International trust and estate litigation

All families can unfortunately find themselves in dispute, particularly around issues concerning inheritance, estates and family wealth.

Where such disputes have an international element, it is vital that you have access to lawyers with the knowledge and network to ensure that the complexities and nuances of such matters are navigated clearly and calmly with a view to effective resolution.

Our specialist private wealth team offers real breadth of knowledge, expertise and experience to assist you when matters become difficult.

We advise on a comprehensive range of contentious issues including:

Actions to remove trustees and executors
Breach of trust
Disputes between beneficiaries and trustees
Disputed Court of Protection work

Disputed wills and 1975 Act claims
Interpretation of wills and trust documents
Litigation with third parties
Proprietary estoppel claims

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Our experience

Here are some examples of our work in this area:

Acted for the claimant widow in a 1975 Act claim concerning a £15M estate, with assets, trusts and pensions in England, Spain, Gibraltar, Jersey, Bulgaria, and the UAE.
Advised an Isle of Man beneficiary of valuable wills and trusts on issues concerning the validity of the location of the trust, and the effect of general provisions in a will on previous exercises of discretion under the trust.
Enforced a Jersey judgment in England on behalf of a Jersey trust company.
Acted on a dispute concerning the validity of the gift of funds held in a Swiss bank account.
Acted for five large charities who were beneficiaries of a Guernsey trust in a dispute involving points of interpretation/construction and a claim for breach of trust.
Acted for Australian clients pursuing a 1975 Act claim against a family member’s English estate.
Advised the executor of a UK estate in a dispute with a Liechtenstein trust company concerning a £100M art collection in London.
Acted for an estate in Monaco, with assets in England, France and the Netherlands. We advised the wife of the deceased Dutch national seeking to enforce provisions in a financial agreement.
Acted on a claim for overcharging the trust against professional offshore trustees in Guernsey, combined with a negligence claim in respect of erroneous tax advice.
Cross border Court of Protection work advising on the enforcement of a UK Court of Protection order, in respect of P’s assets in Monaco.

Did you know?

Record-breaking

Last year we helped a record number of clients resolve their disputes.

Nationwide

We have specialist solicitors across multiple offices, from London to Norwich to Manchester.

Legal directories

The team is proud to be top rated in the legal directories across large parts of the country.

Our expertise

Agricultural inheritance disputes

Contentious landed estates

Contentious probate

Contesting the validity of a will

Defending an estate

Disputes concerning charities

Estate, trust and will disputes

Gifts and financial abuse

International trust and estate litigation

Proprietary estoppel

Trust disputes

Our clients

We act in disputed matters for many clients, both UK-domiciled and otherwise, with international interests. We act for executors, trustees, beneficiaries, protectors, trust companies, charities, banks and professionals involved in such matters, and via our trust corporation often act in such roles ourselves on contentious estates and trusts.

Our focus in disputes work is to help you navigate the often difficult emotional and personal issues that arise, while keeping a clear focus on commercial, practical and cost-effective solutions, using our years of expertise.

What our clients say about us

Dealing with complex matters but simplifying them so the client can understand is a key strength of Mills & Reeve.
Chambers UK
I am consistently impressed by the quality, intelligence and knowledge of fee-earners and the courteous, professional and civilised manner in which even highly contentious matters are conducted. Highly recommended.
Legal 500
Mills & Reeve is really efficient in their use of resources. I rate them on complex matters too, especially technical issues and urgent matters. The team is top of the game.
Chambers UK
Excellent quality across the board and across offices nationwide.
Legal 500

Our lawyers

The firm’s long-standing commitment to private wealth work means that we continue to attract the most able and ambitious lawyers and have the resources to provide sophisticated and pro-active advice. In addition to our 11 specialist contentious estate, trust and will dispute lawyers, our private wealth team numbers over 100 people. We operate across all seven of our offices, meaning you can easily access us wherever you are situated.

Our contentious team holds many other memberships, including the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the Contentious Trust Association and qualifications including the STEP Advanced Certificate in International Trust Disputes and Mediating International Trust Disputes.

We have ‘best friend’ relationships with law firms in all relevant jurisdictions, with whom we are used to working closely, meaning that we can always find the most appropriate advisor for you in the countries where aspects of the dispute may arise.

We work hard to maintain excellent and lasting relationships with our clients and ensure that we understand your needs. Whatever the challenge, we have the people and know-how to provide the right solution for your situation.