Specialising in independent estate administration, Freeths LLP is well-equipped to handle claims under the Inheritance Act, contested court of protection work, and will challenges. The practice is also particularly active in the agriculture space, often advising on contentious farming estate work, notably proprietary estoppel. Mark Keeley oversees the team and has over two decades of experience in contentious trust and probate litigation, including trustee removal applications. Rachel Gaffney’s broad caseload encompasses financial abuse, undue influence, and welfare disputes. Robert Hill is particularly well-versed in claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, while Emma Fitzmaurice is praised as ‘a highly experienced associate who is hugely efficient.’ Emma Pottinger is another key team member. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Nottingham.
Contentious trusts and probate in East Midlands
Freeths LLP
Practice head(s):
Mark Keeley
Other key lawyers:
Rachel Gaffney; Robert Hill; Emma Fitzmaurice; Emma Pottinger
Testimonials
‘Freeths is an extremely strong presence in the market: it is large enough to have all the expertise and resources which a dispute of this nature might have, whilst still retaining a very personal and tailored approach to each dispute.’
‘A sensible, commercial approach to work. They have great experience of contentious trusts and probate.’
‘They have all the resources and expertise to deal with any kind of probate dispute. They are the pre-eminent firm in this area in both the West and East Midlands.’
‘The fact that the team is so frequently brought in to fix a situation which has gone wrong – often to act for or as independent PRs or trustees – is an endorsement of their skill and consistent good judgment.’
‘Mark Keeley is very smart, gets straight to the point but takes a practical view, and is sympathetic to the emotional nature of the dispute.’
‘Mark Keeley is an absolute star. A mediator who is hotly and deservedly in demand, he brings experience in the trickiest disputes. He is a go-to choice to act as a replacement PR or trustee. He heads up a strong team.’
‘Mark Keely is thoroughly excellent. He is so good at keeping calm and assisting in the resolution of private client disputes that he is a go-to mediator and routinely appointed by the Court as an independent administrator. This really speaks for itself.’
‘Emma Fitzmaurice is a highly experienced associate who is hugely efficient but again very good at relating to clients.’
Key clients
The Norman Gill Charitable Trust
Work highlights
- Advised the Norman Gill Charitable Trust on defending a testamentary capacity challenge to the final will of prominent Leicester businessman, Norman Gill.
Nelsons Solicitors Limited
Lauded as an ‘experienced and knowledgeable’, Nelsons Solicitors Limited is geared to handle the full spectrum of contentious trusts and probate matters. Kevin Modiri leads the practice from Derby and is noted for his knowledge of civil litigation and the Provision for Family and Dependents Act 1975. In Leicester, Lewis Addison enjoys a strong track record in ADR and mediation, while the Nottingham-based Stuart Parris often advises clients on executor disputes, and uniquely specialises in disputes surrounding the deceased’s ashes.
Practice head(s):
Kevin Modiri
Other key lawyers:
Lewis Addison; Stuart Parris
Testimonials
‘Nelsons has an experienced, knowledgeable contentious trusts and probate team, providing a high level of service to clients. ’
‘Nelsons Derby and Leicester are very good at what they do. They are very thorough and professional.’
‘Very caring and attentive. They communicate well with clients and speak in a way that they can understand. They are very understanding of particularly complex matters.’
‘Lewis Addison is a key member of the team at Nelsons and has a pragmatic approach to cases. He is keen to help, and I would recommend contacts to Lewis as a strong individual in this sector. ’
Work highlights
Shakespeare Martineau LLP
Recently engaged in legacy disputes, Shakespeare Martineau LLP is a key port of call for agricultural clients on contentious trust and probate work. The practice is also well-equipped to handle executor, trust and will disputes in addition to contested Court of Protection applications. Based in Leicester, Andrew Wilkinson oversees the national team and is particularly skilled at cross-border trust disputes. Splitting her time between Leicester and Nottingham, Debra Burton holds both ACTAPS and TEP qualifications.
Practice head(s):
Andrew Wilkinson
Other key lawyers:
Debra Burton; Jonathan Stork
Testimonials
‘The go-to firm for contentious probate and private client work.’
‘This firm has a very capable and dedicated team of probate specialists.’
‘The people are fantastic and so is their standard of work. There has yet to be an issue they’ve not helped resolve.’
‘Andrew Wilkinson is simply superb.’
