Matthew Biles

Head of Private Wealth & Partner, Private Wealth

+44 (0)20 7504 1155

mbiles@greenwoods.co.uk

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Matthew Biles specialises in Private Wealth legal and tax matters across a broad range of the issues faced by private individuals and asset protection structures in today’s world.

Matthew’s detailed experience includes advising:

on all aspects of UK income and capital taxation for individuals, entrepreneurs, owner-managed and family-owned businesses, trusts and asset holding structures;
on the many different structures available to achieve family succession and asset protection goals for personal or business assets, be that use of UK or offshore trusts, corporates, family investment companies, foundations, family charters etc;
advising international, multi-jurisdictional individuals, families and structures on the international elements of UK tax and the complex rules governing non-UK domiciled individuals including residence, domicile and remittance issues;
trustees of UK resident trusts on the set up of such structures, their ongoing duties and tax filing requirements and the winding up of such structures;
beneficiaries and trustees of non-UK (excluded property) trusts on their ongoing compliance and reporting requirements in an ever-changing world; and
UK charities on establishment and registration with the Charity Commission, ongoing activities and compliance requirements and corresponding with the Charity Commission.

Matthew regularly writes on Private Wealth issues and is a member of STEP.

Here’s what he says about his approach:

“My primary focus is to relieve some of the stress and other burdens that modern life places on our clients by providing swift and succinct advice and action.”

Matthew Biles

Testimonials

“Matthew Biles is a very good private client adviser. Pleasant to deal with, intelligent and sympathetic. Good with people and well-liked with the client base.”

(Legal 500 2025)

“Matthew Biles’ exceptional expertise and deep knowledge in wealth preservation compelled me to follow him to Greenwoods.”

(Legal 500 2025)

“Matthew Biles is an outstanding solicitor. He dealt with a complex probate/ inheritance tax situation in a thoroughly efficient and professional manner. I would highly recommend him.”

(Legal 500 2023)

Acting for several large and complex estates of leading figures in the motorsport industry and dealing with a number of specialist issues connected to that industry.
Advising the trustees of a variety of high-profile charities, one with annual donations of £40M, on their creation, on a host of issues, including registration with the Charity Commission and HMRC, the trustees’ ongoing duties under charity law, receipt of non-UK donations and other detailed points of charity law.
Advising a UK resident and domiciled individual on a variety of historic trust structures that hold assets in the region of £100 million alongside their personal wealth and relevant tax planning steps.

Advising a UK tax resident, non-domiciled individual on a series on interconnected offshore trusts that held UK residential assets valued at over £30 million. The work involved the application of the complex transfer of assets abroad rules and capital gains tax matching legislation and reporting the relevant information to HMRC on my client’s behalf. The client was assisted in successfully claiming the tax exemptions known as the “motive defences” and with the conclusion of a HMRC enquiry to the full satisfaction of the client. More recent work involved amending the structures to remain optimal in line with changing UK tax legislation.
Advising a UK domiciled and resident individual who owned a UK property investment company of some £50 million, alongside other assets, on the various succession planning options available to them in order to allow for their desired beneficiaries to benefit from those assets whilst maximising tax efficiency.

Matthew Biles

Articles by Matthew

Pensions and Inheritance Tax – What are the changes from 6 April 2027?

In the news in April

What happens next: A family guide to Wills, Probate & Estates

Trusts Decoded: when, why, and how to use them