About Us



Baker Stirling Legal Services Ltd. / Wills & Estate Planning, Powers of Attorney, Probate Services & In-House Legal Services

Baker Stirling is a niche private client law firm founded by James Baker. We pride ourselves in offering our clients a unique personal service and a depth of expertise that will help guide them through some of life’s most important decisions.

Our clients are from all over the world and from all sectors of industry. We understand that an individual's personal wealth goals often go hand in hand with their commercial objectives, which is why we like to take a rounded approach to the legal needs of our clients.

Our key areas of expertise include:

Wills Trusts & Estate Planning
Probate & Estate Administration
US/UK Advice
Media, Entertainment & Sport


In 2024, Baker Stirling expanded its international network after our Managing Partner, James Baker, was appointed Of Counsel to US law firm Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP





James Baker, Managing Director

Baker Stirling Legal Services Ltd. / Wills & Estate Planning, Powers of Attorney, Probate Services & In-House Legal Services

James is the Managing Partner and founder of Baker Stirling. His practice focuses on advising high net worth clients on the complex issues of lifetime and succession planning as well as trust and estate administration. James is dual qualified as a lawyer in England & Wales and also in the United States where he is licensed as an attorney with the State Bar of California. He represents clients with personal and financial interests in the US as well as the UK, and through his affiliated practice in the US he is able to provide integrated advice on the complex cross-border matters facing such individuals.

James excels in navigating his clients through the unique challenges that they face, providing legal and professional support for all of their lifetime and succession planning needs. His key areas of expertise include:

• advising on creating and administering international trusts and wealth management structures;

• advising on international probate work, representing executors, trustees and beneficiaries on the administration of estates across multiple jurisdictions, with a particular focus on US nationals who owned assets in the UK and UK nationals who owned assets in the US; and

• drafting wills, powers of attorney and related estate planning instruments

Prior to founding Baker Stirling, James trained and qualified at London’s leading private client firm, Charles Russell, where he gained valuable experience advising clients on complex trusts and estates matters. James has also worked in the production team for the UK’s flagship independent television news broadcaster, ITV News, and for the Universal Pictures feature film “Robin Hood”. He is a trusted advisor to his clients who include high-profile actors, musicians and sportspeople in both the UK and US. James is a full member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).


Licenses & Certifications

Solicitors Regulation Authority

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The State Bar of California

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American Bar Association

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The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)

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