England - London • Private client

Mills & Reeve LLP

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Mills & Reeve LLP has an ‘experienced specialist team that forms part of a high quality full service firm with a national reach’. It is ably led by Norwich-based David Catchpole , Manchester/Leeds-based Simon Pedley, and Lucy Howard who is at the Birmingham office. It is skilled at handling a diverse range of complex and high-value disputes spanning actions involving trustees and executors, and issues over the validity of wills. It also acts for a number of charities in a range of contested legacy disputes.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Lucy Howard has a very high level of technical knowledge, combining great strength and depth in core chancery practice areas such as trusts litigation and 1975 Act claims. She is excellent with vulnerable clients and provides a robust approach to litigation'.
  • 'David Catchpole is widely considered to be at the forefront of the field - he has extensive knowledge of private client areas and can draw upon a wealth of experience in litigating higher profile and more complex private client disputes'.
  • ‘The team offers a more personal service than many of the bigger firms: being a regional firm they can combine local knowledge and understanding with real expertise in the practice area'.

  • ‘David Catchpole is very experienced and a very reassuring presence to his clients: he really fights their corner'.

  • 'Lucy Howard works incredibly hard and achieves excellent outcomes for her clients as a result - she is absolutely dedicated to their cases and uses her thorough understanding of the law to explore every angle and manoeuvre into the strongest possible position'.
  • 'Kieran Leahy is a real upcoming young associate in this area: he is absolutely committed, working incredibly hard, and has excellent instincts’.
  • ‘Simon Pedley - very experienced and skilled lawyer in this area, with considerable commercial acumen and excellent communication skills’.

  • ‘Mills & Reeve are an excellent firm in all aspects of private client work including contentious trusts and probate. Highly recommended. Have worked with a large number of people across the various offices and consistently impressed at all levels by the depth of knowledge and practical approach for clients'.

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Key clients

  • Peter Christian Velarde
  • Administrator of the Estate of Mrs Cadogan
  • Widow of deceased businessman

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

David Catchpole, Simon Pedley, Lucy Howard

Other key lawyers

Kieran Leahy