Litigation

Partner Amy works in the litigation department, as part of the contentious trust and estates team, after training at the firm and qualifying in February 2015. She acts on a range of disputes relating to wills and probate, including questions of undue influence, lack of capacity and want of knowledge and approval. She is familiar with both bringing and defending claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act with resolution via mediation or in the Court. She advises trustees and beneficiaries in the resolution of issues arising from the administration of trusts, including the removal of trustees, applications for directions, and fee disputes. She also has experience of applications to the Court of Protection.

Amy joined Harcus Sinclair in February 2011 as a paralegal in both the litigation and family departments before staring her training contract with the firm in August 2013, and then qualifying into the litigation department in February 2015.

Recent experiences

Acting for the executor and trustee defendants to an Inheritance Act claim brought by a widow in defending an argument for a nuptial settlement.

• Acting for the applicants to a variation of trusts application to extend the perpetuity period of a trust and update the terms of the trust to include future generations.

• Liaising with professional trustees to improve communications with our beneficiary client to avoid the need for further action.

• Advising on the settlement of an Inheritance Act claim under CPR Part 36 and the subsequent costs consequences.

• Advising siblings in relation to their beneficial interest in their grandmother’s estate with testamentary documents with disputed validity and intimated Inheritance Act claims by elderly relatives.

• Applications to the Court of Protection for deputyship and safeguarding.

Amy is a member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists. She is also a member of ConTrA, the Contentious Trusts Association.

Amy graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a degree in history. She went on to complete the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course at BBP in London. She furthered her legal studies at BPP in the areas of international business law and pre-nuptial agreements, obtaining an LLM (PLP) with Distinction.