Acting for a roster of both claimants and defendants on contentious probate work, MFG Solicitors LLP’s Kidderminster-based practice is led by Robert Weston, and also leverages the expertise of Andrew Chandler. ACTAPS member Weston is highly regarded in the market and is sought out by both corporations and individuals, while fellow ACTAPS member Chandler handles a range of claims relating to capacity issues, Inheritance Act litigation and will challenges. Suzanne Lee retired in April 2024.
Contentious trusts and probate in West Midlands
MFG Solicitors LLP
Practice head(s):
Robert Weston
Other key lawyers:
Andrew Chandler
Testimonials
‘They care. They listen. Information and procedures are explained clearly. They reply to queries quickly. They are extremely knowledgeable in all areas, and are head and shoulders above.’
‘What makes Andrew Chandler exceptional is his empathy care and consideration, he listens to his clients and discusses the case, explains detailed legal procedure so that a non-legal person can understand the process at every step of the way, before giving his very knowledgeable advice.’
‘Robert Weston is rightly seen as a leading contentious trusts and estates solicitor. He is very experienced, very knowledgeable about the law and excellent with clients.’
Wright Hassall LLP
Wright Hassall LLP fields ‘an epic team which is involved in the major cases at the heart of the industry. They are so knowledgeable and have a real depth of experience’. With the ‘wonderful tactician‘ Martin Oliver at the helm, the practice covers all types of contentious trusts and probate work. It has four full ACTAPS members and two associate members. Oliver has acted in many high-profile inheritance disputes. Katie Alsop specialises in contentious probate matters, disputes relating to farms, and proprietary estoppel. Senior associate Danielle Pawson and legal director Anna Sutcliffe are also recommended.
Practice head(s):
Martin Oliver
Other key lawyers:
Katie Alsop; Danielle Pawson; Anna Sutcliffe
Testimonials
‘Martin Oliver is well respected in his specialist field of contentious probate. He has an excellent grasp of proprietary estoppel and difficult issues arising in a farming family. He has great clarity of thought in proposing a resolution.’
‘The team is extraordinary in the sense that although I’ve worked with most of them there doesn’t seem to be a weak link. The knowledge, commitment, client handling skills, tactical insights and creative thinking seemed to run through the whole team like a seaside town’s name in a stick of rock.’
‘Martin Oliver remains one of the best private client litigators around in my view. He is an excellent lawyer, a tenacious seeker of evidence, who starts a case with good instincts and an excellent nose for those matters where there is a smoking gun or a telling trail of evidence to follow.’
Key clients
Iraj Tohidi
Nalini Hirachand
Fiona Windmill-Jones
FBC Manby Bowdler
Charlotte Clode leads a team at FBC Manby Bowdler which is ‘capable of dealing with the most complex of disputes’. It has a 'very strong presence in the region', and advises on a broad spread of contentious probate and trust matters. It is well-placed to handle high-value and multi-jurisdictional instructions. The group also has experience of Court of Appeal proceedings. Kimberly Mears is recommended for her work on many probate claims and on breach of trust cases. Angie Manley has substantial experience of complex multi-party probate claims.
Practice head(s):
Charlotte Clode
Other key lawyers:
Kimberly Mears; Angie Manley
Testimonials
‘Angie Manley – very polished with excellent client care skills. Kim Mears – diligent, hard-working and intelligent.’
‘Kimberley Mears: very efficient and responsive. Capable as a lawyer and pragmatic as to how to resolve matters. Angie Manley: extremely user friendly and collaborative in her approach.’
‘They have a team who are pragmatic, sensible and well regarded in the area. Angie Manley is very good to work with; she is sensible but at the same time thorough and protects the interests of her client well.’
Higgs LLP
The team at Higgs LLP is ’really capable and well organised‘. It is ‘definitely capable of dealing with the most complex of disputes and high-value estates work’. Craig Ridge is an ‘excellent leader’ of the department, which focuses on high-value and complex estates, in addition to familial trusts. The team also advises on more modest estates. It frequently acts for executors, trustees, beneficiaries and disappointed beneficiaries on a variety of estate/trust claims. Senior associate Georgia Stott’s client base includes individuals and professional executors. Fellow senior associate Joseph Martin is also well-regarded.
