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Firms To Watch: Contentious trusts and probate

Freeths LLP is expanding its Leeds offering with the recruitment of Carla Rist from Irwin Mitchell in mid-2023.

Contentious trusts and probate in Yorkshire And The Humber

Clarion

Clarion‘s sizable team advises on a broad range of complex disputes, including those involving multijurisdictional elements. The group covers will and trust disputes, contentious matters relating to the administration of estates, and Court of Protection issues. ‘Stand-out lawyer’ Lynsey Harrison leads the team, and covers the full spectrum of disputes in the practice area. Harrison is supported by Louise Dodds, 'one of the best probate and trust lawyers around,' who has a particular specialism in disappointed beneficiary claims. The ‘excellent’ Nicholas Choiniere is a key name and brings key international experience due to a history practising in Canada.

Praxisleiter:

Lynsey Harrison


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Louise Dodds; Nicholas Choiniere; Samantha Richardson


Referenzen

‘Louise Dodds is friendly, knowledgeable and takes pains to let us know what is happening and why. Where I question what is being done and why, she gives a straightforward answer. I feel that we are given the chance to drive the legal actions we take (after suitable advice) rather than being directed towards certain courses.’

‘Lynsey Harrison is a stand-out lawyer in this area. Technically brilliant and bags of emotional intelligence.’

‘Lynsey Harrison leads the team well, she is dynamic and forward-thinking; a good, safe pair of hands.’

Irwin Mitchell

Irwin Mitchell‘s team is experienced in the full scope of trusts and probate disputes, and with the firm’s national framework of offices, is equipped to assist in diverse and high value mandates. The group is noted for its strength in farming and family business disputes. Jointly leading the department are Paula Myers, who is the national head of private client services, and James Laycock, who heads the Leeds and Sheffield private wealth disputes team. Laura Pang joined the team in February 2023 from Freeths LLP, and has specialist expertise in post-death disputes. Richard Smaller is a key name for cases involving financial abuse.

Praxisleiter:

Paula Myers; James Laycock


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Laura Pang; Richard Smaller


Referenzen

‘Paula Myers is extremely knowledgeable and experienced, with a good nose for the best approach when dealing with her case. James Laycock is very calm and knowledgeable – he’s also very good at running a team.’

‘Richard Smaller is the standout associate – he works a caseload that I would normally expect a partner to handle and brings a lot of experience and good sense to bear.’

‘Strong national team dealing with complex cases. Led by the experienced and excellent Paula Myers.’

Taylor Emmet

Taylor Emmet is highly active in disputes regarding the validity of wills and inheritances, with a rapidly growing practice in contentious trustee matters. The group places emphasis on alternative dispute resolution methods and mediation as a means of resolving contentious issues, and is noted for its ‘client and user-friendly’ approach. Team lead Alex Watkinson, described as ‘a great lawyer and fantastic with clients,’ has key expertise in multi-jurisdictional work. Watkinson is a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists, and has a record of acting as a replacement Personal Representative and Trustee.

Praxisleiter:

Alex Watkinson


Referenzen

‘Small but effective team.’

‘Alex Watkinson is a great lawyer and fantastic with clients.’

‘A small but experienced, client and user-friendly, and knowledgeable team. The team is adept at training good newly qualified associates and also has good support from its current trainee solicitors and paralegals, which gives the impression and service of a larger team as a result.’

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard draws specialists from across the firm to deliver a comprehensive service for a client base of numerous prominent individuals, families, and trusts. The group is jointly led by Pervinder Kaur and Yorke Eaton, both of whom are highly regarded for their non-contentious private client practice, and disputes expert Gareth Jones. Jane Shaw is a key name within the team, with experience in Inheritance Act and breach of trust claims.

Praxisleiter:

Pervinder Kaur; Yorke Eaton; Gareth Jones


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Samantha Wragg; Jane Shaw


Referenzen

‘Addleshaw Goddard are simply the best. Professional, effective, very efficient. All of the staff I have interacted with are friendly and approachable, but at the same time, you know you are receiving outstanding advice.’

