Guntash Gill is an Associate in the Dispute Resolution team.
He has experience advising a wide range of clients in the UK and overseas on high-value commercial disputes and contentious matters across a wide variety of sectors, including financial services.
Guntash has acted in proceedings at the High Court and Court of Appeal levels. His clients include both corporates and high net worth individuals.
Lucinda is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution team. She has experience advising clients on commercial disputes in a wide variety of sectors, including natural resources, banking and financial services, technology, and media.
She has worked on complex and high value commercial disputes across multiple jurisdictions and in a broad range of sectors. Lucinda has particular experience in cases linked to commercial fraud and has acted in proceedings at High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court level. Lucinda is also a member of Forsters’ Art Group. Her clients include corporates, financial institutions and high net worth individuals.
Nayana’s role has a wide-ranging support role, assisting with commercial litigation disputes.
She has particular expertise in working on group litigation.
Raphaella is a Knowledge Development Lawyer supporting the firm’s Disputes teams (Commercial and Corporate Litigation, Trust and Estates Disputes).
She is responsible for ensuring that our Disputes teams are kept up to date to the latest legal developments and changes in court procedure, taking a leading role in the training strategy for the practice groups she supports.
Nick is an Associate in the Dispute Resolution team.
He has experience advising a broad range of clients including high-net worth individuals, businesses, and charities on disputes in a wide variety of sectors and across multiple jurisdictions.
Nick’s recent commercial experience includes acting on civil fraud cases (including obtaining urgent injunctive relief), professional negligence claims, claims arising from breaches of directors’ duties, contentious insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings, shareholder disputes, and cases concerning the interpretation of contracts.
His articles have been published in both New Law Journal and Solicitors Journal.
Nick is a member of the firm’s D&I committee and Faith Support Network.
Lucy is an Associate in our Dispute Resolution team.
Her experience spans a broad range of contentious matters across multiple jurisdictions. She has been instructed by high net worth individuals, listed companies, governments and international banks. Lucy has significant experience in complex multi-jurisdictional fraud disputes.
Madeleine is a Senior Associate in our Trust and Estate Disputes team.
She acts for a wide range of UK and international clients including high net worth individuals, trustees and professionals. She has advised on a range of trust and estate claims, including rectification and rescission applications, trustee removal, issues relating to capacity and charity law. Madeleine has experience acting in the English Courts and in offshore jurisdictions, including the BVI, Guernsey, The Bahamas and the Cayman Islands.
Madeleine joined Forsters in August 2024 from Macfarlanes LLP where she trained and qualified as a solicitor.
Naomi is an Associate in our Dispute Resolution team. A commercial litigator, her experience encompasses advising in relation to complex, high value civil fraud claims, contentious matters for media organisations, competition claims and employment law disputes.
She also has experience of working on matters/cases involving the Financial Ombudsman Service, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, and the Competition and Markets Authority.
Naomi is an ADR-ODR International Civil-Commercial Accredited mediator.
Joe’s broad practice spans from advising on large commercial disputes to assisting his clients with complex trust and estates disputes.
His clients include ultra high net worth individuals, trust companies, international banks and large corporations.
Joe has particular experience in relation to complex multi-jurisdictional fraud disputes, shareholder disputes, insolvency proceedings, and contractual disputes. He has acted on cases heard in the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Joe is a member of the firm’s Pro-Bono committee and its Green Impact network.
As a paralegal in the Dispute Resolution team, Kabir undertakes a wide-ranging support role, assisting with both commercial disputes and contentious trusts and estates litigation disputes.
Kabir has developed a particular expertise in the resolution of debt matters.
He provides support to the partners and associates in the Disputes team, including by preparing and reviewing legal documents, undertaking legal research, and managing small cases.
Kabir often works with Discovery platforms, ensuring he is always up to date with developments in the eDiscovery and document disclosure space.
Frances is an Associate in our Dispute Resolution team. She has a broad practice in complex cross-border commercial litigation and international arbitration.
She has experience advising clients on high value commercial disputes in a wide range of sectors including banking and financial services, technology and real estate. Frances has particular experience of insolvency proceedings, shareholder disputes, cases involving civil fraud, asset tracing and general contractual disputes. She has acted in proceedings in the High Court and Court of Appeal both in England and the British Virgin Islands.