Practice head(s):
Craig Ridge
Other key lawyers:
Georgia Stott; Joseph Martin
Testimonials
‘It is the utmost professionalism combined with personal and emotional understanding of a client’s situation.’
‘Craig Ridge. If there was anyone who you would want in your corner, especially when you are up against it. It would be Craig. Everything was explained and the potential risks of making decisions clearly laid out. We took our time to make the right choice and we achieved a fantastic, hard-fought result.’
‘This is a professional legal firm, if you want results, put simply, Higgs LLP are in my experience, a great firm of friendly but absolutely dedicated legal professionals.’
Irwin Mitchell
Kamal Majevadia, who is a full member of ACTAPS, leads the Birmingham offering at Irwin Mitchell
. The ‘strong team‘ carries out a wide range of high-value and complex litigation for individuals, entrepreneurs, professionals and banks. Other key clients include executors, trustees, charities and beneficiaries. It deftly handles a variety of contentious issues, which often include multi-jurisdictional disputes, as well as farming and family business cases. Senior associate Michelle Chapman deals with a range of contentious wills, trust and estate disputes.
Practice head(s):
Kamal Majevadia; Stephanie Kerr
Other key lawyers:
Michelle Chapman
Testimonials
‘Michelle Chapman – hugely personable, cares enormously and presents as competent and confident.’
‘Irwin Mitchell have a very strong depth in their team nationally, with numerous fee earners who have a strong range of knowledge of contentious trust and probate matters.’
‘Michelle Chapman is an excellent associate solicitor. She has taken on levels of responsibility and management well beyond her years and always provides a diligent service to clients with a view to achieving a pragmatic and cost-efficient solution to disputes.’
‘Michelle Chapman was sensitive to my concerns, highly professional and scrupulous at explaining the issues involved. As a result we have reached a settlement and I am very pleased with the outcome.’
‘Michelle Chapman has given a scrupulous and efficient service. She did not waste time bombarding me with emails. She was clear and to the point; she kept me well informed and she got the result I needed.’
‘This is a strong team that is getting stronger and stronger. Their expansion in the market demonstrates their ambition and their successes. The team is really well balanced which brings an all-rounded approach to helping clients and conducting litigation.’
‘Kam Majevadia is a wonderful lawyer to have on your side. Warm, kind, empathetic and tenacious. He is knowledgeable and strategic and particularly effective at ADR and mediations.’
‘Michelle Chapman is really going places! She is an integral part of the team and a very strong lawyer.’
Meridian Private Client Solicitors Limited
The ‘commercially savvy, clever and robust’ team at Meridian Private Client Solicitors Limited ‘always works with the client’s best interest at the forefront’. ‘Savvy litigator’ Mark Abrol is the practice head. He has a particular interest in disputes with a property-related element, and regularly acts in professional negligence claims. Mark Terrar frequently advises on matters involving complex trusts and tax structures, as well as cases with an overseas element. Senior associate Emma-Louise Green continues to be involved in the complete range of contentious probate work. All three are full members of ACTAPS.
Practice head(s):
Mark Abrol
Other key lawyers:
Mark Terrar; Emma-Louise Green
Testimonials
‘Long-standing whole team, trusted, safe pair of hands and my “go to” port of call for tricky matters and for clients who need particular care.’
‘Mark Abrol – consummate professional, absolute master of his field and a nice guy to boot who looks to connect people and build networks that not only deliver the job but seek expansion and benefit for all.’
‘Mark Terrar – Technically excellent, great with clients and exudes confidence and quality advice. Emma-Louise Green – pragmatic, insightful and down to earth in her delivery, she offers straightforward advice that is easily understood.’
Work highlights
- Acting for the children of the deceased to defend a claim for financial provision advanced by long-term partner stated to be worth hundreds of thousands, but in the event settled for less than the costs she had incurred.
- Advising beneficiary and trustee about the invalidity of a will trust and the interaction with claims in rectification and professional negligence, and on removing co-trustees as a result of the same.
- Advising a trustee as to the operation of a historic nil-rate band discretionary trust, to help unravel the historic mismanagement and breaches of trust, and advising on an ancillary claim in professional negligence as a result.
