Partner strengthens Ward Hadaway’s commercial litigation team
15th April, 2026
Ward Hadaway has appointed Matthew Morton as a partner in its commercial litigation team, strengthening its private client disputes capability across England.
Matthew will lead the development of its disputed wills, trusts and estates work in Yorkshire and the North West, alongside specialist colleagues across other offices. The appointment forms part of plans to further develop the firm’s private client practice nationally.
He brings more than 20 years’ experience, with a focus on contentious trusts and probate work over the past 15 years. He was previously Head of Disputed Wills, Trusts and Estates at Weightmans.
Matthew will focus on the firm’s work involving private individuals and high-value estates, including agricultural assets and complex family structures.
Commenting on his appointment, Matthew said: “I’ve joined Ward Hadaway to grow our dedicated disputed wills, trusts and estates offering. There is a clear opportunity to build on the firm’s existing strengths and further develop its capability across England.
“Our work spans a broad range of contentious issues, from challenges involving family estates through to high-value matters involving agricultural land and significant property portfolios. The aim is to grow a sustainable practice, develop a strong pipeline of work and continue to build a team over time to support that growth.”
Matthew is ranked in Chambers and Partners for private wealth disputes in Yorkshire and the North East and is a long-standing member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).
Emma Digby, Executive Partner in Ward Hadaway’s Leeds office and head of the firm’s Commercial Litigation team, said: “Matthew’s appointment strengthens our capability and adds further depth to our private client expertise. His experience in building and leading a specialist contentious trusts and probate practice will support our plans to grow this area of work in Yorkshire, the North West and the West Midlands.
“We are seeing increasing demand for advice in this space, driven in part by rising property values and more complex family arrangements. Greater awareness of the ability to challenge wills and estates is also contributing to higher levels of dispute. Building on the successful work of the Newcastle-based contentious probate team and strengthening our presence in Leeds is an important step in supporting clients nationally – it’s great to have him on board.”
The firm’s Managing Partner, Steven Petrie, said: “Attracting talented partners to extend our service and reach is a central tenet of our growth strategy. I am delighted to welcome Matthew to the firm, building on an already growing service line, and strengthening our national private client offering.”
Ward Hadaway employs nearly 600 people and operates from offices in Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Teesside.
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