Known for his commercial approach coupled with his specialist knowledge of the art industry, Filippo has an international practice advising art collectors (individuals, trusts and estates), galleries, auction houses and art industry businesses.
A member of the Dispute Resolution team, he has conducted litigation in both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court and is also a qualified mediator in both the UK and US.
Filippo has extensive expertise in relation to group actions and brings a depth of knowledge to guide the clients with whom he works in relation to funded litigation. He has notable experience acting in relation to disputes over artwork authenticity and is an active member of the firm’s Art group.
Helena has experience acting for private individuals and national charities across a broad range of trust and estate disputes.
This includes advising claimants and defendants in will validity disputes, claims pursuant to the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, applications concerning the interpretation or construction of wills, claims pursuant to the doctrine of proprietary estoppel, and disputes between beneficiaries and executors. Helena also has experience in contentious court of protection matters and claims involving professional negligence.
Helena joined Forsters in September 2024 from Foot Anstey LLP, where she trained and qualified as a solicitor in January 2023.
For over 25 years, Alison has acted for executors, professional trustees/fiduciaries and beneficiaries in some of the largest trust and probate disputes in this country and in the offshore jurisdictions. She has been appointed by the court to represent the interests of an estate in court proceedings. She also has considerable experience in the Court of Protection.
Ranked in The Legal 500’s Hall of Fame for Contentious Trusts and Probate and in the latest Chambers high net worth guide, she is described in the directories as ‘a redoubtable litigator who is rarely beaten’ and a private client litigator who has ‘very sharp instincts for assessing the merits and likely outcome of a case’.
Alison is a co-editor of two of the best-known textbooks in this area, Contentious Trusts and Estates published in 2002 and International Trust Disputes, first published by OUP in 2012 and a second edition in 2019.
Alison is renowned for her purposeful and highly effective approach to resolving family disputes, backed by her vast experience and compassionate client handling skills. Although known for her robust litigation expertise, Alison prioritises a non-adversarial approach, expertly guiding clients through their options for resolving their disputes. She considers all forms of alternatives to court including mediation and negotiated settlement (ADR) and understands that ADR is frequently more likely to ensure a cost effective and better outcome for the client. She is prepared to play devil’s advocate with a client with a view to advancing possible avenues to settlement. She recognises the importance of a calm and dispassionate perspective in intense family disputes (which are rarely just about the money), while remaining acutely conscious of her client’s position and objectives.
Fraud is now endemic and can quickly cause significant and sometimes catastrophic losses. Knowing therefore how to both prevent and respond to instances of fraudulent conduct are paramount considerations for businesses and individuals alike.
Our specialist team at Forsters understands that fraud cases require a meticulous and strategic approach. We are dedicated to providing robust and effective solutions to fraud, protecting your interests every step of the way.
We act for a wide variety of clients – both domestic and international – in dealing with all aspects of civil fraud and asset recovery cases. Our approach is client-focused and partner-led, ensuring you have the right experts by your side where speed is often of the essence. We combine deep legal knowledge with practical experience to navigate the complexities of fraud cases.
We understand the urgency and sensitivity of fraud matters. Whether you are bringing or defending a fraud claim, our team works swiftly to investigate, gather information, and build a strong case. Where necessary, we collaborate closely with forensic accountants, investigators, and other specialists to uncover the evidence and secure the best possible outcome for you.
At Forsters, we have successfully handled a range of civil fraud cases and claims involving allegations of dishonesty. From initial investigations through to contested court proceedings, we provide clear, strategic advice tailored to what is often a unique situation. At all times, our goal is to minimise disruption to your business or affairs while vigorously defending your rights in a cost-effective manner.
With any dispute, our ambition is to guide you to the route that is best suited to your situation and goal. From large-scale international commercial claims for businesses to complex private disputes for individuals, we have the expertise to support you in the UK and internationally.
We work closely with our Corporate, Private Client, and Real Estate teams. Together, we look at your matter in the round, providing a tailored team of specialist lawyers to help you navigate the most complex matters.
