I am a Solicitor and Partner, based at the Firm’s Sandbach office, and have worked at Butcher & Barlow LLP since 2010.
I studied at Lancaster University before undertaking the Graduate Diploma in Law in Manchester and the Legal Practice Course at The College of Law.
I specialise in Private Client work and Contentious Probate, advising and representing clients in the following areas:
Private Client
- Wills;
- Probate and estate administration;
- Lasting Powers of Attorney;
- Trusts;
- Court of Protection applications.
Contentious Probate
- Disputes about the validity of Wills, including concerns about testamentary capacity and undue influence;
- Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975;
- Disputes concerning the administration of estates.
My experience across both areas enables me to advise clients with an understanding of how disputes arise and how they may be avoided. My work preparing Wills and administering estates provides valuable insight when dealing with contentious probate matters. Equally, my experience of estate disputes helps me identify potential difficulties when drafting Wills or advising executors, allowing clients to take steps to reduce the risk of future claims.
Cases of note in which I have been involved include:
- A multi-million-pound probate dispute involving allegations that the main beneficiary had unduly influenced the person making the Will;
- Defending a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 involving agricultural land, where a successful claim could have affected the succession of the family farming business;
- Administering a sizeable estate involving jurisdictional issues with potential tax implications amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
I am also a Notary Public and regularly assist individuals and businesses with documents required for use overseas. My work involves certifying and authenticating documents for use in foreign jurisdictions. This work is entirely separate from my work as a Solicitor and is regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
