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.