‘Yorke Eaton is a very rare individual in practice. Outstandingly bright and extremely knowledgeable in his field. Unusually, this is all without ego, and he is a truly decent, honourable chap who always does his very best for his client. Unfailingly polite, but absolutely not a push over.’

‘I think their strengths are that they really do work as a team, and they have a high level of understanding of our individual circumstances. They are approachable, and I feel we are in safe hands.’

IDR Law

Boutique inheritance disputes firm IDR Law commits its nationwide team to supporting clients in issues relating to will interpretation claims, estate administration disputes, and Inheritance Act claims, as well as numerous other matters. Team lead and firm founder Martin Holdsworth has a long history in the practice area, and is noted for his ‘exceptional commitment.’ Richard Thomas is a key contact within the team, which saw considerable growth during 2023, with the recruitment of Henry Straw from Buckles Solicitors LLP and Sophie Brackenbury from Knights plc.

Praxisleiter:

Martin Holdsworth


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Richard Thomas; Cara Hough


Referenzen

‘I’ve found their practice to stand out due to its expertise in contentious probate (it’s their only practice area) and their innovative approaches. They’ve built an incredible online tool – the IDRN, which is a content hub, and it has really useful information and insights available.’

‘They’re always so responsive to our requests, and we feel they go above and beyond to foster a collaborative environment with their partners.’

‘Martin Holdsworth always stands out for his exceptional commitment. Martin’s deep understanding of the private client industry, the connections that he has, his proactive approach to growth and his continuous flow of innovative and industry-disruptive ideas makes him a really valuable partner.’

Wake Smith Solicitors Limited

Wake Smith Solicitors Limited fields a team with experience in disputes over will validity, trustee disagreements, and a range of complex inheritance act claims. Team lead John Breeze, ‘an excellent lawyer,’ is a full member of ACTAPS, and benefits from previous experience in commercial litigation. Breeze joined the firm in 2023 from Bell & Buxton, alongside Rachel Valentine.

Praxisleiter:

John Breeze


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Rachel Valentine


Referenzen

‘John Breeze is one of the best contentious probate lawyers that I have come across.’

‘John provides clear advice to deal with practical situations, and he also manages his work well to ensure that deadlines are achieved. John has always provided the highest standards of Client care, and he delivers his advice in a friendly manner.’

‘John Breeze is an excellent lawyer, and he is ably supported by the very efficient Rachel Valentine. They are a great team.’

LCF Law

LCF Law‘s areas of expertise include trust disputes, capacity issues, and Inheritance Act claims, as well as a range of other matters. The team has supplementary strength in property disputes, broadening the scope of the group. Ragan Montgomery leads the department and works between Bradford, Harrogate, and Leeds. Montgomery covers a range of disputes arising out of wills, trusts, and inheritance matters, as well as negligence claims. Kelly Gilbert joined the team from Lupton Fawcett in September 2023.

Praxisleiter:

Ragan Montgomery


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Kelly Gilbert


Referenzen

‘A decent team, long-established, down to earth and sensible to deal with. They do have a loyal client base and loyal team. They have the ability to do this work and hold their own. Collaborative and good profile.’

‘Ragan Montgomery leads a good team. She leads them well and has a very good profile, lovely to deal with, very commercial and pragmatic, which is not the case for all lawyers in this field.’

‘Our solicitor is excellent, very professional, knowledgeable, and reassuring in extremely difficult and sad times. Further, always working efficiently and timely in all responses to and from others.’

Ramsdens Solicitors LLP

Ramsdens Solicitors LLP, based in Huddersfield, supports clients with Inheritance Act matters, will validity disputes, and a range of trust issues. Nick Armitage heads the team. Katie Whitehead covers a range of contentious trust and probate matters. Steven Murgatroyd is a key name, and Liam Brooke joined the practice in June 2024.

