Full service law firm JMW Solicitors LLP has appointed a new Partner to its Commercial Litigation team to work on Contentious Probate matters.

Ben Wilson joins the team at JMW from Forbes where he was a Partner and Head of Contentious Trusts and Probate. He specialises in all areas of Contentious Trusts and Probate on a national and international basis, dealing with high value and complex claims. Notable cases for Ben previously have included successfully 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 Ben achieved a substantial seven figure settlement for her. Ben also acts for a number of claimants and defendants on various challenges to the validity of wills on the basis of lack of capacity, want of knowledge and approval and fraud.  Ben is currently ranked in Legal 500 2021 as a Next Generation Partner in Contentious Trusts and Probate. They state that “Ben Wilson is a specialist. He is experienced and effective in securing quality outcomes for clients in a cost-effective way”. 

Ben joins fellow Partner Alison Parry and Associates Ian Johnston and Claire Brierley who specialise in Contentious Probate in the Commercial Litigation team at JMW, which is led by Partner Marc Yaffe. The Contentious Probate team have recently seen a 400% increase in enquiries from people wanting to challenge historic wills; often several years after the estate has been settled and, in some cases, as much as a decade ago. The team believe the spike is down to increasing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting impact on jobs and livelihoods.

Commenting on Ben’s appointment to JMW, Senior Partner Joy Kingsley commented:

“We are pleased to welcome Ben to JMW to help grow and develop further our specialist Contentious Probate offering. The team are very busy at the moment and Ben’s excellent experience in this area will enable them to be able to help more potential clients wanting to challenge Wills.”

Speaking about his appointment to the contentious probate team at JMW Ben Wilson, Partner said:

“I am excited to join JMW and the commercial litigation team. I feel this is a unique and exciting opportunity to work with Alison and the team to grow JMW’s Contentious Probate offering to be the largest and leading team in the country.”

JMW have just been ranked number 74 in The Lawyers Top 100 (based on turnover) and are ranked number 33 in The Sunday Times Best Companies to work for.