Leveraging support from the firm’s London office, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP is led by Guildford-based Duncan Elson, a reputed practitioner who frequently acts as an independent administrator, professional executor, and trustee in contentious estate matters. Oliver Auld splits his time between Guildford and London and is particularly proficient in challenging wills through the Inheritance Act. Rebecca Piper and Edward Birell are also based in Guildford, the former is a seasoned court of protection litigator, whereas the latter is knowledgeable of asset tracking and freezing injunctions.

Often working in conjunction with the firm’s non-contentious private client department, Cripps helms contentious trust and probate mandates for domestic and international high net worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and family businesses. ‘Top quality partner’  Philip Youdan leads the team, while the ‘outstanding’  Myles McIntosh oversees the firm’s private client practice. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Tunbridge Wells.

A ‘first-rate regional firm’ , Freeths LLP advises beneficiaries, executors, and trustees with challenging wills, family trusts and matters falling under the Inheritance Act. Head of the team, Sarah Foster, has a broad practice which encompasses claims against estates for financial provisions and the removal of executors and trustees. Sally Goodger is an ‘accomplished operator’ who often advises private clients acting as attorneys, deputies in addition to independent administrators. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Oxford.

Irwin Mitchell assists clients with an array of contentious matters including professional negligence claims pertaining to defective trust instruments and wills. Paula James in Chichester is adept in trust and probate disputes with a multijurisdictional element, while Candy Stockton handles the day-to-day affairs of the teams newly founded Gatwick office. Samantha Ewing and Stephen Ireland are based in Chichester, the former often handles matters under the under the Inheritance Act, while the latter has been described as ‘highly knowledgeable.’

Moore Barlow often acts for high-net worth clients with assets both in the UK and abroad. The team is led by ‘the first-class solicitor’  Scott Taylor who is often engaged in contentious matters involving claims of lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, in addition to want of knowledge and approval. Lisa Green is also noted for her experience in high court litigation and mediation, she also caters to applications for the removal of executors and trustees. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Guildford.

Rothley Law (formerly Shoosmiths LLP) is adept in the full spectrum of contentious private wealth, trust, and estate matters. The team is overseen by Mandeep Chima who advises claimants, defendants, and executors on proprietary estoppel claims in addition to the removal of executors. All named individuals are located in the Thames Valley.

Stevens & Bolton LLP is led by James Lister who helms domestic and international trust, estate and succession matters, while Hayley Robinson routinely advises private clients on their role as executors, trustees, and beneficiaries. The department has recently also been recently bolstered by the arrival of Ellie Sullivan from Thomson Snell & Passmore in March 2023. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Guildford.

The contentious trusts and probate team at B P Collins LLP is geared to handle the administration of trusts, the interpretation and validity of testamentary documents, as well as the removal of personal representatives. The ‘outstanding’  Craig Williams leads the team, while head of the dispute resolution practice Matthew Brandis is thoroughly experienced in contentious commercial matters. Imogen Pike is a newly qualified practitioner who has been described as a ‘great addition to the team.’  All named individuals are located in Thames Valley.

Home to an ‘experienced and knowledgeable set of individuals’, Birkett Long LLP is led by the ‘complete private client litigation solicitor’ Amanda Smallcombe. The practice head assists clients with beneficial entitlement in property issues and is supported by student member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists, Lisa Cox. Kay Baker is a new arrival to the team, and joined from Gotelee LLP in April 2022. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Colchester.

Recently merging with Batchelors Solicitors, Birketts LLP is co-led by Daden Hunt in Chelmsford alongside the ‘exceptional litigator’  Bernadette Baker. Jenny Howe is also based in Chelmsford and works in conjunction with the firm’s private client and court of protection teams to assist clients with succession planning. Rachel Leech and Marie McMahon are both members of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Norwich, unless stated otherwise.

With a ‘burgeoning reputation’, Blake Morgan LLP is led by ‘exceptional solicitor’  Thomas Middlehurst who splits his time between Oxford and the Thames Valley. He is also often engaged in contentious matters pertaining to executors and trustees, the Inheritance Act as well as trusts of land and property ownership. Abbie Coleman in Oxford has been described as ‘excellent.’

