• Wills and lifetime estate planning, including tax-efficient strategies
• Creation, reorganisation and administration of trusts and family investment structures
• Powers of Attorney and incapacity planning
• Multi-generational succession and family governance for business-owning families
• Cross-border planning for Scotland and England & Wales
• Estate administration, including complex and unusual asset classes

Why He’s Different

Clients value Ian’s plain-English, pragmatic approach. He takes time to understand what families want to achieve, then designs simple, robust structures that work in the real world—co-ordinating with accountants, financial advisers and trustees where needed. Dual-qualified in Scotland and in England & Wales, he brings a rare cross-border perspective and decades of experience advising multiple generations within the same family to help preserve and grow wealth over time.

Recent Work & Speaking

• Advised on complex personal and family situations and implemented wills, trusts and other structures to protect high-value and unusual assets for chosen beneficiaries.
• Reorganised substantial family trusts to reflect changes in law and in family and business circumstances.
• Delivered seminars on estate planning, trusts and tax for the Law Society of Scotland, STEP and internal firm programmes.
• Contributed introductory chapters to two STEP-associated Family Governance books: the second edition on family businesses (2017) and the companion volume on family offices (2019).

Trust Markers & Credentials

• STEP leadership: Member for 30+ years; represented Scotland on STEP’s Worldwide Council (2007–2013 and 2017–2022); Chair of STEP’s Professional Development Committee (2019–2022); founder member and former Deputy Chair of the STEP Business Families Special Interest Group (2007–2017).
• Dual-qualified solicitor: Scotland and England & Wales.
• Notary Public.

Practice Areas

• Private Client & Family Office
• Trusts & Estate Administration
• Tax-efficient Succession & Asset Protection

Fantastic Lawyers Editorial:

“Ian Macdonald combines over three decades of STEP leadership with rare cross-border expertise in Scotland and England & Wales. He is trusted by families and business owners alike to create clear, practical structures that protect wealth, reduce tax burdens, and preserve assets across generations. His ability to simplify complex estate and trust issues has made him one of the most respected private client advisers in Scotland.”

Fantastic Lawyers Rating (FLR): 98%