Q&A with London based Wealth Preservation Partner, Matt Biles

Why did you choose a career in law and what attracted you, specifically, to Wealth Preservation?
In short, the evolving nature of the law was its main attraction to me.  I have always had a strong passion for history but broadly the facts are already established and it is more the interpretation or significance of those facts and events that are debated.

By contrast, the law is constantly evolving whether incrementally by caselaw or by sea-changes in approach via legislation introduced by government.  This constantly evolving nature keeps you on your toes and fuels my passion for learning and development.

Client interaction and understanding and helping them to achieve their aims is what drew me to Wealth Preservation.  I enjoy the personal interaction and collaborative aspects of Wealth Preservation work in contrast to more transactional or adversarial areas of the law.

Do you have a niche area of interest/specialism?
I’m more of an all-rounder, with a multitude of experience in international work, work for charities, trust structures and succession and IHT planning for both UK domiciled and non-domiciled individuals and families.

What’s your role within the team?
I was head of Private Client at Ince & Co and brought seven team members with me to Greenwoods, all based in London.  We are a ready-made, close knit team with years of experience working together, which has made for a very smooth transition on joining Greenwoods.  Our integration has been helped enormously by the existing team and wider London office being so open and friendly.

Tell us about a memorable or unusual matter you have acted on
A stand-out matter I have acted on was providing advice to a non-domiciled individual on the UK tax implications of bringing a Bugatti Veyron into the UK to drive round its various iconic race circuits.  From memory, I also strongly advised that client about putting in place a Will.

Finally, what are your hobbies or interests outside the office?
Without wishing to sound like a cliché, having a young family, I don’t have a huge amount of free time for hobbies and interests.  However, I am a big football fan, both watching my son play locally and supporting Southampton F.C.  I also have a strong passion for travel and have been to quite a few far flung places in the world (Bognor and the like) and, taking us full circle to where this Q&A started, I also have a keen interest in history and current affairs.