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Personal or professional, sometimes there are occasions when disputes simply can’t be avoided. If you’re caught up in litigation, we understand you want an expert team of contentious probate lawyers on your side to help protect your position and achieve the best outcome.

Our award winning contentious probate solicitors are top-rated by independent legal services guides Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners and are known for the breadth and depth of our national client base and our unrivalled knowledge. As one of the largest and strongest litigation teams across the North of England, we’re recognised for our commitment to our clients and our understanding of their needs, for our tactically sophisticated and pragmatic advice and our cutting edge approach to litigation.

Disputes over wills, inheritance and estates are a particular specialism, having acted for numerous clients on these matters. Our experience in dealing with these matters means we are well placed to support succession planning; drafting wills which seek to minimise potential sources of conflict and future estate disputes. Our team have specialist qualifications (ACTAPS) in this niche area of law, complimenting our broad experience.

Sometimes court isn’t the only solution, and our team of inheritance dispute solicitors are experienced at handling mediations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, offering a cost-effective and timely alternative. If your case does reach court, you can be assured of our proven trial experience and successful track record.

Our trusts and probate dispute solicitors also understand that dispute resolution has the potential to be a large financial undertaking. We have a wealth of financial provision experience, putting in place innovative cost solutions, including no-win, no fee agreements, which enable clients to manage risk and litigate from a position of strength.

If you’re entering a dispute, you need a proactive, experienced team in your corner to deliver the very best outcome for you. We’re right here and ready to help.

Our services
  • Contested estates and trusts
  • Contractual disputes
  • Defamation
  • Director and Shareholder disputes
  • Disputed wills
  • Financial service disputes
  • Fire claims
  • Injunctions
  • Insurance disputes
  • Intellectual property disputes
  • Investment disputes
  • IT claims
  • Pensions disputes
  • Private wealth disputes
  • Professional negligence

Contact a specialist

Martin Woodford

Partner | Commercial Litigation

+44 (0) 330 137 3319

+44 (0)791 232 8152

Email Martin Woodford

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Gaynor Jackson

Consultant | Wills, trusts and legacies

+44 (0) 330 137 3344

Email Gaynor Jackson

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Ashleigh Lavender

Managing Associate | Commercial Litigation

+44 (0) 330 137 3297

+44 (0) 792 188 5944

Email Ashleigh

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Matthew Sigsworth

Managing Associate | Commercial Litigation

+44 (0) 330 137 3298

+44 (0) 754 810 8572

Email Matthew

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What people say

  • You have been there to help me through the most harrowing experience of my life. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your hard work, advice, patience, and consideration in getting me to this stage of my case

    Client Quote
  • I just want to personally thank you. You have been so kind, and so helpful and went above and beyond, even whilst on holiday. I really appreciated that

    Client Quote
  • Ashleigh, I just wanted to say thank you so very much for all you have done for me…..It has been absolute pleasure working with you and you certainly made things as easy as it could possibly have been for me. I'm so glad to be able to put it all behind me now but do not regret upholding my mother's worth. For that I am glad I followed through to the point that I did

    Client Quote
  • Gaynor Jackson is one of the most experienced advisers I use. I trust her views wholly. Gaynor is always happy to give initial and sound advice, enabling my clients to make informed decisions

    Legal 500, client quote
  • Martin Woodford is a meticulous partner who pays great attention to detail

    Legal 500, client quote
  • Ward Hadaway are helpful and collaborative in many ways, from helping with drafting wills & trusts to the more complicated issues surrounding Inheritance Tax rules in the UK – nothing is too much trouble for them, irrespective of the size of the client; that’s something you don’t see in other regional firms.

    Legal 500
  • Extremely knowledgeable and very helpful. They give full disclosure of costs and will go that extra mile to help clients.

    Legal 500
  • A large firm; however, you feel that you are still dealing with a local practice that is very client-orientated

    Legal 500
  • The team are always approachable and available. Advice is given on an initial basis, with clear costs estimates for taking matters forward.

    Legal 500

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