Able to draw upon the support of the firm’s non-contentious private client department, Brachers handles a range of disputes including breach of trusts in addition to trust of land claims. The ‘extremely pragmatic and professional’ Deborah Cain leads the team and is supported by Jennifer Alderman who is particularly adept in claims for financial provision under the Inheritance Act. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Maidstone.

Field Seymour Parkes LLP helms the full array of private wealth issues including breach of fiduciary duty claims, claims under the Inheritance Act, and disputes concerning executors and trustees. The ‘talented and tenacious’ Katharine Riley leads the team and is often engaged in contested Court of Protection matters. Rob Crowther assists clients with capital gains, inheritance and stamp duty land tax pertaining to the settlements of probate claims, with Sarah Sharpin noted for her expertise in alternative dispute resolution. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Reading.

The contentious trust and probate team at Gardner Leader LLP is led by Alastair Goggins, whose broad workload features activity before the Court of Protection, in the removal of executors, and settlement disputes. Goggins is supported by Ashleigh Wong who leverages her background experience in residential property. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Newbury.

Nockolds Solicitors has recently been bolstered by the arrival of senior associate Michael Henry who joined the team from Debenhams Ottaway in January 2023. The team is headed up by Daniel Winter who is a member of the Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists. Gemma Dudmish assists clients with inheritance disputes and the removal and replacement of executors, while Andrew Jenkins is noted for his expertise of Court of Protection matters. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Hertfordshire.

Thomson Snell & Passmore is a ‘well-established’  team which caters to disputes concerning agricultural landed estates, executors, and trustees. Nicholas Horton leads the team from Kent and his key strengths lie in professional negligence disputes surrounding estate and trust administration, property transactions and tax planning advice. Nasima Ansary in Tunbridge Wells is seasoned in alternative dispute resolution and advises clients on proprietary estoppel claims and trust disputes between co-owners of a property. Lawrence Hiller-Wood is also based in Tunbridge Wells and is knowledgeable of the Inheritance Act.

The will and trusts disputes team at BDB Pitmans is well-placed to advise high net worth individuals, trustees, executors, and charities. Lucinda Brown heads the team and splits her team between Cambridge and London, and is proficient in breach of trust claims, proprietary estoppel claims and Court of Protection issues. The practice head is supported by Southampton-based Claire Collings who has over a decade of experience in contentious matters.

Drawing upon the expertise of the firm’s private client department, the contentious probate team at IBB Law is geared to advise clients in their roles as independent executors or administrators. The practice is co-led by Paul Grimwood in Uxbridge who is adept in rectification mandates, while Amanda Melton in Chesham handles breach of trust issues, the removal of executors and trustees and claims under the Inheritance Act.

Neale Turk LLP is regularly engaged by high-net-worth individuals and estate managers for its capabilities in high-value contentious matters. Practice head Charlotte Searle – who works between Fleet and Basingstoke – is well regarded for her capabilities across the private client space, including in Court of Protection matters and validity of will challenges. Dispute resolution head Andrew Green is also recommended. New additions to the team include Shelley McPherson, who joined the practice from Wills Chandler Beach in July 2022. All named lawyers are based in Fleet.

SE-Solicitors ‘offers extremely high quality contentious and non-contentious private client advice’, and is geared to handle Inheritance Act claims, proprietary estoppel, and trust disputes. Tom McInerney in Banbury leads the team and has notable strength in the administration of estates, personal taxation and power of attorney issues.

Taylor Rose MW acts on all types of contested private client matters, including contested Court of Protection work such as statutory wills and contested deputyships. Wendy Rixon in Worthing is especially knowledgeable claims under the Inheritance Act, while Sharon Macaulay in Peterborough has been described as an ‘excellent contentious trusts and probate solicitor’. Sharon Bell departed for Birketts LLP in August 2023.

Recently bolstered by Amelia Ayers‘ qualification, Tees Law has recently been engaged in challenges to the validity of wills, as well as claims for reasonable provision from an estate. The team is led by the ‘highly efficient and meticulous’  Caroline Metcalf who works out of Bishop’s Stortford and is a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists.

