RollOnFriday reports that a spokesperson for Taylor Wessing said the firm asked all of its private client lawyers to ‘give some thought to holiday planning in the first quarter of 2017,’ though according to a source the firm has ‘the same policy’ as Macfarlanes.

New rules for non-doms

The ban is a consequence of new tax rules for non-domiciles that come into force next April, with firms with private client practices anticipating a ‘spike of work,’ according to the TW spokesperson.

‘Exceptional client demand’

Macfarlanes has prohibited lawyers in its private client practice, which advises the well-heeled on ‘tax, philanthropy or the orderly transfer of your wealth to the next generation,’ from going on holiday for the first three months of next year. A spokesperson for the firm said it is ‘going to be an unusually busy time for private client practices across the city,’ and that, ‘in recognising this period of exceptional client demand we are introducing a policy which asks that our people regulate their holiday between January and April in order that we can best serve our clients.’  

However, she said the curfew extended to lawyers ‘at all levels’ and that ‘any leave booked prior to the announcement internally is being honoured.’