Mills & Reeve LLP
At Mills & Reeve LLP, Lucy Howard ‘leads the team brilliantly’. It is ‘fantastic from top to bottom’. Howard specialises in estate, trusts and will disputes, and acts for a wide range of clients including high-net-worth individuals, business owners, trust companies and professional trustees. Senior associate Kieran Leahy is lauded for his ‘exceptional drafting skills’. A core area of focus is dealing with disputes about the validity of wills, as well as other actions involving trustees and executors. The group continues to be busy acting for a number of charities on contested legacy matters. Senior associate and ‘excellent all-rounder’ Kim Ryan is also recommended.
Practice head(s):
Lucy Howard
Other key lawyers:
Kieran Leahy; Kim Ryan; Medi Evans
Testimonials
‘Lucy Howard was immediately approachable, professional and knowledgeable. I have not been disappointed with my choice. It has been a great comfort to have such expertise supporting me through this difficult time.’
‘Lucy Howard is an exceptional solicitor, she is very experienced and this follows through with her team. She seemed to immediately grasp my situation and I found her easy to talk to about my predicament. Medi Evans has also been a great help, nothing is ever too much trouble.’
‘Really outstanding – I would score them 11/10 if that was allowed! Under Lucy Howard’s exceptional leadership, they have quickly established themselves as the leading firm for contentious trusts and probate disputes in the Midlands.’
‘Lucy Howard is an exceptional lawyer. She has excellent technical knowledge combined with superb instincts for how best to handle a dispute. She is definitely the lawyer you want on your side in complex trusts and probate disputes.’
‘Kieran Leahy is an outstanding litigator who is quickly becoming very well known in this area of law. His ability far exceeds his experience – a real rising star in this area.‘
‘Medi Evans is a high-quality all-round lawyer. She is a real pleasure to work with, and builds very positive relationships with clients who appreciate her calm yet robust litigation style.’
‘Kim Ryan is totally unflappable and very perceptive: she gets straight to the heart of the matter and manoeuvres the other side expertly.’
‘Lucy Howard is a tremendous lawyer. Knowledgeable, smart and very articulate. Kieran Leahy is such a safe pair of hands. He is happy to get stuck into the detail but also able to zoom out and see the picture strategically, which is such a skill.’
Freeths LLP
Freeths LLP has a ‘well-regarded contentious trusts and probate team both in the East and West Midlands’. Spearheaded by the ‘thoroughly excellent’ Mark Keeley
, the group acts in a variety of high-value and complex disputes, and is well-placed to handle cases with an international element. Managing associate Max Orbach is another key member of the practice. The group often advises on substantial claims under the Inheritance Act, as well as many other matters such as contested Court of Protection cases and removal applications.
Practice head(s):
Mark Keeley
Other key lawyers:
Max Orbach
Testimonials
‘The wonderful Mark Keeley leads an exceptional team. Max Orbach stands out.’
‘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.’
‘Mark Keeley is an absolute star. A mediator who is deservedly hotly in demand, he brings that wealth of experience to bear in the resolution of the trickiest disputes.’
‘Max Orbach is an extremely good lawyer: thorough, pragmatic and with great communication skills. He really gets stuck into the detail of a case and thinks of new angles of approach.’
‘Freeths continue to go from strength to strength. Mark Keely, Max Orbach.’
‘I have worked mainly with Mark Keeley who seems now to bestride the contentious probate marketplace like a colossus. Very smart, gets straight to the point but takes a practical view and is sympathetic to the emotional nature of the dispute. Max Orbach is a cerebral and reflective litigator.’
‘Max Orbach is very good. He is bright and very knowledgeable and has good strategic thinking. His cases are beautifully prepared and his clients get excellent value for money.’
‘Max Orbach (managing associate) is a brilliant private client lawyer and a pleasure to work with. I have worked with him in complex trust proceedings which involved top-tier solicitors and counsel and he was in his element.’
George Green LLP
George Green LLP has an agile team, which has considerable experience of dealing with a wide range of disputes. It frequently acts on claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, as well as actions to remove or substitute executors or trustees. The group is also adept at handling professional negligence claims arising out of the drafting of wills or the construction of trusts. Practice head Liam Owen is recommended. Associate Susan Ford also plays a pivotal role in the practice.