Blandy & Blandy LLP often handles high-value estates such as crypto assets, properties, and trusts, and is led by the Reading-based David Murray - noted for his capabilities across commercial litigation and insolvency proceedings.

Blaser Mills Law‘s caseload features actitivity in disputes over co-ownership of property and Inheritance Act claims, in addition to professional negligence issues concerning solicitors and will writers. Alka Kharbanda heads the team and often assists clients with freezing injunctions, while Charlotte Flynn is a name to note, having qualified in December 2022. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in High Wycombe.

The contentious trusts and probate department at Debenhams Ottaway is led by St Albans-based Michael Henry; heis particularly well-versed in matters concerning the Court of Protection, executors, trusts, and beneficiaries, in addition to professional negligence in will writing.

DMH Stallard LLP‘s multidisciplinary team assists charities, mid and high net worth individuals and professional executors with Inheritance Act Claims, trust disputes, and will validity claims. Jenny Ray in Brighton has a background in personal injury and clinical negligence and leads the team; he joined the practice in April 2022 as a result of a merger with Griffith Smith LLP. Lucienne Westbrook and Cathryn Culverhouse are based in Guildford, the former acts as a court appointed independent executor, while the latter has been described as ‘tenacious.’

With expertise in both contentious and non-contentious trusts and probate mandates, Duncan Lewis Solicitors is often involved in estate distribution, proprietary estoppel, and property transfers. Head of the team Caroline Roche splits her time between Harrow, Middlesex & London, and caters to claims under the Inheritance Act, challenges on a will due to lack of capacity, as well as powers of attorney work.

Giles Wilson Law Limited is led by the ‘highly effective’  Philip Giles who sits as a Deputy District Judge. Melinda Giles oversees the non-contentious private client group and is particularly adept in assisting vulnerable adults in matters relating to financial abuse or lack of capacity. The department has recently been bolstered by Zoe Antill‘s qualification as a solicitor who originally joined the team as a paralegal.  All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Leigh on Sea.

 

Herrington Carmichael LLP is led by Charlotte Woods who has over a decade of experience in insolvent estates, LPAs, wills, and trusts. The team head is supported by Sophie Spencer, while Frankie Tierney  has ‘an excellent understanding of dealing with dispute resolution services‘. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Camberley.

Machins Solicitors LLP is particularly seasoned in contentious probate disputes before the Court of Appeal and County Courts, Family Courts as well as the High Court. Head of the team Neil O’Callaghan is proficient in insolvency work, while Benedict Smith’s workload features activity in challenges to wills, the Inheritance Act in addition to trust disputes. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Luton.

Pinney Talfourd LLP assists attorneys, beneficiaries, executors, and trustees with breaches of fiduciary duties in addition to Inheritance Act claims. Head of the team, Catherine Loadman , has a broad contentious probate practice and is supported by the ‘excellent’  Kerry Hull. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Brentwood.

Rix & Kay Solicitors LLP works in conjunction with the firm’s corporate lawyers to advise business directors and owners with assets and personal wealth. The ‘skilful litigator’ Alistair Rustemeyer leads the team from Brighton and is a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists.

Regularly advising high net worth individuals with media backgrounds, The Burnside Partnership thrives in Inheritance Act and proprietary estoppel claims, in addition to will disputes. With over two decades of experience, Tara McInnes leads the team from Oxford and has been described as an ‘excellent lawyer’ who advises charities, not for profit organisations and trustees.

With thorough expertise in tax and trusts, Whitehead Monckton’s contentious trusts and probate team sits within the firm’s dispute resolution group. Christopher Longden leads the team and his caseload features activity in business, private client and property litigation, and is supported by the ‘ultra efficient’ Samuel Corse. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Maidstone.

Winckworth Sherwood LLP frequently assists entrepreneurs, executorships, families, and high-net-worth individuals who are acting on behalf of incapacitated individuals. Philip Collins leads the team and is particularly proficient in claims against estates brought under the Inheritance Act, while Alison Talbot is especially knowledgeable of charity law and governance. Samantha Warner‘s core strengths include estate administration and succession planning.