Charlotte Warren

Charlotte Warren is a Partner at Grant Saw Solicitors LLP and a specialist trust and estate planning solicitor based in Greenwich and Blackheath. She advises high‑net‑worth individuals, business owners and families with complex financial circumstances on inheritance tax planning, the structuring and administration of trusts, and long‑term succession planning.

Her clients typically come to her when their affairs have reached a point where standard solutions are no longer adequate, for example, where a client’s estate has grown significantly in value, following a business sale, where family circumstances have changed, or where existing arrangements no longer reflect what they want to achieve.

Charlotte qualified as a solicitor in 2015, training in Sussex before developing her expertise at regional firms across London and Surrey. She joined Grant Saw in 2020 and now leads the firm’s Trusts team.

She is a full member of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and the Association of Lifetime Lawyers.

Inheritance Tax Planning and Estate Structuring

For many individuals and families, estate planning becomes a priority when they begin to understand the scale of their potential inheritance tax exposure. Property values, business interests and accumulated investments can often push an estate well beyond the nil‑rate band thresholds, sometimes without that being immediately obvious.

Charlotte works with clients to develop a clear understanding of their overall position and to put in place arrangements that are both tax‑efficient and aligned with their intentions. This includes advising on the use of trusts, making effective use of available reliefs and exemptions, and ensuring that wealth passes in a way that reflects what clients actually want, rather than by default.

Her work includes inheritance tax planning and mitigation, the creation and administration of trusts, estate planning and succession strategy for individuals and families, tax planning in connection with business ownership and sales, advising executors and trustees on their duties, Will drafting and estate administration, lasting powers of attorney and Court of Protection matters.

Trust Structures and Long-Term Wealth Planning

Trusts are one of the more flexible tools available in estate planning, but the range of options and their tax implications require careful consideration. The right structure will depend on the client’s objectives, the nature of the assets involved and their wider family circumstances.

Charlotte advises on a range of arrangements, from straightforward family trusts through to more complex, multi‑generational structures, focusing on what is appropriate for the individual client rather than applying a standard approach. For business owners in particular, the interaction between business reliefs, trust planning and succession strategy requires a joined‑up view of the overall position.

Advising Trustees

Being appointed as a trustee is often a role taken on without a full understanding of the legal responsibilities involved. The duties are personal and can be significant if not managed properly.

Charlotte regularly advises trustees on how to meet those obligations, manage trust assets appropriately and deal with situations where the interests of beneficiaries need to be balanced carefully. Her aim is to ensure that trustees feel confident in their role and understand what is required of them.

Current Focus — Inheritance Tax Planning and Legislative Change

The inheritance tax and trust planning landscape has shifted considerably in recent years. For many clients, particularly business owners and those with larger estates, this has made planning both more important and more complex.

The reforms to Business Property Relief introduced in the 2024 Autumn Budget, taking effect from April 2026, have changed the position for many business owners and agricultural landowners who previously assumed their estates were largely protected. At the same time, the continued freeze in nil‑rate bands is bringing more estates within the inheritance tax net.

Charlotte is currently working with a growing number of clients who are reviewing their arrangements in light of these changes, as well as those who are approaching estate planning more seriously for the first time as their exposure becomes clearer.

If your circumstances have changed, or you have not reviewed your estate planning since the 2024 Budget, it is a sensible time to do so.

Trust and Estate Planning — Common Questions

What is a trust and when does it make sense to set one up? A trust is a way of holding assets for the benefit of others. In practice, it is used for a range of reasons, including inheritance tax planning, protecting assets for future generations, providing for more vulnerable beneficiaries, or retaining a degree of control over how wealth is passed on. Whether a trust is appropriate will depend on the individual circumstances, but for many business owners and families it forms part of a wider estate planning strategy.

How does trust planning help reduce inheritance tax? Certain trust arrangements can move assets outside of an individual’s estate over time, which can reduce the inheritance tax exposure on death. The exact outcome depends on the type of trust, the assets involved and the timing of any transfers. The rules in this area are detailed and have changed in recent years, so it is important to take advice before putting anything in place.

What should business owners think about when planning their estate? Business ownership adds an extra layer of complexity. Whilst reliefs such as Business Property Relief can reduce inheritance tax, the conditions are specific and have been tightened in recent years. Business owners also need to consider how a future sale, succession or change in control fits alongside their wider estate planning, including what happens to their business interests on death or loss of capacity.

What does being a trustee involve? Trustees have responsibility for managing assets on behalf of others and are under legal duties to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries. This includes making appropriate investment decisions, keeping records and complying with reporting obligations. These duties are personal and can carry risk if not understood properly, so taking advice early can be helpful.

When is the right time to start thinking about estate planning? In most cases, earlier is better. Many people only start to consider estate planning when something changes, for example, a business transaction, an increase in asset value or a shift in family circumstances. Starting planning sooner generally allows more flexibility and a wider range of options than leaving things until later.

About Charlotte

Charlotte Warren trained in Sussex and qualified as a solicitor in 2015. Before joining Grant Saw in 2020, she developed her expertise in trust and estate planning at prominent regional firms across London and Surrey, with a particular focus on the needs of high-net-worth individuals and families with complex financial arrangements.

She is a fully qualified member of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and the Association of Lifetime Lawyers.

Outside of work, Charlotte enjoys travelling and scuba diving.

Charlotte is a regulated solicitor authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

"Estate planning is rarely about a single document. It is about taking a holistic view of a client’s position including their assets, their family and what they want to achieve, and putting arrangements in place that will continue to work as circumstances evolve." — Charlotte Warren, Partner | Head of Trusts