STEP, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, has today launched a Responsible Stewardship Toolkit, a platform designed to guide families, their advisers and trust and estate practitioners with tools to incorporate responsible stewardship principles in trusts, wills and powers of attorney. Clare Stirzaker, Private Wealth Partner, Emma Haley, Legal Director and Sophie Harcourt, Private Wealth Associate, contributed to the Toolkit, alongside industry experts across the wealth planning, fiduciary and philanthropic sectors.

Partner and Head of Family, Emily Brand comments in the Financial Times on UK Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Standish v Standish.  She describes the decision as a “victory for pragmatism”, while also noting the potential for ambiguity in the application of the decision in more complex future cases.

In eprivateclient, Partner, Nicola Bushby explores the Law Commission’s Modernising Wills report, highlighting key proposals for reforming the law of wills, such as recognising electronic wills and adopting the test for capacity in lieu of the common law test. While progress is clear, concerns remain, especially around the rule revoking wills upon marriage.