Legal adviser to private clients – meet our expert Elin Dukes

Elin Dukes is a Solicitor and our Director of Legal Services since December 2023. Based in the Horsham office and working with clients across the South East, Elin specialises in Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Probate and Estate Administration. 

 “I like the variety that this area of law offers,” says Elin, “our clients have such diverse circumstances and requirements that every document we draft is unique. I also enjoy the complexity of my work. I find trusts fascinating, particularly some of the older trusts that we come across which can be full of old-fashioned legalise. I enjoy spending time reviewing complex legal documents which need to be interpreted correctly to understand what powers the trustees have. Some of these older trusts don’t necessarily include all the powers that we would include today so we might have to find alternative ways to achieve our clients’ goals, such as appointing new trustees or making specific payments of capital or income to certain beneficiaries. There is a usually a way to work through any potential issues to get to the same end result.” 

 Elin explains that it has been a busy few months. In the run up to the budget (30 October 2024) and since then, many clients have been concerned about how the changes will affect them and the plans they have made. Whilst it is still to be seen exactly how the changes will be enacted in legislation, Elin and the rest of the team are helping to guide clients through the changes to achieve the future they want for them and their family. 

 “Trusts are not only a good option when it comes to wealth management and protection,” Elin states. “Another aspect of my work which I particularly enjoy is assisting more vulnerable people. This might be disabled children or those susceptible to financial abuse for whom a trust is required in order to ensure their continued needs can be met. I get an enormous sense of satisfaction in helping clients to protect their loved ones and being there to support them.”

Aside from her work with trusts, Elin also has a wealth of experience in assisting clients with making flexible and long-lasting Wills and Powers of Attorney that will continue to suit their everchanging future circumstances. Again, Elin particularly enjoys working with more vulnerable and older clients to help reassure them that their legal affairs are sufficiently robust.  

Outside of Kreston Reeves, Elin is a legal tutor, and she writes legal course manuals and marks exam papers for various professional bodies, including STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners).

Elin had been working as a self-employed locum for several years before joining Kreston Reeves and says: “I had been looking to move back into a firm and I wanted to join one that I knew and liked. After a short period as a locum with Kreston Reeves, I particularly like the firm’s values and its B-Corp status. There is a focus on values which are important to me such as supporting local charities and reducing the firm’s environmental footprint. The work is very interesting as well, with a lot of complex wealth planning involved. I also love that I work with great people, we have a really good team in legal services and I get to work closely with several other departments across the firm so that we can provide a seamless service to our clients.”

Outside of work Elin has lots of interests, including dancing and performing, but perhaps most surprisingly she is a huge darts fan. Elin has even been to New York to see the US Darts Masters and often dresses up with friends to watch matches here in the UK at Alexandra Palace.  

To learn more about how our dedicated Legal team can help you and your family, contact us today.