Praxisleiter:

Nick Armitage


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Steven Murgatroyd; Katie Whitehead; Liam Brooke


Referenzen

‘They dealt with my case quickly and effectively and the outcome was to my satisfaction. Highly recommend.’

‘Katie Whitehead dealt with my case, she was thoughtful to my needs and dealt with my case to a very high standard. Really impressed with her.’

‘Always available and very helpful, especially during an extremely difficult time.’

Schofield Sweeney

Schofield Sweeney‘s growing team works within the firm’s wider private wealth offering and provides expertise in a broad range of contentious probate and trust matters. Nazia Nawaz leads the team, having joined the group in September 2023 from Ramsdens Solicitors LLP, where she was head of department. Nawaz, who is based in Huddersfield, covers will, trust, and estate disputes, as well as farming succession issues.

Praxisleiter:

Nazia Nawaz


Referenzen

‘The presence of Nazia Nawaz would make any team in which she works that of very top quality.’

‘My experience of Nazia Nawaz is nothing short of excellence in her field of work. She went above and beyond her expertise to support me as her client. Her manner and knowledge is outstanding, and her ability to identify and summarise the importance of specific details and how they relate to a situation is remarkable.’

‘The team are compassionate, knowledgeable and exceptionally gifted. I felt totally supported throughout a difficult time. The team understood the issues were responsive to my individual needs provided sound and empathetic advice.’

Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP

Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP is particularly active in probate disputes, with experience acting on behalf of executors, trustees, beneficiaries, and family members excluded from wills. Hugh Smith leads the team from Hull and has experience in high value Inheritance Act claims. Nicola White is highly experienced in the practice area, and is described as ‘conscientious, diligent, compassionate and capable.’

Praxisleiter:

Hugh Smith


Referenzen

The team has been very consistent in communicating.’

‘Nothing is ever too much, the team has been very caring and supportive during an awfully sensitive matter. They have taken some of my stresses away for me.’

‘Very personal service and help and advice given professionally.’

Bell & Buxton

Bell & Buxton fields a ‘knowledgeable, insightful, personable’ team with a long history in the area. The group is jointly led from Sheffield by Dax Keeling, who heads the broader disputes group, and Robert Johnson. Johnson is experienced in contentious matters relating to wills and trusts, in addition to Court of Protection disputes.

Praxisleiter:

Robert Johnson; Dax Keeling


Referenzen

‘Knowledgeable, insightful, personable.’

‘Robert Johnson is thorough, knowledgeable and extremely hard working for his clients, with good commercial sense.’

‘Robert Johnson done everything that was promised, for which I am truly grateful.’

Highlight-Mandate


  • Acted for a claimant wife in a high value Inheritance Act claim for insufficient provision in her husband’s will.
  • Acted for a client who discovered her mother’s will around 8 years after her death.
  • Acted for a disinherited only child minor beneficiary, following a deathbed will that was prepared by her mother.

Harrowells Solicitors

Harrowells Solicitors handles Inheritance Act claims, claims of undue influence, and matters relating to defectively executed wills, among other mandates. Simon Black, based in York, leads the team. Black additionally heads the broader litigation and dispute resolution department within the firm.

Praxisleiter:

Simon Black


Referenzen

‘Efficient, friendly, and attention to detail.’

‘Simon Black – I found him to be an exceptional lawyer who was thoroughly on top of his file and prepared to go the extra mile for his clients. He was also a hugely persuasive force at mediation and precisely the kind of lawyer you would want in your corner.’

McCormicks

McCormicks assists executors, trustees, and potential beneficiaries on a broad range of contentious matters. In addition to private wealth disputes, the group provides support in Inheritance Act claims. Elaine Lightfoot leads the team from Harrogate. David Birks and Stephen Hopwood are key names within the department.

Praxisleiter:

Elaine Lightfoot


Weitere Kernanwälte:

David Birks; Stephen Hopwood