‘Andrew Wilkinson is an excellent lawyer who is always practical, yet firm. Debra Burton is an exceptional advocate who is tenacious in getting the best for her clients.’
‘Debra Burton has been the best solicitor I have worked with. I have thrown many emails her way and each time she is unwavering in her in-depth answers, explanation, and results.’
‘Debra Burton is knowledgeable and experienced in a wide range of probate disputes. She has a good eye for detail and management skills.’
‘Jonathan Stork has a lovely way with his clients and an in-depth understanding of trusts. He is always practical and tries to get the best deal for his clients.’
Key clients
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Work highlights
Roythornes Solicitors
Lauded as ‘well-known specialists in the agricultural sector’, Roythornes Solicitors is particularly adept at Court of Protection matters, family provision claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, and proprietary estoppel claims against estates. Gavin Faber leads the practice from Birmingham, while Spalding-based Tim Russ is praised for his ‘in-depth knowledge of all aspects of agricultural law.’ In Nottingham, Jak Ward is ‘an extremely skilled and experienced litigator’ and is often engaged in disputes surrounding the administration of estates and co-owned property, as well as applications for the removal of executors and trustees.
Practice head(s):
Gavin Faber
Other key lawyers:
Tim Russ; Jak Ward
Testimonials
‘Roythornes are well-known specialists in the agricultural sector and they have an unrivalled depth of knowledge about farming law and the business of farming.’
‘The contentious probate team at Roythornes offers a true breadth of experience. The level of partner engagement is extremely high and every member of the team is committed to providing excellent service. The team is tactically brilliant and provides clients with personal service.’
‘What makes Roythornes unique is its commitment to farming and agricultural clients. The bulk of the firm’s trusts and probate work relates to farmers and their families, this requires specialist expertise and experience not just in routine probate and trust law but also in agricultural law, which only a few other firms can provide.’
Work highlights
Smith Partnership
Commended by clients for its ‘practical and efficient advice’ the full-service law firm Smith Partnership is well-equipped to handle the full gamut of contentious trusts and probate matters, including estate administration and estate property transfers. Russell Davies oversees the practice, while Victoria Townsend is praised as ‘an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer in the contentious trusts and probate field.’ Additionally, Townsend's broad caseload encompasses disputed Wills, matters falling under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, and claims for Proprietary Estoppel. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Derby.
Practice head(s):
Russell Davies
Other key lawyers:
Victoria Townsend
Testimonials
‘The whole team from the first call to the end of my case was amazing and the guidance I had on things I knew nothing about was exceptional.’
‘The team’s ethos is good and the solicitors that were allocated have been excellent.’
‘Smith Partnership offers practical and efficient advice whilst also making clients and counsel feel at ease. There is a great culture in the contentious team and they are a pleasure to be instructed by from the start to the end of the case.’
Work highlights
- Acting on behalf of a Claimant in an Executor dispute involving a multi-million-pound farming estate.
- Successfully challenged a deathbed Will on behalf of the daughter of the deceased.
- Acted for the son of the deceased in a Will challenge where the Deceased was suffering from Delerium.
Flint Bishop Limited
Flint Bishop covers the full array of contentious probate work for beneficiaries, trustees, and executors, including the Inheritance Provision for Family and Dependants Act 1975, the removal and appointment of executors and trustees, as well as challenging the validity of wills. Sundeep Sandhu oversees the practice from Derby and is knowledgeable of professional negligence surrounding the drafting of wills and trusts matters; she is also praised as ‘analytical, organized, and a pleasure to work with.’
Practice head(s):
Sundeep Sandhu
Testimonials
‘Sundeep Sandhu is an excellent lawyer. She is analytical, organised, and a pleasure to work with. What distinguishes Sundeep from competitors is her responsiveness and her ability quickly to comprehend complex issues and to get the heart of what will determine the case.’
‘Sundeep Sandhu gives her clients confidence through her calm and reassuring manner. I greatly valued how easy it was to work with her and how confident I could be that the clients had been given realistic and forthright advice.’
‘We were recommended by a friend and were very satisfied with Sundeep Sandhu who not only gave balanced advice but also valued our opinion, she listened to our concerns and offered a range of options. We felt we were taken seriously and were confident in the standard of service and professionalism.’
‘Sundeep Sandhu is always professional and polite. She comes across as a fierce competitor but is always reasonable and pragmatic in her approach.’
