COMPANY PROFILE
Staple Inn Notaries and International Private Client Lawyers provides expert notarial and international private client advice to HNW and UHNW individuals, families and businesses, acting from Central London on UK and cross-border matters.
About Our Firm
Staple Inn Notaries is a trading name of Staple Inn Notary Public Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales (company registration number 15826869).
The company's registered address is 128 City Road,
London, EC1V 2NX.
Our Mission
Our mission is to deliver authoritative notarial and private client legal services from the heart of London, combining technical precision, discretion and international expertise to support clients and advisers on complex UK and cross-border matters.
Sheikh Najam MA (Taxation) TEP Notary Public (England and Wales)
Founder and Principal
Sheikh Najam MA (Taxation), TEP is a senior City of London lawyer and Notary Public (England and Wales), specialising in Notarial Law and International Private Client Law. He advises on Wills, trusts, probate, inheritance tax planning, Lasting Powers of Attorney and cross-border estate and succession planning, with a particular focus on high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, international families and family offices.
He holds a Master’s degree in Taxation (MA) from the University of London and is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). His combined expertise in taxation, trusts and private wealth law enables him to advise on complex UK and multi-jurisdictional matters with technical precision.
As a Notary Public (England and Wales), Sheikh Najam performs a public, quasi-judicial role and is a qualified specialist lawyer within the oldest branch of the legal profession. His responsibilities extend well beyond the authentication and certification of documents. In addition to verifying identity, authority, capacity and due execution, he is required to apply legal judgment, assess compliance with English law, and ensure that documents are legally effective, properly executed and suitable for their intended use in foreign jurisdictions.
English Notaries are authorised to provide general legal advice, particularly in cross-border matters, and regularly advise on international private client, business, property, succession and trust-related issues, often coordinating with overseas lawyers, authorities and institutions. Their role carries a high level of professional independence, responsibility and public trust, reflecting their function as public officers acting in the interests of legal certainty and international recognition.
He is a member of the Notaries’ Society of England and Wales, the Association of European Attorneys, and is regulated through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Why Clients Instruct Sheikh Najam
Clients instruct Sheikh Najam for his combination of senior legal expertise, specialist notarial authority, and international private client experience, delivered with discretion and precision.
As a senior City of London lawyer and Notary Public (England and Wales), he offers an integrated approach to notarial law, private wealth, and cross-border advisory work, enabling clients to address complex international matters through a single, trusted adviser.
His STEP qualification and Master’s degree in Taxation from the University of London underpin technically rigorous advice on Wills, trusts, probate, inheritance tax planning and succession, particularly for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families with assets or interests in multiple jurisdictions.
Clients value his ability to:
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Navigate complex cross-border legal and tax issues with clarity and strategic insight
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Combine legal judgment with quasi-judicial notarial authority, ensuring documents and structures are internationally effective
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Provide bespoke, commercially astute advice rather than generic solutions
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Act with absolute discretion, sensitivity and professionalism in private family matters
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Coordinate efficiently with overseas lawyers, tax advisers, banks and institutions
His practice is distinguished by technical precision, calm authority and an international outlook, with clients benefiting from advice that is both legally robust and practically effective, delivered from Central London for matters across England and Wales, Europe and worldwide.
Who We Act For
Sheikh Najam acts for a select and international client base, providing specialist advice where discretion, technical expertise and cross-border capability are essential.
His practice regularly advises:
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High-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, including internationally mobile clients and multi-jurisdictional households
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International families with UK and overseas assets requiring coordinated succession and estate planning
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Family offices and private wealth structures seeking trusted notarial and private client support
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Entrepreneurs and principals of privately held businesses, particularly where business interests intersect with personal wealth and succession planning
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Executors, trustees and beneficiaries involved in complex or high-value estates
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Overseas clients requiring English notarial, probate or private client advice for use in the UK or internationally
Clients typically instruct Sheikh Najam where matters involve cross-border estates, international documentation, sophisticated trust and tax considerations, or require the authority of an English Notary Public with private client expertise.
