Bio
Adrian is a Disputes Partner.
Adrian specialises in contentious wills, trusts and probate, advising individuals, families, charities and executors on complex and sensitive estate matters.
His practice centres on challenges to the validity of wills, including disputes involving testamentary capacity, undue influence, lack of knowledge, and approval and allegations of fraud. He also advises on proprietary estoppel (‘broken promises’) claims, disputes in relation to the administration of estates, and breaches of trustee duties.
Adrian acts for those who may have been excluded from a will (or received less than they had anticipated), beneficiaries who are concerned as to the administration of an estate, executors who are in dispute with the beneficiaries or with each other, beneficiaries facing claims against the estate by third parties, and both beneficiaries and trustees of disputed trusts.
Many of Adrian’s cases are resolved through mediation, allowing clients to achieve practical and cost-effective outcomes. He also has experience representing clients through the mediation process – negotiating outcomes which meet his clients’ objectives.
Adrian is a full member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).
Examples of Adrian’s work include:
- Defending a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 brought by an estranged child of the deceased, achieving a favourable outcome for the client through settlement at mediation.
- Acting for a disappointed beneficiary who was excluded from the deceased’s last will in circumstances where the validity of the will was in doubt based on fraudulent calumny, successfully securing a positive outcome at mediation.
- Acting for a charity beneficiary of an estate where the validity of the deceased’s last will was disputed, successfully warding off the allegations made.
- Securing control of, and the full value of, an estate in a dispute where the parentage of a child of the deceased was contested.
- Acting for the adult son of the deceased in the reported High Court case of Waite v Skilton [2024] EWHC 3153 (Ch), successfully obtaining rectification of his late mother’s codicil which did not reflect her intentions.