Mikhala Leak
Partner & Head of Private Client
Wills, Probate & Lifetime Planning
Mikhala is a Partner and the head of the firm’s Private Client department. She completed her law degree at Lancaster University and undertook the Legal Practice Course at City University London. She began her training contract with Woodfines in 2009 and qualified as a solicitor in September 2011. She is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and was recognised in the 2023 edition of the Legal 500.
Mikhala undertakes all areas of Private Client work with a particular interest in estate and succession planning. She often works in conjunction with Tax Advisers, Accountants and Financial Advisers to ensure her clients’ needs are fully covered. Mikhala drafts complex Wills to achieve the desired succession of assets in the most tax efficient and appropriate way for her clients. She can advise on the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of trusts available for both estate planning and safeguarding of assets for the vulnerable and disabled. Mikhala acts as a professional trustee in relation to trusts set up in Wills or during a settlor’s (the person creating the trust) lifetime.
Mikhala is regularly appointed as a professional attorney under Lasting Powers of Attorney and more recently as a professional deputy by the Court of Protection. This involves having regard to the Mental Capacity Act and Code of Practice together with other relevant legislation to effectively manage an individual’s affairs.
As well as the above, Mikhala also acts as a professional executor to administer estates. The estates are varied in terms of assets and complexity but have often involve those with a business or farming interests.
Mikhala undertakes all areas of Private Client work with a particular interest in estate and succession planning. She often works in conjunction with Tax Advisers, Accountants and Financial Advisers to ensure her clients’ needs are fully covered. Mikhala drafts complex Wills to achieve the desired succession of assets in the most tax efficient and appropriate way for her clients. She can advise on the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of trusts available for both estate planning and safeguarding of assets for the vulnerable and disabled. Mikhala acts as a professional trustee in relation to trusts set up in Wills or during a settlor’s (the person creating the trust) lifetime.
Mikhala is regularly appointed as a professional attorney under Lasting Powers of Attorney and more recently as a professional deputy by the Court of Protection. This involves having regard to the Mental Capacity Act and Code of Practice together with other relevant legislation to effectively manage an individual’s affairs.
As well as the above, Mikhala also acts as a professional executor to administer estates. The estates are varied in terms of assets and complexity but have often involve those with a business or farming interests.
More about Mikhala…
What’s the most daring/scariest thing you have done?
When on a safari in South Africa, a female Rhino charged at our safari jeep to protect its baby. Our tour guide seemed un-phased by this and it was lovely to see the baby Rhino, but scary none the less!
What was your first job?
I was a helper on a Sunday in a hairdressing salon. I swept and washed hair, made drinks and sorted out the products on the shelves.
Tell us something that not many people would know about you?
I absolutely love spring cleaning, but in all seasons!
If you weren’t a lawyer or in your current profession, what would you be doing?
Probably something to do with animals, which I love, perhaps a zoologist?
