Sophie Hearle

Senior Associate

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Sophie is a Senior Associate in the French Legal Services department and advises on English and French estate planning, cross-border tax issues including inheritance tax, capital gains tax and French wealth tax, English and French Wills, English and French probate/estate administration, French wealth tax declarations, French reporting obligations for trusts and cross-border capacity issues, including Lasting Powers of Attorney. Sophie studied English law and French law at the University of Leeds and Université Jean Moulin, Lyon III. She completed the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School (Holborn), achieving a Distinction. Sophie is a qualified member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and holds the STEP Advanced Certificate in Cross-Border Estates. Sophie is a member and former President of Jurismus: a leading network of young European lawyers employed in one of the 650 Eurojuris law firms. She is also a member of the Franco-British Lawyers Society. Outside of work, Sophie enjoys spending time with her young children and visiting family and friends abroad.

  • Regulated by: The Solicitors Regulation Authority

  • Regulator ID: 601513

  • Based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
  • Licensed for 9 years

Accepting new clients via ReviewSolicitors

Sophie is a Senior Associate in the French Legal Services department and advises on English and French estate planning, cross-border tax issues including inheritance tax, capital gains tax and French wealth tax, English and French Wills, English and French probate/estate administration, French wealth tax declarations, French reporting obligations for trusts and cross-border capacity issues, including Lasting Powers of Attorney. Sophie studied English law and French law at the University of Leeds and Université Jean Moulin, Lyon III. She completed the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School (Holborn), achieving a Distinction. Sophie is a qualified member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and holds the STEP Advanced Certificate in Cross-Border Estates. Sophie is a member and former President of Jurismus: a leading network of young European lawyers employed in one of the 650 Eurojuris law firms. She is also a member of the Franco-British Lawyers Society. Outside of work, Sophie enjoys spending time with her young children and visiting family and friends abroad.

  • Regulated by: The Solicitors Regulation Authority

  • Regulator ID: 601513

  • Based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
  • Licensed for 9 years

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Sophie Hearle

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5.0
Excellent
94%
Value for
Money
95%+
Success
Rate
95%+
Would
Recommend
Communication 5.0/5
Initial Impressions 5.0/5
Approachability 5.0/5
Documentation Accuracy 5.0/5
Legal Knowledge 5.0/5
Value for money 4.7/5
Expertise

Experience

  • Ashtons Legal LLP

    Solicitor

    2014 - Present 12 years and 5 months

Languages spoken

  • English
  • French

Opening hours

Monday 08:30–17:30
Tuesday 08:30–17:30
Wednesday 08:30–17:30
Thursday 08:30–17:30
Friday 08:30–17:30
Saturday (Closed)
Sunday (Closed)

The Long Barn, Fornham Business Court, Fornham St Martin, Suffolk, IP31 1SL

Reviews

5.0 /5 17 Reviews
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Andrew

Wills, Trusts & Probate

First Class Service

I received first class service from Sophie Hearle of Ashtons Legal dealing with the estate of my late father both here in the UK and in France. Sophie handled everything professionally and pragmatically with an human touch that was much appreciated in the difficult days that follow a bereavement. I would recommend her services and those of the whole Ashtons team very highly.

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Thank you for your review. We appreciate the positive feedback you have given us and look forward to working with you in the future.

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Dennis

Very friendly, helpful and thorough. 100% recommended.

We were advised that there would be a wait for all the advice we needed about our French and British wills and tax. It was worth it as it saved us £000's. Sophie's advice written, by phone and Zoom was thorough, clear and with a friendly and professional manner throughout , It was far more helpful and accurate than that of a different solicitor's firm and 2 professional financial advisers, here and in France. As retired lawyers, but not in these fields, we would fully recommend Sophie and her colleagues to anyone else. Selena and Dennis.

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Thank you very much for the 5* feedback!

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michaela

Wills, Trusts & Probate

Totally pro while remaining sensitive and humaine.

I must above all say a huge thank you to Sophie Hearle who without her help and hard work, our complicated situation concerning the last will and testament of my late father, the result would have been catastrophic for my mother. Sophie was more than efficient and professional, she was caring, diplomatic and extremely senative in dealing with a stressful and painful situation. I can thoroughly recommend Sophie and her legal team to anyone needing help with French/ English law. Sophie has enabled my mother to have a positive ending to a sad occasion and I will greatly miss speaking to such a lovely person . Thanks again Sophie .

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Thank you for your 5* feedback! We are proud to provide you with excellent service.

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D

Wills, Trusts & Probate

UK Probate for French resident

After the death of my husband, Sophie Hearle and Ashtons Legal helped me with obtaining Grant of Probate from UK. She clearly explained the whole process and kept me informed of progress throughout. She is very knowledgeable in both French and UK law.

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Thank you for your review. We appreciate the positive feedback you have given us and look forward to working with you in the future.

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Jake

UK Grant of Probate for French resident

Our solicitor Sophie Hearle obtained a Grant of Probate so that our family could claim assets held in the UK by my late father, a French resident of many years. She was knowledgeable and personable, and patiently explained each step to us. There were several hurdles to jump, but Sophie's understanding of both the British and French systems for tax and inheritance saw us through and got us the Grant of Probate. I would not hesitate to recommend Sophie to anyone who needs legal advice or representation in similar matters, and Ashtons will certainly be my first port of call in dealing with any further cross-border legal matters.

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Other Reviews

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ES

A client

A five star service from a five star organisation. Sophie Hearle and her team were absolutely first class in helping me to deal with my parents estate in France and the UK. A kind, calm, thoughtful and excellent communicator Sophie was faultlessly professional and executed her duties with aplomb and rigour. Thank you.

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A representative from Ashtons Legal LLP responded to this review

Many thanks for the glowing feedback and five star review - both of which will be shared with Sophie and her team.

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