David is a member of the firm’s litigation department and has specialist expertise in disputed wills trusts and estates, including will validity claims and challenges, claims involving the administration of estates, proprietary estoppel, Inheritance Act claims and disputes involving trustees, executors and beneficiaries. David was named Private Client 'Rising Star of the Year' at the Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards 2024, awarded to him following a comprehensive research programme based on feedback from David's clients and external contacts. He was also awarded Young Practitioner of the Year at the industry leading British Wills and Probate Awards 2022 for delivering “exceptional levels of client care”, “demonstrating high levels of skill and technical ability”, showing “a flair for innovation and championing best practice” and finding “solutions in challenging situations”. He was also recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ of the legal sector by the North West Business Insider 2023, and is part of the winning team at the Manchester Legal Awards 2022 for Litigation Team of the Year. He is a member of the contentious trusts association (ConTrA), the Northern Contentious Probate Group and the STEP Contentious Probate Special Interest Group. David has extensive court and ADR experience, particularly mediation, and is regularly instructed by a variety of clients including high net worth individuals, trustees and professionals
England - North West • Private client
Weightmans LLP
The ‘very efficient and professional’ team at Weightmans LLP works in synergy with the non-contentious private wealth and family departments to provide a holistic service to clients. As such, the firm is geared to act for clients with considerable foreign, business and charitable assets. The contentious department, led by national head Matthew Morton, has seen an uptick in work such as propriety estoppel and professional negligence claims, as well as being routinely involved in disagreements between executors and trustees. A reputed practitioner in the dispute resolution sphere, Robert Jones continues to build an impressive portfolio of high value Inheritance Act claims and will challenges on the grounds of capacity and fraud, while ’personable and effective’ David McGuire has been highly active in department matters, including complex trust work and highly contested Court of Protection cases.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘I work with Weightmans and rate them highly as a firm in the region. They have great strength in the practice area.’
‘I have worked with David McGuire. I consider him to be excellent solicitors. David has sound judgment and is very competent and efficient.'
‘I have worked with David McGuire on a contentious probate matter (acting for different parties). The matter involved acrimonious disputes with very difficult executors, including a professional executor. David worked very hard and showed great professionalism and patience to secure a settlement and distribution of the estate to our respective clients.’
‘The speed of response has been exceptional. Litigant correspondence is reviewed and provided to us along with draft responses in timescales that have consistently exceeded my expectations over a period of many months. There is a willingness to take feedback and make modifications which serves to create a strong sense of teamwork between client and advisor. David McGuire deserves specific note in this regard.’
‘David McGuire is both personable and effective. A steady pair of hands and a pleasure to work with.’
‘I have been instructed as a barrister by Weightmans on one matter, a complex will construction dispute. I have found the team to be very efficient and professional. My instructions were provided by David McGuire who has shown excellent technical understanding and an appreciation of the tactical considerations affecting the client's position.’
Lawyers
Rising stars
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Matthew Morton