Candy joined JMW in early 2025, and specialises in all forms of dispute resolution relating to wills, trust and estates (known as Contentious Trust and Probate, or CTP). She is based in JMW’s London office, but deals with clients based all over the south east, including London, Surrey and Sussex.
Candy works with beneficiaries, executors and trustees in order to resolve disputes as quickly and efficiently as possible, with a view to minimising costs.
In relation to settlement, she uses alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation, wherever possible to resolve matters in a timely and cost effective manner. However, she also has considerable experience of litigating matters in the High Court where necessary.
Candy’s experience includes:
- Claims against for financial provision from estates or trusts by disappointed beneficiaries
- Challenges to the validity of wills
- Disputes between executors, trustees and beneficiaries
- Removal of executors
- Disputes involving the interpretation of wills
- Disputes involving assets or their distribution
- Guidance for trustees or executors about their obligations
- Claims against professional advisers
- Disputes relating to property ownership where a trust may have arisen
- Disputes involving the actions or removal of attorneys/deputies
Candy has been described as follows:
- “Candy Stockton is an extremely able, practical and no-nonsense litigator. She fights for her clients”
- “She is extremely thorough and carefully considers all options with the client in order to settle upon the most effective strategy to achieve the client’s aims. She has very sound commercial judgment, and excellent knowledge of the law."
- "Candy Stockton's attention to detail and comprehensive analysis ensures that the client appreciates all options and is able to choose how to proceed with real confidence"
- "She displayed a good grasp of the situation and the ability to anticipate potential future difficulties which might have been encountered."
Prior to joining JMW, Candy was part of a large national CTP team, and was one of two partners in the South East, whose team was ranked by Legal 500 as Tier 1.
Before that, Candy led the CTP team for a firm which had offices throughout Surrey and into London. Her team was ranked as Tier 2 in Legal 500.
In addition, Candy has been individually ranked in Chambers and Partners for the past 6 years.
Outside work, Candy enjoys watching England play rugby, and anything to do with mountains (hiking up them, skiing down them, or just taking photos of them). She enjoys travel, indoor climbing, reading and sudoku. She has two sons (hence her experience in “Dispute Resolution”) and she is owned by a black labrador who ensures she gets plenty of exercise.