‘Flint Bishop is well known and respected locally. I would have no hesitation in referring people to Flint Bishop.’
‘In my experience, this is a strong team. I have been referred to different departments within the practice and they all have been knowledgeable and helpful. The transfer between different people within the firm was seamless. We used technology to remotely sign legal documents which made the outcome swift and easy.’
‘Everyone we have had an interaction with either in person or on the phone is very professional and listened with empathy.’
‘Flint Bishop’s contentious trusts and probate practice is very highly respected in the industry. The team is responsive, experienced, analytical, and able to distil even the most complicated advice into terms easily comprehended by lay clients. They are a team to be reckoned with.’
Work highlights
- Acted for an adult child of the deceased who left his entire farming estate worth c£2m+ to his widow, excluding our client who had relied on promises made to him by the deceased. The matter involves issues of proprietary estoppel, financial provision, and complex trust arguments.
- Acted for a client whose nephew died unexpectedly and successfully challenging the validity of his will. Under the terms of the deceased’s previous will which was then accepted, the client was the sole beneficiary of the deceased’s estate worth c.£1m+, whereas the invalid will did not provide for her at all.
- Acted for executors of an estate to successfully settle a proposed claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975 by the deceased’s adult daughter.
Gateley Legal
Leveraging support from the firm’s Birmingham, Manchester, and Nottingham private client teams, Gateley Legal is a strong choice for banks, executors, and trustees. The practice’s caseload encompasses challenging will validity, family provision claims, professional negligence, and proprietary estoppel claims against estates. With over a decade of experience, Claire Herbert oversees the practice from Nottingham and is praised as a ‘very tenacious litigator.’
Practice head(s):
Claire Herbert
Testimonials
‘Claire Herbert is a very tenacious litigator: she is laser-focused on getting the best possible result for her client and works extremely hard to achieve that. She is a real asset to have on your side in any dispute.’
Work highlights
Howes Percival LLP
Commended as an ‘excellent regional contentious trusts and probate team’, Howes Percival LLP is frequently engaged in estate administration work. With over two decades of experience, Jennifer Laskey leads the team from Milton Keynes and is praised by clients as ‘intelligent, personable, robust, and an excellent litigator.’ In Leicester, Geraint Davies is proficient in commercial litigation and often advises clients on professional negligence claims, corporate and partnership disputes, as well as trust and tax disputes.
Practice head(s):
Jennifer Laskey
Other key lawyers:
Geraint Davies
Testimonials
‘An excellent regional contentious trusts and probate team.’
‘Jennifer Laskey is an experienced and knowledgeable partner. She is intelligent, personable, robust, and an excellent litigator.’
‘The whole team worked well together and I was always well informed of what was going on.’
‘Jennifer Laskey was always very honest about my case and her expertise in the area was reassuring.’
‘Quick to help, reassure and react with pertinent and pragmatic advice.’
‘Jennifer was professional and did everything she could to get a positive result.’
Work highlights
Sills & Betteridge LLP
With a broad regional footprint, including offices spread across Boston, Lincoln, and Nottingham, Sills & Betteridge LLP often works in conjunction with the firm’s commercial litigation, corporate and commercial, as well as residential and commercial property teams. The ‘reliable and very knowledgeable’ practice is also reputed for its capabilities surrounding proprietary estoppel cases, the removal of executors, and trust disputes. The ‘technically sound and very pragmatic’ Lincoln-based Karen Bower-Brown leads the team and is skilled at disputes over the validity of wills, and financial provision claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Robert Pearson splits his time between Nottingham and Lincoln and has recently handled disputes between personal representatives and claims against trustees.
Practice head(s):
Karen Bower-Brown
Other key lawyers:
Robert Pearson
Testimonials
‘The team is friendly, helpful, reliable and very knowledgeable, therefore making them a pleasure to work with.’
‘They have specialists for all aspects of legal work. The firm conducts its business in a very professional manner.’
‘They went out of their way to ensure my best interests were protected while dealing with my case. They kept me informed of everything along the way.’
‘Karen Bower Brown explains everything in detail using words that I understood, and she always replied promptly to calls and emails. She gave me an absolute faultless service.’
‘Karen Bower-Brown gave excellent advice even if it was hard to take sometimes. She always had my best interests in mind and could always be contacted when required.’
‘Karen Bower-Brown has a wonderful manner.’
‘Karen Bower Brown is technically sound and very pragmatic.’
