Andrew is a partner in our private client team and has over 14 years’ experience in private client work.
Andrew advises on all aspects of Wills, probate and estate administration, lasting powers of attorney, Court of Protection applications, trusts and tax planning.
He strives for a friendly and professional approach in dealing with clients and prides himself on giving clear advice.
Expertise
Andrew works with a broad range of clients, including high net worth individuals and families based both locally in Hertfordshire and in and around London. Having advised on high value complex matters as well as lower value estates, he gives the same high level of service to all his clients and consistently receives positive feedback from his clients.
He has advised on estates with business and agricultural property and those with a foreign element, including re-sealing probates in foreign jurisdictions.
He drafts discretionary trusts, life interest trusts, family settlements and disabled person’s trusts and advises on their administration and tax consequences.
Andrew has prepared statutory Will applications for the Court of Protection as well as deputyship and other applications to the Court of Protection.
As well as preparing and registering lasting powers of attorney, he has also advised attorneys on their role and duties under the documents.
Andrew studied Journalism at the University of Cardiff before completing the Graduate Diploma conversion to Law at the University of Middlesex. Subsequently, Andrew completed the Legal Practice Course at the University of London and qualified as a solicitor in 2006.
Andrew joined Debenhams Ottaway in 2012, he was made senior lawyer in 2017 and partner in November 2020.
In Touch
Andrew is a member of the:
- Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
- Private Client Section of The Law Society.
Andrew Spearman's news
Why put your trust in a Trust?
Trusts are a way of controlling assets for the benefit of others. They are useful in lots of circumstances, but here are some reasons why people choose to set up…
Debenhams Ottaway promotes three senior lawyers to partnership
Law firm Debenhams Ottaway promotes three of its senior lawyers to the partnership, Rachel Hyndman and Andrew Spearman in the Wills, trusts and probate team, and Neil Mercer in commercial…
Trusts are a way of protecting or sheltering assets for others. They can take various forms and often get a bad press as vehicles for the super-rich, but in fact…
You win sum, you lose sum: Estate administration changes
A change to inheritance tax that will save beneficiaries thousands of pounds could be offset by a proposed hike in probate court fees. From 6 April 2017 the much heralded…
Where there’s a way there’s a (Statutory) Will
As a general rule if a person lacks mental capacity, then they cannot sign a Will. An individual making a Will has to understand what it is they are doing…
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The Legal 500 2022Andrew Spearman puts clients at ease and quickly builds trust.
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Jennifer KembleAndrew is very affable. He has been a great support and I couldn’t have wished for a better solicitor in our time of need. It was always a joy to go and see him, almost a pleasure handing the money over!
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Paul JardinePersonal service and totally professional. Andrew was open and friendly too.
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Anne CalderMy sister and I have been very happy with how our mother’s probate was handled. It was all done with great care, efficiency and professionalism. Such a good service in every way. Andrew Spearman surpassed himself.
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Anita and Michael BeckettEverything was excellent. Andrew Spearman is a very professional solicitor who understood our requirements.
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AnonymousI want to thank you for everything you have done over the past two years to make understandable what turned out to be a very complicated process. I particularly appreciated your careful professionalism and your kind and patient sensitivity towards us throughout the process. I am so very glad we came to you.
