Adrian is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution team.
With over 10 years’ experience in contentious probate, Adrian has extensive experience dealing with challenges to wills.
His expertise focuses on queries and concerns around will validity, including dealing with challenges around mental capacity and undue influence being exerted at the point of will generation. He also deals with ‘broken promises’ claims – also called estoppel claims – and disputes between beneficiaries and executors as to the administration of estates.
In addition, he has specialist skills dealing with claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 where a will doesn’t make sufficient provision for a family member(s) in an estate. This includes the applications to court where appropriate.
Many of Adrian’s cases settle via mediation. He represents his clients at mediation including preparation and ensuring that any settlement agreement is viable and meets the client’s requirements. Resolving challenges pragmatically and cost effectively via mediation can often mitigate costs and the undue stress of going to court.
Adrian acts for a private individuals and families, often with diverse family trees, and is an accredited member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).
He also deals with disputes including breach of contract, sale of goods and supply of services, negligence claims, adverse possession and residential property disputes including landlord and tenant issues.
Recent examples of how Adrian has supported clients include:
- acting for the main beneficiary of an estate where the validity of the will was challenged on grounds of undue influence, lack of mental capacity and lack of knowledge and approval of the terms of the Will. The dispute was settled via mediation;
- defending a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 where a will was disputed by a child estranged from their deceased parent. A favourable settlement was reached via mediation;
- bringing a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 on behalf of a long-term cohabitee who had been left with no provision as the deceased partner had not made a Will, settling the claim on terms favourable to the client;
- obtaining control of, and the full value of, an estate where the parentage of the child of the deceased was disputed and
- recovering a parcel of land via adverse possession for the occupier of a property where some of the land was registered to others.