The Board

Ian Burman

Chairman

Ian has led the Private Client and Charities Teams at Laytons Solicitors since 1989 and is a recognised leader in both fields. He was made Managing Partner in January 2017.

A regular writer, lecturer and broadcaster, Ian was Chair of the London Central Branch of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners from 2007 to 2011 and was a Committee member for 20 years. Ian has contributed to numerous periodicals over the years and is a co-author of Tolley’s Administration of Estates, the leading textbook in the field of estate administration.

HIS PARTICULAR SPECIALISMS ARE:

• Estate planning for high-net-worth individuals, particularly those not domiciled in the UK
• Probate and succession, including contentious probate and trust issues
• Charity law including trading and commercial activities and governance.

Tim Downing

Director/Trustee

Tim has over 30 years’ experience in the UK and East Midlands Property and Business community. He is a Senior Partner with Pygott and Crone, a leading award-winning Property Consultancy with over 15 offices across the UK and an office in London. Recently voted Best UK Estate Agency by the Sunday Times.

He is also involved with number of other businesses: Hemswell Court, A 5-star Hotel and banqueting Facility (Home of the Dambusters Movie), Downing Developments Ltd, a Commercial and Residential property investment company. He was also recently appointed as Chairman of Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire. As well as the City Rugby Foundation, he is as a trustee of LIVES Charity and the entrepreneur’s charity – The Star Trust.

Kevin Yates

Director/Trustee

Kevin Yates a former professional, whose career began at Bath. He was a member of the side that won the 1995/96 Zurich Premiership he made his England debut on the 1997 tour of Argentina. In 1998 he moved to play for the Super 12 side Wellington Hurricanes where he helped the Wellington Lions win the 2000 National Provincial Championship. Joining Sale Sharks in 2001, winning the 2002 Parker Pen Shield. Yates joined Saracens in 2004 and in 2007 he was called up for England’s tour of South Africa. Kevin started against South Africa, a record period between caps. On this tour, he was capped twice; his first senior England caps for 10 years.

At the end of the 2007-08 season he moved to Nice, where he played until retirement. He entered he world of finance and worked in Monaco as a cash equity sales trader initially for Carex and then Churchill Capital. He returned to England in 2016 as a director at Northcott Global Solutions.

Gary Boxall

Director/Trustee

Gary Boxall has spent twenty years in the financial services industry in the city. Who he doesn’t know within the private client’s arena is not worth knowing!

He has also specialised for over 10 years in the Legal, Accountancy and Sport arenas. He was Head of Financial Services for a FTSE company and has been Head of Business Development for Butterfield Private Bank as well as UBS Wealth Manager and a Business Development Director at Investec Wealth & Investment.

He has a wealth of experience and expertise in the benefits of the sport – business relationship and was the driving force and Chairman of RUINN. He has a passion for creating and developing relationships and his ability to connect people is well known amongst city professionals.