Steven Appleton

Partner

0161 836 8949
07342 998 098
steven.appleton@brabners.com

Steven is a Partner and the head of our Manchester private client team.

His clients include individuals, trusts and business owners, for whom he advises on all aspects of private client law with a particular focus on advising business owners and family business owners on their estate planning and the creation of multi-generation succession strategies.

Steven is recognised as a Leading Partner in The Legal 500 2025 for personal tax, trusts and probate, which describes his expertise in personal estate planning as being "second to none".

A member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Steven is also former chair of Manchester Law Society’s Private Client Committee.

Regarded as a highly technical lawyer with excellent client care skills and an ability to explain complex concepts in an understandable way, Steven specialises in advising those concerned with the responsible stewardship of wealth and philanthropic tendencies. He’s often appointed to act as the independent administrator of complex estates where the existing executors or administrators are unable to work together.

Steven’s genuine love for what he does is evident to all the clients he works with — as is his ability to find creative solutions to complex and longstanding problems. His relaxed, calming manner and down to earth approach enable him to communicate well with anyone.

After qualifying in 2006, Steven spent nearly ten years in Yorkshire, working at firms in Bradford and Leeds before moving to Manchester in 2014 to take up his first role as partner. He joined us in May 2017, thanks to our reputation as a great place to work and the quality of our clients.

Steven leads a colleague-led board designed to develop and implement our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy. He also sits on our Social Impact Leadership Team which oversees our work around DEI, sustainability and community engagement.

An obsessed boulderer, he climbs three to four times each week and is a regular sea swimmer — even in the coldest winter months.