Mills & Reeve LLP has 'an extremely strong team with a national reputation for excellence'. The firm is frequently involved in complex cases involving assets exceeding £10m in value. The work encompasses claims under the Inheritance Act 1975, disputes concerning the validity of wills, and actions involving trustees and executors. Partner Lucinda Brown in Cambridge joined from BDB Pitmans in late 2023 and now co-leads the practice with David Catchpole in Norwich. They lead a group of lawyers, among them Cambridge-based associate James Russ, who are 'bright and conscientious and genuinely care about their clients'. The majority of the team are members of ACTAPS.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Lucinda Brown was on the ball and was able to communicate quite complex legal points across to a client who had limited knowledge of the subject and had the ability to mirror the character of her client. ’
‘My solicitor, Lucinda Brown, is very thorough. She has given me sound advice thus far. She is honest in her opinions and gives advice accordingly. Her correspondence is thorough and detailed.’
‘David Catchpole is a hugely knowledgeable and capable lawyer. His knowledge of the law is second to none, and he always has his clients' best interests at heart. James Russ is an-up and-coming star. He is a strong litigator who fights hard to achieve exceptional results for his clients.’
‘An extremely strong team with a national reputation for excellence. They have an excellent grasp of the law, and are able to draw upon the considerable experience of other teams within the firm when appropriate. Clients generally love them, and it is not uncommon to see them repeatedly instructed by the same families.’
‘The firm is very thorough. Thankfully I haven’t had the need for a firm of solicitors until now, but I can honestly say that the team have been extremely professional in their conduct.’
‘David Catchpole and James Russ are the real thing: careful and thoughtful advisers but tough negotiators with intelligent, sceptical minds.’
‘I am a great fan of Mills & Reeve and have worked with many individual lawyers at all levels across all their offices on both contentious and non-contentious matters. I am consistently impressed with the quality of individual lawyers, the collegiate and supportive work environment, legal knowledge and their courteous approach to their work and other professionals.’
'David Catchpole has sound judgement in assessing merits, strategy and tactics and very good at dealing with difficult clients and opponents. All of the others a bit more skewed towards non-contentious work but I would trust them to run any substantial contentious trust and probate work.’