Charlotte Macalister

Why did you choose the law?

I studied law at A Level at King Henry VIII School and I remember coming to this firm to do some work experience at the tender age of 17. This cemented my ambition to become a Solicitor.

Tell us a bit about how you got here…

I joined the firm in 2011 to commence a training contract and qualified as a Solicitor in the Wills, Trusts and Probate Team in 2013 and have been here ever since!

I obtained my law degree from Oxford Brookes University and completed my Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies at The College of Law in Birmingham, gaining a Distinction.

Since then, I have continued to work at Band Hatton Button and was delighted to be named Lawyer of the Year at the annual Warwickshire Law Society Awards in 2023.

What does your day job look like?

I consider myself to be very lucky in my role – every day I get to meet interesting people, from someone who runs their own business, right through to someone who has retired and needs help with their estate planning. My role is to understand their aims and wishes and assist them to get their affairs into good order.

My areas of expertise include Will Drafting (from straight forward to complex Wills incorporating Asset Protection Trusts), Inheritance Tax planning, the formation and administration of Trusts, Probate and Estate Administration, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection applications (such as Deputyship and Trustee applications).

I am committed to helping and supporting our clients through what can often be a difficult time by providing clear advice in plain English to assist their understanding of complex matters.

I am a fully qualified member of the highly regarded Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). STEP is the leading worldwide professional association for practitioners dealing with family inheritance and succession planning. I am one of a small number of members based in Coventry.

I am also a fully qualified and accredited member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) .  SFE is an independent organisation that provides specialist legal advice for older and vulnerable people, their families and carers.

In 2016 I became a Dementia Friend. The Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme enables people to understand the condition and it changes the perception people have on dementia. The initiative makes a difference to someone with dementia as it provides others with an insight into how it may affect them.

In 2013, I won the ‘Warwickshire Young Lawyer of the Year’ award at the Warwickshire Law Society’s annual awards and in 2014, I was shortlisted in the finals of the Coventry & Warwickshire First’s ‘Young Professional of the Year’.

What Do You Like to Do Outside of Work?

My free time is spent with family and friends.  I enjoy going to the theatre, shopping, gym classes and popping out for afternoon tea.  I love going on holiday and my favourite trip so far was to Dubai, the highlight of which was the Jeep Safari Tour.