Contentious trusts and probate

Withers LLP

Client Satisfaction

Withers LLP ‘is at the top of the tree in terms of private client work and trust related matters. It has a wealth of experienced lawyers in its ranks and a well-earned reputation for being very client focused and diligent’. It has ’great strength in depth in its lawyer bench’. Led by Suzanne Todd, it has continued to attract a variety of complex and high-value cases from around the globe. The entire team is adept at handling cross-border and complicated trusts, estate, inheritance, and Court of Protection disputes. It has a solid grounding in charity legacy disputes, and in domestic work too. Paul Hewitt continues to be recognised as one of the top contentious trusts and probate practitioners, along with Steven Kempster. Stephen Richards is increasingly advising families of which a vulnerable member, often with cognitive decline, has suffered financial abuse. Natasha Stourton has a particular interest in the succession and trusteeship of digital assets and cryptocurrencies. Senior Counsel Dawn Goodman is recommended, along with Alice Tomlin, Sarah Aughwane, and Alexandra Dix.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘This is one of the strongest contentious trusts and probate teams in the country. Paul Hewitt is a master of strategy and tactics and not someone you would want to face on the other side.'
‘Stephen Richards is an excellent solicitor and litigator. He is calm and unflappable, providing clear and measured advice to clients, even in very difficult and challenging circumstances and is excellent at identifying a clear strategy for a case.'
'Natasha Stourton provided seamless support for me and my junior. Other excellent work in the team was done in particular by Richard Walker and Alexandra Dix.'
‘A huge and talented team that is industry leading in its scope, knowledge, and experience. Paul Hewitt is one of the big names. A tenacious and highly effective litigator.'
‘Paul Hewitt is one of the best in this area; an astute tactician, unflappable, clever and hugely experienced. Natasha Stourton is sensitive to the client's needs, calm, experienced and strategic. Sarah Aughwane is very calm, has a wealth of knowledge and above all a strategic approach.’
‘Steven Kempster is exceptional in his attention to detail, his calmness and clarity of thinking and his manner with clients. He comes without any ego or airs and graces and provides excellent service.’
‘Natasha Stourton and Dawn Goodman are arguably the finest trusts and estates team in London; there is nothing they do not know and nothing they cannot do. Real strength at all levels.’
'Paul Hewitt is an outstanding practitioner. Extremely knowledgeable and super experienced; a consummate litigator. Stephen Richards is both one of the finest and also one of the nicest litigators around. Sarah Aughwane is clever, approachable, and diligent.'

Key clients

GP Hinduja and Family
Beneficiary of trusts
Two Private Trust Companies
Bond
Trident Trust Company (Singapore) Pte Ltd
S Etroy and RBC
Macmillan Cancer Support and Marie Curie
Chan

Work highlights

Acted for three of the Hinduja brothers, one of Britain's wealthiest families, in Court of Protection proceedings involving over 20 hearings (at First Instance and the Court of Appeal) arising from the incapacity of the family's patriarch.
Advising two of the children of a multimillionaire tyre magnate and racehorse breeder on challenging the validity of his purported last will.
Advised the trustees of two high-value BVI trusts holding assets in Hong King, Singapore, Japan, and Australia on the successful court blessing of their decision to partition and distribute the trust assets against a highly acrimonious family background which included a dispute over parental rights arising out of international surrogacy arrangements.

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