner and oversees the Private Client team.
Private Client
Claire Splawn
Solicitor
Claire is a Solicitor in our Private Client team, specialising in Probate, Cross Border Estates, Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Trusts. Claire is dedicated to supporting individuals and families in planning for the future, navigating times of uncertainty, and making informed decisions through clear and practical advice. She takes a compassionate and personable approach, helping clients to feel reassured at every stage of the legal process.
Claire also leads our Pro Bono work and manages our partnership with a local legal advice clinic where our paralegals and trainees volunteer their time to support our North London community, ensuring those in need have access to high quality legal advice.
Claire’s approach is about ensuring her clients feel heard and supported whether they are looking for guidance following the death of a loved one, or to set up or manage structures that protect their families well into the future.
Experience
Claire joined Streathers Daynes Smith in October 2022, starting initially as a paralegal and then training with the firm through to qualification in 2025.
- She brings 10 years of experience in the legal sector, with a background spanning medical law, immigration law and in the charity sector, including leading a large collaborative Pro Bono project – the St James Legal Advice Centre - with City firms in London.
- She is now building a broad practice in Private Client, combining her love of the technical aspects of the law with her commitment to building lasting, trusted relationships with clients in the local community and beyond.
Memberships & Accreditations
Claire is a member of the Law Society and an Associate member of STEP, currently working towards full STEP membership.
Beyond the Law
If Claire wasn’t a Solicitor, she would have her own local bakery. Away from the office she spends much of her spare time baking, experimenting with new flavours and ways to make and decorate cakes, cookies, pastries and breads.
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Claire’s specialisms
Full Estate Administration
01Managing the entire process from identifying assets through to final distribution
Cross-Border Estates
02Handling estates with international elements and liaising with overseas lawyers
Inheritance Tax Advice
03Clear, practical guidance on liabilities, reliefs, and HMRC processes
Administration of Trusts
04Advising on the registration of Trusts, ongoing management and Trustee responsibilities and winding up of trusts.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
05Helping 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.
Wills
06Assisting clients in identifying suitable structures for their Wills, advising on key decisions and incorporating effective estate and inheritance tax planning throughout the process.
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.
Senior Associate
Blair Gould
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.
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
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.
