Elaine Lightfoot
Partner
Elaine graduated with an Honours degree in Geography from Liverpool University and then moved to Leeds to obtain her legal qualifications.
Elaine worked for a major Leeds law firm for eleven years, completed her training contract with them and remained with the practice following qualification, working exclusively in their Private Client Department.
Elaine's areas of expertise include Wills, Trusts, Settlements, Inheritance Tax Planning, the Administration of Estates and Trusts of all sizes and complexities, together with Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection matters. Elaine also handles work for a number of clients in Agriculture and Rural Affairs, guiding them on the protection of their wealth and the successful handing on of it to future generations. She is also active in the Charities field, advising a number of charities on their formation and operation. Elaine also advises in respect of care home fees planning.
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What People Say about Elaine...
"Clients choose this firm because of its 'all-round knowledge' and observe 'they can help with whatever I need.'" Chambers UK - Charities
"McCormicks advises wealthy clients on complex and technical tax planning matters and has seen a growth in referrals from clients across the business community. The firm also handles special trust and probate litigation." Legal 500
"Providing a 'good service, and appropriate guidance and advice' McCormicks continues to advise well-known organisations such as The Football Foundation and the Prince's Trust." Legal 500 - Charities
“This full service firm has a growing presence in the region for its estate work. Clients say ‘A small enough unit that it provides a really personal service, which is not dissipated as it goes down the line.’” Chambers UK - Agriculture and Rural Affairs
“This Harrogate firm has established an enviable reputation in estate management and rural property transactions. A particular specialism is the diversification of estate lands for commercial, development and sporting uses, including advising on niche shooting rights. It also acts for Estate Trustees and farming families on complex tax, trust and succession matters.” Chambers UK - Agriculture and Estates
“McCormicks provides commercial advice to trusts, landowners and estates. The ‘excellent’ team is ‘very efficient’. It includes a number of ‘sound’ and ‘reliable’ commercial property and private client lawyers.” UK Legal 500 - Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Estates
“Landed estate owners and successful business people regard McCormicks as a go-to group. The group is praised for its ‘all-round efficiency.’" Chambers UK
“Providing ‘a good service and appropriate guidance and advice.’” UK Legal 500 - Charities
“Sources say ‘They are so helpful and explain matters in clear layman’s terms.’ Peter McCormick has an ‘impressively commercial overview of the sector.’” Chambers UK - Charities
“The ‘first class’, ‘astute, commercial and efficient’ team at McCormicks provides a full range of services to charities and not-for-profit organisations nationally. Department Head, Peter McCormick, is ‘excellent’ and ‘provides wonderful support.’” UK Legal 500 - Charities
“This Harrogate-based firm advises clients on the full spectrum of charities law, including tax, brand management, property, employment and the establishment of new charities. Clients say: ‘They respond quickly and always explain things in an easy-to-understand language.’” Chambers UK - Charities
“Clients are fulsome in their praise and appreciate that the firm understands the sector and takes the time to understand its clients: ‘They are always quick to respond to all forms of communication and give good and sound advice on all matters.’” Chambers UK - Charities
“At McCormicks, property specialist Heather Roberts and head of private client Elaine Lightfoot advise on the development of revenue streams, shooting agreements and leases, succession planning and other property-related issues. Peter McCormick leads the team.” - Legal 500
“Peter McCormick leads McCormicks’ growing portfolio of contentious work, for clients such as Strutt Family Trusts.” - Legal 500
“McCormicks’ ‘brilliant’ practice has an emphasis on tax planning, and is led by associate Elaine Lightfoot.” - Legal 500
"Elaine Lightfoot's practice runs the gamut of private client work. Clients say: 'She gives you a precise and very definite resume of how she sees the problem and how to get round it.'" - Chambers UK - Private Client
"Thank you so much to Elaine for helping me get through it all - I could not have done it without her guidance, help and most of all her caring attitude." - Private Client
"I felt I had to write a few words in praise of Elaine. Following the death of my father we were lucky enough to be led through the probate procedure by Elaine who always kept us up to date with what was happening at every stage and replying to emails very swiftly. Elaine took the stress out of the whole thing from start to finish and on behalf of my family I would like to thank your company for having such a delightful solicitor working for you and we would not hesitate in recommending her to anyone." - Private Client
"Elaine is wonderful with a depth of experience and will advise you on the best options for your position." - Leading Yorkshire Financial Adviser
"Maintains a broad private client practice with a focus on estate planning administration. Offers additional expertise in trust creation and management as well as acting for clients with reduced mental capacity. Elaine Lightfoot is a key contact." - Chambers UK - Private Client
“McCormicks is ‘an excellent firm that punches well above its weight’ and its agriculture and estates team attracts praise for being ‘pleasant to deal with and willing to consider fee structures to suit its clients’ needs’. Peter McCormick heads the practice and is singled out for his charity expertise; he regularly acts on agricultural law matters for charities including the Royal Horticultural Society, which recently instructed the firm on its acquisition of land and buildings for the development of its northern garden. Other key figures include newly promoted partners Heather Roberts, who advises the firm’s agricultural clients on property issues; Elaine Lightfoot, whose clients include the estate of the late John Strutt and its associated charities and trusts; Philip Edmondson, who handles a variety of litigation for the firm’s estates clients.” - Legal 500
“In keeping with the firm’s outstanding reputation in the sports field, McCormicks acts for a number of sporting charities; managing partner Peter McCormick is a trustee of the Football Foundation, the country’s largest sporting charity. In addition to its market-leading reputation in the sports field, the firm acts for charities in a variety of other fields, with longstanding clients including Harrogate International Festivals, which the firm recently advised on a range of employment matters as well as on the drafting of a sponsorship agreement for a literary festival. The firm also acts for the War Memorials Trust, which it is assisting with the redrafting of the client’s governing document in line with an expansion of work into Scotland. Other key figures include private client head Elaine Lightfoot and Heather Roberts, whose clients include the John Strutt Memorial Fund.” - Legal 500
“McCormicks is particularly well regarded for providing assistance to executors, trustees and beneficiaries of sizeable family estates and trusts. Litigation head Philip Edmondson handles a variety of contentious probate matters, including TLATA claims and claims to overturn wills on the grounds of capacity and duress, and private client head Elaine Lightfoot regularly handles cases involving testamentary capacity, joint ownership issues and disputes between executors and trustees.” - Legal 500
“Elaine Lightfoot heads up the team at McCormicks, which focuses on estate planning and administration as well as Court of Protection applications, regularly advising trustees and settlors. The practice’s expertise also encompasses advising trustees on fiduciary duties and the rights of beneficiaries, advising deputies on their duties surrounding the Mental Capacity Act, care home fee planning and lasting powers of attorney. Other key team members include Philip Edmondson, who primarily handles contentious probate mandates, and Heather Roberts, who is recommended for estate issues. Lightfoot, Edmondson and Roberts were all promoted to the partnership in 2016.” - Legal 500
“Elaine Lightfoot handles a range of matters, such as estate administration, tax planning, trusts, wills, Court of Protection and estate disputes. A client appreciates the fact that she is 'always very quick to respond and will try her utmost to help with any issue.' Another interviewee comments: 'Elaine Lightfoot puts clients at ease, she has exceptional people skills, she's reliable and knowledgeable.'” - Chambers UK - HNW Guide
“May I take this opportunity to say thank you Elaine for all that you have done for us over the last 18 months or so. Your absolute professionalism with a personal level of service has made a difficult responsibility for me far easier to bear. I am very grateful for your clarity of advice, clear communication and efficiency throughout the process. I would have no hesitation in recommending you to others.” - Private Client