Jakub Kotan – TEP

Managing Director
Solicitor

Jakub manages the overall operations of our firm and is responsible for all strategic decision-making aimed at elevating the quality of service we deliver to our clients. He focuses on implementing innovative solutions that enhance client satisfaction while also prioritising the well-being and development of our team members. Jakub’s leadership ensures that both client needs and employee support are at the forefront of our business objectives.

LinkedIn Profile:

Jakub studied law at the University of Sussex and went on to complete an LLM master’s degree and the Legal Practice Course at BPP University. He is a full member of STEP.

He specialises in advising clients on estate planning, will preparation, inheritance tax, and Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA). Jakub also handles estate administration and related tax matters. Additionally, he is our specialist in cross-border, estate-related issues. Jakub is a frequent radio guest, where he explains the complexities of estate planning and the tax implications that businesses and families often face.

Jakub leads our Trust and Court of Protection (COP) team, where he deals with trusts and deputyships. He advises on trust administration and guides the management of deputyships for vulnerable individuals. His work often involves acting as a professional attorney or deputy, ensuring that all decisions are made in the best interests of his clients. With LPAs or deputyships, Jakub goes beyond general legal advice, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to protecting his clients and their assets.

In his leisure time, Jakub is an avid golfer. When he’s not on the golf course, he enjoys attending operas, theatre performances, art exhibitions, and museums. He also loves to read.

Recent Work

  • Successful cross-border estate resolution – Administered an estate crossing England, France, and the Czech Republic, securing clarity on both tax and legal issues for multiple high-value properties.
  • Notable dual probate & property resolution – Obtained probate in England and Gujarat, India; sold UK assets, transferred Indian property to heirs, and completed all tax compliance in both jurisdictions.
  • Multi-jurisdiction dispute win – Secured German court acceptance of English trust law arguments, resolving a multi-million Euro probate family dispute.
  • Non-UK domicile trust planning – Successfully designed cross-border tax and legal strategy for a settlor with ties to the Czech Republic and Portugal, ensuring that the plan was compliant with English law and tax rules.
  • Contentious probate success – Defended a multi-million-pound claim by the Church of England, upholding the validity of the deceased’s will.
  • Family estate dispute – Resolved conflict between a second wife and daughter from a first marriage over a multi-million-pound estate in London and St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

Areas of Practice

  • Wills
  • Trusts
  • Estate and inheritance tax planning
  • Probate & administration of estates
  • Intestacy
  • Contentious probates
  • Powers of Attorney
  • Cross-border estates

Membership

  • Associate Member of STEP

  • Care and Guidance

    My heartfelt thanks to Mr Jakub Kotan and Massimo Cairo for their care and guidance.
    I have had such positive experiences with this firm. They have always treated me with genuine care, guided me with patience and clarity. They made many stressful situations feel manageable and straightforward. Every step is explained in a way that is easy to understand, and I always felt fully informed and truly cared for. I felt supported every step of the way, and I’m very grateful for their help. Their communication is always excellent, and I’ve always felt reassured knowing I was in capable hands. I would confidently recommend this firm to anyone seeking reliable, efficient, and compassionate legal support.
    RD
    February 2026

  • Took all the Worry off my Shoulders

    Excellent service from the team at Garner & Hancock, who dealt with my late Aunt’s estate for me. This took three years to complete as it was, from my point of view, a very complicated affair. From the initial phone call from Jakub Kotan advising me that I was the beneficiary of this estate, to the final recent email, I found the team to be very professional, but also approachable. Garner & Hancock took all the worry off my shoulders, as I had no idea where to start if I had tried sorting this out on my own!
    David Fowler
    May 2025
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