Practice head(s):
Liam Owen
Other key lawyers:
Susan Ford
Testimonials
‘Liam Owen is relatively new to disputed probate being more a commercial litigator but he has proved himself to be able to do well in this tricky area of practice. He is very confident and self assured but not at the expense of the opposing party.’
‘Susan Ford is delightful. A calm and confident personality that will reassure the most nervous client and smooth the path forwards.’
‘Small team. Partner-led work. Highly competent. Liam Owen is technically very able and a pleasure to work with due to his collaborative nature.’
Key clients
Daughter of the Deceased
Stepdaughter of Deceased
Wife of Deceased
Daughter of Deceased
Litigation friend of main beneficiary
Deceased’s Husband via his attorney
Executor of Deceased’s estate
Grandson of the Deceased
Partner of Deceased
Partner of Deceased
Work highlights
- Resolved an Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 claim against the estate of the client’s stepmother and resolved matters with a deed of variation within the two-year time limit to ensure there were not negative tax implications.
- Acting via an attorney on an Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 claim and/or a resulting trust claim worth more than £700,000.
- Defended a claim in relation to the proper construction of a will.
Lanyon Bowdler
At Lanyon Bowdler, the contentious probate department is best known for its work on claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. It also handles an array of other probate disputes, and advises on issues relating to the removal of executors and administrators. Associate solicitor Claire Vale is the key contact.
Practice head(s):
Claire Vale
Testimonials
‘We found that this particular practice was the only one that was prepared to take on our case and felt that they had the knowledge to deal with it. This was due to our case being relevant to both British and Channel Island laws and legislation.’
‘They have been quick to respond to our enquiries and questions with professionalism and efficiency.’
‘Claire Vale had the knowledge to deal with it effectively. She has helped us to win almost all of what we were fighting our legal battle for.’
‘Lanyon Bowdler have an excellent practice in contentious trusts and probate work in this area of the world. They handle the matters with obvious expertise and good judgement.’
‘Claire Vale is an experienced and sensible litigator.’
Key clients
R (female)
M, J, J, P and V (relatives)
M (male)
A (male)
M (male)
S (male)
J (female)
Work highlights
- Advised M, J, J, P and V as beneficiaries under a will and reaching agreement at mediation with claimant beneficiary Y as to distribution, when the will drafter had failed to obtain a medical report as to capacity for the last will.
- Advising A in relation to his mother’s estate, and recovering monies from his sister who held a power of attorney for their mother’s finances, as many of the financial transactions could not be satisfactorily explained.
- Advising M that he was a beneficiary to the intestate part of his mother’s UK estate although he was not beneficiary to her estate in Alderney which had been left to the deceased’s sister.
Roythornes Solicitors
At Roythornes Solicitors, practice head Gavin Faber ‘is an excellent recent addition to the team’, referred to as ‘an extremely talented and robust partner with vast experience’. Faber joined the team from Gateley Legal in May 2023. He acts for professional trustees, deputies and executors, trust corporations, charities and individuals. In addition, he is experienced in dealing with complex trust disputes, and with professional negligence claims.
Practice head(s):
Gavin Faber
Other key lawyers:
Emily Parry
Testimonials
‘The team has a good regional presence and is frequently instructed in complex and valuable disputes. They know this area very well and have the support of an excellent private client/tax team.’
‘Gavin Faber is an excellent lawyer and litigator in this area. He has great experience of this field and inspires confidence in his clients with his common-sense approach.’
‘A disruptor in the West Midlands market, with the capture of Gavin Faber Roythornes has quickly become a tour de force of private wealth expertise.’
Shakespeare Martineau LLP
The busy team at Shakespeare Martineau LLP advises on various contentious trusts and probate matters, as well as charity-related work. National head of team Andrew Wilkinson is well-regarded. Legal director Alistair Spencer works across the firm’s Stratford-upon-Avon, Birmingham and Solihull offices, and frequently deals with complex estoppel matters, Inheritance Act claims and cases involving cross-border issues.
