Mr Craig Smith > Wollens > Torquay, England > Lawyer Profile

Mr Craig Smith

Craig.Smith@wollens.co.uk

Work Department

Dispute Resolution

Position

Associate Solicitor in the Contentious Probate Department

Career

Craig deals predominantly with contentious probate and trusts litigation. He’s a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) and he’s one of only a handful of lawyers in the South West with this accreditation.

Craig also specialises in sports litigation and sport related dispute resolution and is instructed by professional sports people, sports clubs and sport agents.

Craig gained valuable experience in the South East in both private practice and the public sector and he takes a practical and sympathetic approach towards his clients, but understands the need to navigate disputes in an efficient and proactive manner.

Craig considers himself to be adept at digesting complex legal problems providing practical and easy to understand advice. He’s an advocate of alternative dispute resolution believing it is a vital tool in resolving disputes amicably and proportionately. He’s also litigated from County Court to the Court of Appeal, and he’s worked closely with eminent KC’s.

Craig’s notable cases include:

• Instructed by a defendant in a multi-million-pound probate/ trust dispute revolving around sham trusts and syphoned funds.
• Instructed by a claimant company in High Court (Chancery Division) proceedings for a purported breach of a Sale and Purchase Agreement relating to deferred payments.
• Instructed by a claimant in challenging the validity of a will in light of undue influence, pleading proprietary estopel in the alternative.
• Instructed by defendant LLP for alleged breach of a Quistclose trust / investment agreement following a multi-million pound investment by an investor.
• Instructed by a claimant in The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 litigation on behalf of an adult child, omitted from her mother’s will.
• Instructed by a claimant seeking to rely on section 116 Senior Courts Act 1981 to pass over executors due to past/ historical conduct towards the claimant beneficiary.
• Instructed by an individual claimant in respect of an urgent freezing injunction application in the High Court (King’s Bench Division) in aid of contemplative proceedings outside of the jurisdiction.
• Instructed to deal with Rule K Football Associaiton Rules arbitration.
• Instructed in High Court football agent ‘commission’ dispute.
• Instructed by professional cyclist in a breach of contract claim.

Craig has been recognised in the Legal 500 as a Next Generation Lawyer.

Leisure

Outside of work Craig enjoys all that the Devon countryside has to offer. He’s a keen amateur cyclist, and enjoys cooking and spending time with his young family.