Lee Dawkins
Partner
Lee Dawkins is a supervising partner in Slee Blackwell's litigation department. He also serves as the firm's Marketing Partner, leading our digital strategy.
We have one of the largest contentious probate teams in the country, dealing with inheritance disputes, contested wills, and trusts disputes nationwide.
We deal with all aspects of contentious probate, including claims under the Inheritance Act, contesting the validity of wills on grounds such as lack of mental capacity, undue influence, and fraud, as well as dealing with disputes with executors and beneficiaries. We are also highly experienced in dealing with disputes that involve assets abroad, as well as claims based on proprietary estoppel, and TOLATA.
It’s natural to be upset if you discover someone close to you has favoured another family member or friend in their will, or has failed to give you the financial protection you expected. Although it can be difficult at these times to think about the legal side of things, it is important to speak to an expert lawyer as soon as possible.
Taking advice early on may ensure you do not lose the ability to challenge the distribution of the estate or the validity of the will itself. Strict time limits operate, especially in relation to Inheritance Act claims, where court proceedings must be brought within six months of probate being granted. You could therefore lose out if you don’t act quickly.
We also assist beneficiaries, executors, and charities in defending Inheritance Act claims and disputed Will challenges.
Judges encourage parties to resolve inheritance claims and will disputes before they reach the courtroom. We are strong advocates of alternative dispute resolution, particularly mediation, where we have a 95% success rate. Not only is mediation cheaper and faster than court action, but it also provides a better chance of restoring family relationships.
We are often able to work on a No Win – No Fee basis and will be happy to review the suitability of any case free of charge. We can also work on a ‘deferred fees’ basis, where payment of the legal costs is deferred until the estate has been administered.
For expert guidance on any area of contentious probate law contact a member of our Legal 500 recommended inheritance dispute team for a free consultation. The team includes partners Lee Dawkins, Naomi Ireson, and Chris Holten, Senior Consultant Solicitor Hayley Bundey, and Associate Solicitors Anya Hoyland, Bronte Pettifer, Helen Clegg. and Sabrina Morey.
There are over 100 articles on this website, dealing with every aspect of inheritance law and contested wills imaginable. They are a treasury of helpful information and can be accessed free of charge. Simply type a topic into the search bar at the top of this page to find an article that’s relevant to your case.
We are hugely experienced in dealing with cases where the validity of a will is disputed. We are proud of our track record of success which includes claims involving mental incapacity, undue influence and fraud.
Our team have achieved great success in bringing and defending Inheritance Act claims, many involving multi-million pound estates.
Disputes between executors or trustees are common. When matters reach crisis point and legal intervention is required then our specialist team is on hand to offer expert guidance.
If you need help with a caveat, warning or appearance then our highly experienced lawyers will be able to give you the guidance you need.
Have you lost out as a result of someone going back on their word? Have you been made a financial promise that hasn’t been honoured? Has a loved one been persuaded to transfer their interest in a property to somebody else? Our specialist team are experienced in dealing with this complex area of law.
We have a proven track record in both bringing and defending Inheritance Act and beneficial interest claims, on behalf of the LGBT community. Speak to specialist solicitor Chris Holten about how we can help you.
We represent beneficiaries and executors who are facing a contested probate claim from a third party and wish to defend the case.
Lee Dawkins is a supervising partner in Slee Blackwell's litigation department. He also serves as the firm's Marketing Partner, leading our digital strategy.
Naomi is a Legal 500 recommended specialist in contested probate and heads up our specialist team.
Chris is a specialist contentious probate solicitor with a first class track record of success.
Hayley is a Senior Consultant Solicitor who works in association with Slee Blackwell, specialising in inheritance and trusts disputes. She has extensive experience in claims under the Inheritance Act 1975, challenges to the validity of wills, trust & executor disputes, and beneficial interest claims.
Anya Hoyland is a solicitor in our inheritance and trust dispute team.
Sabrina Morey is a member of our contentious probate team, dealing with a range of inheritance disputes, including challenges to the validity of wills, claims under the Inheritance Act, disputes between trustees and executors, and beneficial interest cases, such as proprietary estoppel and TOLATA claims.
Bronte Pettifer is a solicitor in our contentious probate team.
Kara Shaw is a solicitor in our contentious probate team.
No results found.