Practice head(s):
Andrew Wilkinson; Alistair Spencer
Testimonials
‘Andrew Wilkinson heads a fantastic team. Definitely the go-to firm for contentious probate and trusts work.’
‘Andrew Wilkinson for his extensive experience and know-how.’
‘Well-coordinated team with strength from associates through to partners. Knowledgeable of recent developments in contentious trusts work and always open to think outside the box. They provide first-class client care, particularly with vulnerable clients.’
‘Alistair Spencer is consistently a safe pair of hands. Excellent client care and robust with difficult opponents. He has a comprehensive knowledge of contentious trusts, and related areas such as proprietary estoppel.’
‘Shakespeare Martineau provide eloquent and well-reasoned arguments whilst simultaneously being ferocious advocates. Andrew Wilkinson is rightly considered one of the best specialists in the contentious trusts and probate market.’
‘Shakespeares is a leading firm in the Midlands, with strength in depth in a range of practice areas across several offices.’
‘Alistair Spencer is incredibly knowledgeable and helpful.’
‘Alistair is understanding and his goal is to find a solution in every situation. His compassionate nature is one of the main reasons I feel comfortable to recommend him to clients.’
Key clients
Adam Scott
Work highlights
- Acts for a farmer in a complex and bitterly fought will challenge and proprietary estoppel case.
Sydney Mitchell LLP
At Sydney Mitchell LLP, Mitra Mann (who was promoted to the partnership in April 2024) and Dean Parnell co-head the department. Mann joined the firm from Wright Hassall LLP in June 2023. She has a wealth of experience in dealing with a variety of contentious probate matters, in addition to Court of Protection disputes. Mann regularly advises attorneys, deputies and families on how best to protect vulnerable individuals. Private client head Tracy Creed assists with challenges to the validity of wills and claims against trusts.
Practice head(s):
Mitra Mann; Dean Parnell
Other key lawyers:
Tracy Creed; Ian Sheppard
Testimonials
‘Mitra’s team is efficient and responds to, and acknowledges, emails quickly. Information is relayed in a timely manner, ensuring a reassuring continuity of work and contact. I want professionalism, reliability, honesty and efficiency in all services I pay for. Mitra’s team more than meets all of these.’
‘Mitra is very experienced, meticulous, and excels in her attention to detail. She *listens* and *remembers*, so time isn’t wasted on repetition. She never underestimates the adversary, nor indeed her client.’
‘Mitra Mann is an incredible lawyer with a calm and confident approach to rival other professionals. Her approach at mediations is very helpful while maintaining her clients’ confidence and position.’
‘Provides a gold-star service and very personable. Great knowledge and expertise with very clear and concise advice. Mitra Mann is an exceptionally knowledgeable and reliable legal professional, she is highly skilled and capable, providing an outstanding service with a personable and pragmatic approach.’
‘Mitra Mann is one of the few lawyers in the area able to advise on complex Court of Protection cases. Mitra’s wide experience in contested probate and trust cases, often of high value, allows her to navigate the most complex of cases to achieve the very best of outcomes for her clients.’
‘The team is headed by Mitra Mann who is a dynamic, intelligent and steadfast lawyer whose reputation in this area is the top of the field.’
‘Ian Sheppard: very hard-working and well versed in matters of commercial and property litigation, enabling a cross-over to suit the client’s needs.’
‘Mitra Mann: a genuine market leader in Court of Protection work, who holds many years’ worth of specialist contentious probate experience.’
Work highlights
- Successfully acted for a client who disputed the validity of his sister’s will.
- Successfully acted for an administrator who was in dispute with his co-administrator in relation to the distribution of the estate to the beneficiaries.
- Successfully acted for an adult child in securing reasonable provision from an estate under the 1975 Act by way of a life interest in the property where she resided with her mother most of her life.
The Wilkes Partnership
The busy team at The Wilkes Partnership continues to advise private individuals on an extensive range of disputes. These cases range from probate and Inheritance Act claims through to rectification cases. Practice head Kevin Lynch regularly advises executors, administrators and beneficiaries on a whole host of complex issues. Associate Jack Ackrill covers a wide range of disputes, and has recently dealt with several difficult disputes between executors.