We represent a broad range of clients, including corporates, high net worth individuals, investors, landlords, tenants, private estates, developers, trustees and charities. We are a full-service disputes team and have the expertise and experience to advise on issues such as post-transactional fall-out situations, investor disputes, insolvency, restructurings, high-value failed investment schemes, negligence, shareholder disputes, competition and fiduciary claims. Our trust and estate disputes team’s expertise ranges from trust disputes, claims relating to wills and inheritance, mental capacity and professional negligence, as well as related claims such as crypto- and tax disputes. Our real estate disputes team is the largest in London, advising on all types of property disputes, including commercial, residential, construction and development.
We are also at the cutting edge of funding solutions and have secured funding for some of the highest profile litigation to pass through the High Court.
Our lawyers bring a unique combination of technical expertise and a personal approach to support you to achieve exceptional outcomes, always recognising the need for commercial and practical results, whilst protecting your interests more broadly.
Bryan is Counsel in the firm’s Dispute Resolution team and acts for ultra high net worth individuals and others in relation to a range of disputes. He has particular expertise in complex multi-jurisdictional litigation, having been involved in disputes with live proceedings in England, the Virgin Islands, Luxembourg, Iceland, the Cayman Islands, Jersey, Russia, Saudi Arabia and New Zealand.
He is known for advising on shareholder disputes where relations between shareholders have irretrievably broken down, whether that is to achieve a settlement if possible, or to succeed in court proceedings if not.
Bryan is experienced in arbitration, having represented clients in arbitrations under the arbitration rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, the London Court of International Arbitration, the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association and the Tribunal Arbitral du Sport/Court of Arbitration for Sport.
He is heavily involved in our Graduate Recruitment programme and takes a great pride in mentoring our more newly qualified lawyers.
David is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution team.
He works with a wide range of clients operating across multiple industry sectors including life sciences, technology, media and telecommunications, and insurance in order to resolve commercial disputes, whether at the pre-action stage, in litigation or arbitration.
David has particular experience in advising on complex contractual issues and in multi-jurisdictional claims involving fraud and asset tracing, as well as advising on all aspects of litigation funding and ATE insurance.
Maryam is a Senior Associate and solicitor advocate in our Trust and Estate Disputes team. Recognised as a “Rising Star” in the Legal 500 and described in the Chambers HNW Guide as “commercial, focused and user-friendly”, Maryam advises on the full range of private wealth disputes. This includes advising on claims relating to breach of trust, dishonest assistance, trustee/executor removals, blessing applications, validity challenges, and issues relating to mental capacity.
Acting for international high net worth individuals, trustees and professionals, executors, protectors, family offices and beneficiaries, Maryam also specialises in advising clients based in the Middle East. With previous experience as a commercial litigator, she has particular expertise with trusts and estate matters involving family companies, partnerships or other corporates, as well as claims relating to fraud, dishonesty and asset tracing.
Maryam works closely with her clients to understand their goals and objectives, seeking pragmatic outcomes wherever possible. This includes consideration of mediation and creative routes to settlement. Prioritising empathy and understanding, Maryam recognises the delicate and complex nature of family relationships, particularly when dealing with a dispute.
Outside of work Maryam is a volunteer advocate for the Asylum Support Appeals Project, regularly representing asylum seekers in court. She was recently appointed as chair of their board of trustees.
Ed is an experienced litigator, having represented clients in numerous complex, high-value disputes, often with a cross-border element. He is equally at home in litigation or arbitration, with experience in High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court proceedings and in arbitrations under the LCIA, ICC, SIAC and GAFTA rules, across a number of seats.
Ed has represented the families of a number of service personnel in complex inquests into their deaths while in service. This work is not readily legally aided and these families would generally be without representation but for advice being provided pro bono. Ed also advises at the South Westminster Legal Advice Clinic.
He is a member of the firm’s Gender Equality and Social Mobility networks.
Ashleigh is a Senior Associate in our Trust and Estate Disputes team. Recognised as an “Associate to Watch” in the Chambers HNW Guide, she is described as “really knowledgeable and also very good with clients”, Ashleigh has experience spanning the full spectrum of trust and estate disputes.
Instructed by both professionals and private individuals, based in the UK and internationally, Ashleigh acts for clients on high value and complex family disputes.
Her expertise in contentious trusts include advising on trustee powers and breach of trust claims, applications for the removal and replacement of trustees, disputes involving protectors and the variation of trusts.