‘Robert Pearson looked after the case for me, he always listened to what I said, provided advice, and where necessary explained all the legal terms that I wasn’t familiar with in simple terms. They have always replied to my questions promptly, and kept me informed of progress.’
Work highlights
- Advised an individual on a dispute over the validity of their late father’s Will and ascertained that the Will was invalid as the witnesses had not signed in the presence of the testator.
- Advised an individual on a dispute relating to the validity of their late father’s Will where allegations were made in relation to alleged lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, and fraudulent claims.
- Advised an individual on a claim for financial provision following the death of their late partner.
Wilkin Chapman Rollits
Highlighted for its agricultural contentious trusts and probate expertise, Wilkin Chapman Rollits is particularly proficient in estate administration, professional negligence, and proprietary estoppel claims. Lauded as ‘an excellent solicitor specialising in contentious cases’, Katherine Marshall leads the practice from Louth and is knowledgeable of the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975 and handles a breadth of commercial litigation matters. Also based in Louth, Sam Sleight’s caseload encompasses Executor and Trustee disputes, lack of testamentary capacity, and undue influence matters.
Practice head(s):
Katherine Marshall
Other key lawyers:
Sam Sleight
Testimonials
‘Katherine Marshall has been very approachable and kind during what has been a very emotional time. Her kindness has helped and given me confidence when working through the legal system for the first time has seemed very daunting.’
‘Katherine Marshall is an excellent solicitor, specialising in contentious cases. She has offered sound and wise advice on our very difficult case. She has worked creatively with other firms.’
‘Katherine Marshall is a very pragmatic, focused litigator. She’s a good communicator and works well to try to achieve a solution for the parties in cases – while of course also defending her client’s interests.’
Work highlights
- Advised a client on a challenge of the validity of their father’s will based on lack of knowledge and approval.
- Advised on a claim for proprietary estoppel in connection with the family farm valued at £ 6 million.
- Advising Trustees of an estate on their duties as Trustees of a trust farm and the operation of a letter of wishes.
Browne Jacobson LLP
With a broad agricultural offering, including tenancies and estate management, Browne Jacobson LLP is well-informed in high-value settlement trusts. The practice, which is praised for its ‘practical solutions and clear advice on risk and strategy’, is led by the Nottingham-based Daniel Edwards. He is lauded by clients as ‘an exceptional solicitor’ and is well-versed in post-death disputes surrounding family businesses.
Practice head(s):
Daniel Edwards
Testimonials
‘Daniel Edwards is an exceptional solicitor. He is very bright, and is always giving the best advice to clients.’
‘Daniel Edwards gives a very client-centered service; he listens and appreciates every client’s unique situation, and gives clear advice from the outset on risk, cost proportionality and practical ways to achieve the desired outcome. ’
‘Daniel Edwards is a superb lawyer and very bright.’
‘I instructed Daniel Edwards to advise on a potential contentious probate issue. He provided excellent guidance and commentary which was easy to follow and assisted greatly. It helped me to formulate a way forward on a statutory will application for an incapacitated client. He was very approachable and I would be happy to refer back to him on this and any other matter.’
‘The team works promptly and moves matters along efficiently, giving practical solutions, and clear advice on risk and strategy.’
‘A very capable team indeed, which commands confidence in a difficult and complex area.’
Work highlights
Wilson Browne
Breach of trusts, claims for reasonable financial provision under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, and Promissory Estoppel matters remain a key component of the practice at Wilson Browne. The team is also able to draw upon support from the firm’s private client department on the interpretation of will clauses and trust matters. Nadia Halliday leads the team from Leicester and is vastly experienced in cases involving applications for Declarations for Presumption of Death.
Practice head(s):
Nadia Halliday
Testimonials
‘They were professional and knowledgeable.’
‘The team were all very knowledgeable, they always took the time to explain what they are doing and how long it could take to complete.’
‘All questions were answered, they were polite, approachable, and there were great attitudes all around. They had great attention to detail, leaving us with a feeling we were well taken care of.’
Work highlights
- Successfully defended a Will challenge on behalf of Ms M. The Estate was worth £350,000 and involved lengthy negotiations until finally the claim was withdrawn.
- Issued a claim on behalf of Mr H under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975 against her late partner’s estate. The Estate was worth £1.7 million, a successful settlement was made that allowed the claimant to purchase a property.