Chambers High Net Worth Rankings 2026

We are acting for the beneficiaries of a substantial family estate in a high-stakes dispute involving challenges to the validity of two wills. A disinherited family member seeks to overturn the deceased’s testamentary intentions by alleging lack of testamentary capacity and undue influence.

Recognising the importance of early strategic intervention, our team moved swiftly to secure retrospective expert medical evidence confirming that the deceased had the requisite testamentary capacity at the relevant times and was not susceptible to undue influence. We undertook a detailed forensic review of the will-drafting process, worked closely with leading counsel and secured comprehensive witness evidence at an early stage, placing our clients in the strongest possible position to defend the claim.

Beyond the will validity challenge, we developed a broader litigation strategy to address related claims advanced under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and proprietary estoppel, ensuring that all avenues of risk and opportunity were considered holistically. Following the service of a robust and carefully constructed response, the parties are now progressing towards mediation.

The dispute concerns an exceptionally complex estate valued at more than £150 million, including a privately-owned business with significant commercial, agricultural and residential property interests, as well as historic succession and estate administration issues spanning multiple generations. To deliver a seamless and comprehensive service, we have worked closely with colleagues across our commercial disputes, pensions and tax teams, providing fully integrated advice on the legal, commercial and tax implications of the dispute.

This matter showcases our ability to manage some of the most complex and valuable contentious probate and trust disputes in the market, combining technical expertise, strategic litigation planning and multidisciplinary support to protect our clients’ interests and achieve commercially effective outcomes.

We act for family members of a celebrated UK author - whose works have been adapted into major screen productions - across a range of legal matters, including reputation management. This long-standing relationship reflects our ability to provide joined-up, discreet advice to high-profile families seeking to safeguard their reputation and privacy rights in the public sphere.

Recently, we were instructed by one family member in connection with a serious matter involving defamatory statements and privacy violations published on Instagram. The matter required swift and decisive action: the content in question had the potential to cause significant and lasting reputational harm, as well as constituting a breach of our client's reasonable expectation of privacy.

Our team advised on the applicable law of defamation and misuse of private information, and pursued an effective strategy that achieved a successful outcome for our client — with the offending content removed.

This matter illustrates the increasingly prominent role that social media plays in reputation management for high-profile individuals and their families. For intermediaries advising wealthy or prominent clients, early legal intervention in cases of online defamation or privacy breach can be critical to limiting reputational damage and protecting personal wellbeing. Our team is experienced in acting quickly and confidentially in exactly these circumstances.