Where probate disputes arise, Ashleigh has experience of advising on validity challenges to Wills, 1975 Inheritance Act claims as well as disputes between executors and/or beneficiaries and claims relating to inherited land and property, including proprietary estoppel claims.
Ashleigh is regularly asked by clients and fiduciaries to ‘stress test’ trusts or wills and assist our Private Client team in winding up trust structures or the division of trust assets.
She also has experience in contested Court of Protection matters and professional negligence claims.
Ashleigh is co-chair of ConTrA (the Contentious Trusts Association).
Rory sits in our Trust and Estate Disputes team with a specialism in onshore and offshore trust disputes and issues, as well as advising on estate matters. Rory has particular experience in litigation involving offshore trusts, complex tax issues and crypto assets. He regularly assists our Private Client team in stress testing structures that are being established and he has significant experience in acting for family and trust owned businesses, as well as farms and estates.
As a Senior Associate specialising in litigation, Rory brings a comprehensive understanding and strategic insight to navigating the complexities of disputes over wills, trusts, and estate administration. His expertise lies in meticulously analysing each case’s unique aspects and getting into the granular detail to find solutions and strategies to advance or resolve disputes.
Katharine is a Senior Associate in our Dispute Resolution team and is experienced in handling highly complex and reputationally sensitive contentious matters. Katharine is considered to be a “diligent”, “trustworthy” and “knowledgeable” advisor by clients and colleagues.
She specialises in commercial disputes, with experience in shareholder class actions, consumer class actions, retail banking litigation, public inquiries, regulatory investigations and regulatory advice.
Noted by clients as “hugely commercial and great at litigation psychology”, Ben is Partner and Head of the Dispute Resolution team. He advises domestic and international corporate and individual clients on a wide variety of complex disputes, resolved by litigation, arbitration and by other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods. Ben attracts praise for his “good tactical sense and well-considered advice” and his “strategic and innovative” approach to litigation.
His particular areas of expertise include breaches of warranty and other contractual terms, competition litigation, breaches of directors’ duty, shareholder disputes (including unfair prejudice petitions), negligence, fraud, contempt of Court, investment, regulatory, and financial services disputes and group actions.
Ben has extensive experience of funded litigation and maintains excellent relationships with many of the major third-party funders, ATE insurance providers and brokers. This ensures that he is well placed, when required, to help clients find the most appropriate funding structure for their cases. While the details of funded cases remain confidential, Ben and Forsters have secured litigation funding solutions for some of the highest profile litigation to pass through the High Court in recent years.
Ben joined Forsters in 2015. He trained and spent the first 11 years of his career at Jones Day (formerly Gouldens), where he qualified as a solicitor in 2004.
Hannah is a Partner in the Trust and Estate Disputes team, recognised for her expertise in domestic and international private client disputes, including contentious probate, trusts disputes, Court of Protection and capacity matters.
She mixes emotional intelligence and technical expertise to advise clients with sensitivity and empathy whilst taking a robust and proactive approach to disputes, to obtain the best result for each client. She recognises the importance of mediation and other negotiated settlements when they are strategically and commercially advantageous. Hannah represents a variety of clients both onshore and offshore, including professional and lay fiduciaries, individual beneficiaries and other parties, across a full range of private wealth disputes.
Hannah takes pride in effective collaboration with clients, other teams at Forsters, and professionals in other jurisdictions, often co-ordinating and managing cross-jurisdictional teams on international matters, as well as cross-departmental teams on contentious and non-contentious matters with private client, family and property colleagues.
Ranked in Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2024 and praised in The Legal 500 2023 for ‘excellent litigation management skills’, Hannah is described in directories as ‘brilliant’, and ‘practical, collaborative and sensible’. She is a full member of ACTAPS, STEP and AIJA, and is deputy chair of the STEP special interest group for Contentious Trusts and Estates.
Ranked in Chambers for his expertise in commercial litigation, including banking disputes, Stephen is hailed as ‘an excellent litigator’, ‘very intelligent and user-friendly’ Chambers UK, 2024
A commercial litigator with a background in corporate disputes, Steven is a Partner in the Commercial Dispute Resolution team. He has a sector focus on banking and finance litigation, professional negligence, contentious insolvency and insurance disputes. He also specialises in fraud and cybercrime.
