Hugh James‘ contentious trusts team supports private clients and charities, including health, care, animal, and faith-based organisations. Members of the team regularly act on probate disputes, proprietary estoppel and legacy claims. Roman Kubiak leads the team, advising clients on cross-border estate disputes concerning undue influence and breach of trust. Matthew Evans acts for beneficiaries, professional trustees, company directors, and charities. Within the team, John Davies focuses on claims concerning will validity, inheritance and the removal of executors and trustees.
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Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- The contentious probate team goes from strength to strength. The excellent Ryan Taylor now heads up the London office, with Roman Kubiak remaining a towering presence as head of the national team. They are the standout firm locally for this sort of work and a growing national presence, giving the established London-based contentious probate teams a real run for their money.
- A well-regarded Cardiff firm with a growing national presence.
- Roman Kubiak is hardworking and great with clients. He really goes the extra mile.
- Roman Kubiak - A top-notch lawyer and great with clients.
- Market leader in this field, started in Wales but is now nationwide.
- John Davies is a standout solicitor. He exudes a maturity and confidence beyond his years and offers real expertise to his clients.
Work highlights
Advised a widow and discretionary beneficiary in a contentious estate dispute where late changes severed property ownership and introduced a discretionary trust, assessing a will challenge on capacity and undue influence and, in the alternative, a potential Inheritance Act claim for reasonable provision.
Advised an individual following a parent’s death in a high-value estate and family partnership dispute, analysing beneficial ownership of agricultural and development property and related debt, while sensitively managing vulnerable overseas beneficiaries and coordinating counsel, insolvency and valuation experts.
Acted for five charities in an urgent, cross-border will dispute involving allegations of undue influence, lack of capacity and professional negligence, securing caveats in England and offshore jurisdictions for a £3m estate and advising on associated inheritance tax implications.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
John Davies
Practice head
Roman Kubiak
Other key lawyers
Matthew Evans; John Davies