Solicitors, Accountants,
Financial Advisers, & Family Offices
Sheikh Najam works closely with UK and international lawyers, accountants, financial advisers and family offices, providing specialist notarial and private client support on complex matters with a UK or cross-border dimension.
He is frequently instructed by professional referrers to:
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Act as English Notary Public on international transactions and documentation
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Advise on UK Wills, trusts, probate and inheritance tax planning for international clients
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Support cross-border estate and succession planning involving multiple jurisdictions
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Assist with capacity, execution and formal validity issues under English law
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Coordinate with overseas counsel to ensure documents and structures are effective internationally
Referrers value his ability to provide technically precise, discreet and responsive advice, integrating seamlessly with existing advisory teams and preserving primary client relationships.
How We Work With Advisers
Sheikh Najam works collaboratively with lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, fiduciaries and family offices in the UK and internationally, providing specialist support where English notarial authority or private client expertise is required.
Our role is to complement, not replace, existing advisory relationships. We integrate seamlessly into established teams, offering focused advice on notarial, private client and cross-border aspects while respecting the strategic direction set by lead advisers.
We are accustomed to working within multi-disciplinary structures and regularly coordinate with overseas counsel and professional advisers to ensure that matters are handled efficiently, discreetly and with technical precision. Communication is clear, timely and proportionate, with advisers kept appropriately informed throughout.
Where appropriate, we can act solely as notary, or provide stand-alone private client advice on defined issues such as English law validity, execution, succession, trusts or inheritance tax, ensuring clarity of scope and responsibility at all times.
Referrals Policy Statement
Staple Inn Notaries welcomes referrals from law firms, accountancy practices, tax advisers, fiduciaries and family offices seeking specialist notarial or international private client support.
All referred matters are handled with the highest standards of professionalism, confidentiality and independence. We act strictly within the scope agreed with the referring adviser and the client, and we do not seek to displace or duplicate the role of the primary adviser unless expressly instructed to do so.
Referrals are acknowledged promptly, and progress is managed transparently. We are happy to work under joint instructions, provide supporting opinions, or act in a limited advisory or notarial capacity, depending on the needs of the matter.
Any referral arrangements are conducted in compliance with applicable professional and regulatory obligations, and we do not pay or receive referral fees unless permitted and expressly agreed in writing.
Our objective is to deliver technically rigorous, discreet and reliable support, enhancing outcomes for clients while strengthening long-term professional relationships.
Areas of Expertise
Notarial Law
International notarial services including document authentication, certification, and legalisation for global use.
Business Law
Comprehensive legal advice for businesses including corporate structuring, contracts, and compliance matters.
Corporate Law
Expert guidance on company formation, tax registration, corporate governance, corporate taxation, intellectual property, insolvency, corporate disputes, and other corporate legal matters.
Private Client Legal Services
Wills, trusts, probate, tax planning, and powers of attorney tailored to individual needs.
Economic Crime
Specialised advice on money laundering, tax evasion, fraud, insider dealing, and embezzlement cases.
Dispute Resolution
Litigation, arbitration, adjudication, mediation, and negotiation services for various legal disputes.
Education & Qualifications
BA (Hons) Law and Practice
Coventry University, England
Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC)
Staffordshire University, England
MA in Tax Law
Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS), University of London
STEP Professional Postgaduate Diploma
in Private Wealth Advice STEP PPgD (PWA)
CLTI / University of Oxford
Postgraduate Diploma in Notarial Practice
University College London (UCL)
Professional Admissions
The Notaries' Society
of England and Wales
Full/Qualified Member of The Notaries' Society of England and Wales
STEP
TEP Member of the Society of
Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
The Faculty Office
Regulated through the Court of Faculties, The Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury
European Attorney
Qualified to practice as a
European Attorney, and International Lawyer
Sheikh Najam's Accreditations
