Ian Johnston is a Senior Associate located in Manchester in our Will and Trust Disputes department
Ian Johnston is a Senior Associate in our Contentious Trusts and Probate team. He is recognised as a key lawyer in the Legal 500.
Ian holds full membership of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) and has attained the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Advanced Certificate in Trust Disputes. He is a member of the Contentious Trusts Association (ConTra) and also holds Affiliate Membership of STEP including membership of the STEP Special Interest Group for Contentious Trusts and Estates.
He has a depth of knowledge and experience across a wide range of claims including Inheritance Act claims, contested will disputes, executor, trustee and trust disputes, funeral disputes, claims for will rectification, recovery of assets to estates and Court of Protection disputes including attorney or deputy investigations. He works with a variety of clients and assists both professional and non-professional executors, trustees and deputies.
An experienced and assured litigator, clients like his professionalism and he is known as someone who works diligently to ensure the best outcome for his clients.
A former member of JMW’s Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning team, Ian’s background provides him with a unique understanding of the issues which underpin the various claims and disputes in which he acts.
SOME EXAMPLES OF IAN’S WORK:
- Securing a financial interest in a trust for potential beneficiaries in a complex trust dispute where the original trust documents were lost several years ago and obtaining a further sum for those beneficiaries in associated negligence proceedings pursued against the trustees of the trust.
- Successfully obtaining permission to pursue an Inheritance (PFD) Act 1975 claim out of time and achieving a significant sum for the client at trial.
- Obtaining urgent injunctions relating to the proposed cremation of a body where his clients alleged that the cremation would have been in contravention of the Deceased’s religious beliefs.
- Acting on numerous occasions for common law partners where the Deceased has not left a will and adult children who have been excluded from a will following their parent remarrying.
- Acting in claims to challenge wills on the grounds of lack of capacity, lack of knowledge and approval, undue influence and fraudulent calumny.