Practice head(s):
Kevin Lynch
Other key lawyers:
Jack Ackrill
Testimonials
‘The team work incredibly well together. The contentious trusts and probate department at The Wilkes Partnership provides a seamless service.’
‘Kevin Lynch and Jack Ackrill were absolutely outstanding from the start. Kevin and Jack both know their subjects so well. Their professionalism, integrity and their ability to always think ahead makes them fantastic at what they do.’
‘Kevin is a very smart operator. Clients will be attracted to him if they want someone with a sharp intelligence and a person naturally able to get into the minds of his opponents. This makes him good at plotting his way through a case.’
‘Jack Ackrill is a very experienced operator, extremely personable, knowledgeable and efficient.’
‘The team are smart and legally savvy. They know exactly what the judge is looking for and how to present their case. Jack Ackrill is very good. He is commercially minded and knows exactly how to cut through a case. Jack is always well prepared.’
‘Jack Ackrill is a tenacious private client litigator. He secures good results for clients in court and at mediation. He is effective at identifying the key issues in complex disputes.’
‘Kevin Lynch: a well-known legal figure in Birmingham, who has achieved a great deal to bring his firm up to reputed levels in these disciplines within a short space of time. Jack Ackrill: a very able solicitor with specialist experience.’
‘Wilkes have a strong private client team with a wealth of quality work.‘
Gateley Legal
The team at Gateley Legal carries out work nationally for individual clients, banks, executors, trustees and beneficiaries. It is adept at handling large disputes and trust litigation in the UK and elsewhere. Andrew McManus is now at Knights plc. Associate Annam Nasir specialises in all types of contentious probate matters, but has a particular interest in Inheritance Act claims.
Other key lawyers:
Annam Nasir
Rothley Law Limited
Principal associate Laura Abbott leads the team at Rothley Law Limited, which covers a range of private wealth, trust and estate disputes. Abbott also regularly advises on professional negligence claims relating to will preparation and estate administration, as well as on other issues such as the validity of wills.
Practice head(s):
Laura Abbott
Testimonials
‘I found Rothley Law to be very professional and efficient. I was given good advice and kept informed at every step of my case. They made sure I understood what the legal procedure entailed. I had a very positive result due to the hard work put in by Laura Abbott at Rothley Law.’
‘Laura Abbott – I found her to be professional in her approach and there was great attention to detail. She took time to explain the course and detail of my case. She kept me updated at all times on the progress of my case and informed me on a regular basis.’
‘Despite being the new kids on the block, the ex-Shoosmiths team at Rothley have already carved themselves a formidable reputation in the private client world. The team is stacked with the highest calibre lawyers who have well-earned reputations as experts in this area.’
Work highlights
- Acting for a disinherited daughter in respect of her claim for reasonable financial provision from the estate of her late mother pursuant to the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
- Successfully acting for a beneficiary in removing the executors of the estate due to their failure to progress the estate administration in a timely manner, also recovering her costs together with an indemnity for the costs from the removed executors’ share of the estate.
- Acting for disinherited children in respect of their challenge to the validity of their late father’s will, on the basis of a lack of testamentary capacity due to grief following the Key v Key precedent, and settling at mediation.
Trowers & Hamlins LLP
At Trowers & Hamlins LLP, Helen Briant advises on a variety of high-value and complex private wealth disputes. The team has a particular focus on advising on cases involving family companies and business arrangements, and is also skilled at handling disputes with an international dimension.
Practice head(s):
Helen Briant
Key clients
Farihah Zaman, Dewan Raisul Hassan, Lana Zaman and Amani Zaman
Work highlights
- Acted for US executors and beneficiaries in respect of a claim brought by a disappointed beneficiary seeking an order that approximately £2m of assets pass outside the will by virtue of a death-bed wish. The matter went to a seven-day trial and is awaiting judgment.
- Acting for adult children in a complicated estate and trust dispute where there are several million pounds of assets (both personal and business), involving a claim under the 1975 Act, claims of misconduct by the trustees, injunctive relief and a number of complicated issues.
- Acting for trustees and beneficiaries in a £16m claim in connection with a family property business where there are allegations of fraudulent conduct and mismanagement.