Ben joined JMW in December 2020 and is a Partner in the Contentious Trusts and Probate team.
Ben is an Associate Member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) and is also a member of the STEP Contentious Trusts and Estates Special Interest Group.
Ben has a wealth of experience of acting for clients on a local, national and international level dealing with a range of high value and complex disputes. He has significant experience in bringing claims under the Inheritance Act 1975, disputes relating to the validity of wills, trusts and lifetime gifts; and acting in these disputes for executors, personal representatives, trustees, beneficiaries and third parties.
Ben has significant experience of supporting vulnerable clients and has been appointed by the court to act as a professional litigation friend.
Ben has been ranked in the Chambers High Net Worth guide since 2023 as well as the Legal 500 for a number of years for Contentious Trusts and Probate, with feedback including:
Ben was a finalist for the Young Professional Award at the LBV Sub36 Awards with feedback from the judges being:
“A self-disciplined and emotionally intelligent professional. He has obtained deserved recognition within his profession and will continue to thrive.”
Specific examples of Ben’s work includes:
- Representing a beneficiary of a £12m trust in a trustee “blessing application”, finally heard in the High Court in Manchester, achieved indemnity costs for the client
- Advising SSAS trustees and beneficiaries in a number of SSAS trust disputes
- Advising family members of a former African president in relation to complex trust issues. The worldwide trust value in the £100m's.
- Acting for high profile actress in the successful defence of a challenge to the validity of a family member's will. Substantial costs order awarded in favour of my client.
- Acting for high profile director/producer in the defence of a claim under the Inheritance Act 1975.
- Acting for trustees of an unincorporated association valued at around £3m on the successful removal of a trustee, and advising on the subsequent winding up of the trust.
- Jump and Jones v Lister and Forresters Solicitors Limited [2016] EWHC 2160 (Ch). Successfully acting for the Executors and Residuary Beneficiaries in a dispute relating to the interpretation of two Wills, and successfully acting in related professional negligence proceedings against the solicitors who drafted the Will.
- Acting for a spouse in a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 against her Deceased husband’s Estate. The Estate was valued at £18m and was subject to a fairly complex trust. Achieved a substantial seven figure settlement for the client.
- Acting for claimants and defendants on a number of challenges to the validity of wills on the basis of lack of capacity, want of knowledge and approval and fraud.
Ben discussed various contentious probate questions including how to claim against an estate or challenge the validity of a will, as well as Larke v Nugus requests for our Lawshare partners.
It was an absolute pleasure working with Ben of JMW Solicitors – acting for one of the residuary beneficiaries - where we were appointed independent administrators on a long running dispute between the residuary beneficiaries who did not get on and needed the court to resolve which Will was valid. Ben made the almost impossible process workable, using his experience and professionalism which were pivotal in bringing the matter to a satisfactory conclusion.