Steven is a proactive and robust litigator with extensive expertise in obtaining, enforcing and responding to applications for injunctive relief (including freezing, search and seizure and delivery up orders). Along with wide-ranging experience of High Court proceedings, Steven frequently seeks out-of-court settlements, mediations and other forms of dispute resolution where it is advantageous for his client.
He takes time to understand his clients’ priorities and strategies to ensure that they achieve the best possible outcome. He is an expert in managing budgets and keeping costs in check. Steven has further experience with litigation funding and fixed-fee approaches, where he has successfully shared cost risk with clients.
Emily has been Managing Partner at Forsters since 2020.
Emily’s background is in dispute resolution in the private client space, specialising in contentious trusts and estates work. Described by Chambers HNW Guide 2023 as an “eminent practitioner” and “distinguished litigator”, she was previously head of the Dispute Resolution group.
In her current role, Emily works alongside Senior Partner Natasha Rees and the rest of the senior leadership team. She is responsible for the strategic direction of the firm and its financial and operational performance.
Combining warmth and straight talking, Emily is known for her high emotional intelligence. She has a strong belief in inclusivity and actively promotes psychological safety and effective teamwork. At the same time, she sets high standards for herself and her colleagues. She exemplifies a steadfast commitment to delivering a quality service, forging strong, empathetic client relationships that resonate throughout our entire firm. She has set a standard that inspires everyone to uphold the same values, ensuring excellence and genuine connections in every client interaction.
Caroline has particular experience advising on shareholder, partnership and joint venture disputes, unfair prejudice petitions, civil fraud and asset tracing (including obtaining urgent injunctive and interim relief), regulatory investigations, claims in connection with directors’ duties, contentious insolvency and general contractual disputes.
She also provides expert legal opinions as to matters of English law, and has acted as an expert witness in connection with foreign legal proceedings.
Caroline’s clients include high net worth individuals, family offices and family owned / operated businesses, trustees and trust companies, banks, listed entities, corporates, directors, professional service firms, private equity houses and insolvency practitioners.
She also leads cases (including group claims) which are funded by litigation funders and supported by ATE insurance.
Caroline brings energy, dedication and tenacity to all disputes on which she acts, to make sure the client is getting highly strategic advice and can leverage from all available pressure points. She is incredibly responsive and provides gold standard client service and strategic litigation advice.
Her practice has a significant international and offshore focus, given her years practising in Jersey and working as General Counsel to an international Trust and Company Service Provider. Caroline regularly advises high net worth individuals, family offices and trustees on, for example, cross border trust litigation, recovering offshore investment losses, and commercial disputes concerning the underlying asset or corporate.
Featured in the Legal 500’s Hall of Fame and described as “incredibly empathetic and really good to work with” in Chambers Private Wealth Disputes, 2024, Roberta is Head of the Trust and Estate Disputes team.
She has an excellent reputation in representing high net worth individuals, family offices, trustees, protectors, executors and beneficiaries. With wide-ranging expertise covering validity issues, breach of trust, removal applications, construction arguments, freezing injunctions, asset tracing and recovery, Roberta advises on the full remit of estate disputes.
Roberta’s supportive and constructive approach to litigation inspires confidence in her clients. Noted for being sympathetic and calm, she fiercely defends her clients’ best interests, while always considering the wider and long-term implications for their personal, financial and commercial interests. Roberta also works closely with her family and private client colleagues, often advising on divorce issues, post and pre-nuptial agreements, and on stress testing trust structures.
Her reputation as a leader in her field was recognised recently by her appointment as a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) committee.
Ranked in the Legal 500, 2024, Andrew is noted for his ‘track record of work on international disputes, finance cases, class action claims and professional negligence’.
As a Partner in the Dispute Resolution team, Andrew has a diverse and broad ranging practice, which centres on professional indemnity work, complex land disputes, civil fraud cases, tax investigations and large scale group actions arising out of financial mis-selling.
Andrew is skilled at analysing large volumes of documentation in an efficient and cost effective manner, which ensures that he builds an in depth understanding of a client’s commercial background. He has considerable experience in High Court proceedings and in international and domestic arbitrations. His clients include international banks, major property developers, retailers, high net worth individuals and charitable institutions.