Irwin Mitchell

Irwin Mitchell

irwinmitchell.com
Sector knowledge

South East

Lawyers

search
Katie Byrne

Katie Byrne

Senior associateKatie has considerable experience in a wide range of domestic and international commercial contract, liability and professional negligence disputes specialising in complex, high-value litigation. She has been commended in Chambers as a 'practical and commercial’ lawyer with a fast response time and ability to ‘empathise with organisational values and branding when formulating a strategy’. She regularly acts for large financial institutions and insurance companies.
Sophie Evans

Sophie Evans

I am an associate solicitor based in Gatwick specialising in all work involved with Private Client. Working closely with individuals and families to advise and in all aspects of Private Client, from cradle to grave and beyond.  Creating wills which consider mitigation of Inheritance Tax and planning for younger, perhaps vulnerable beneficiaries, whilst giving consideration and protection for possible more complex family dynamics, be that with pending divorce or disputes.  Lifetime planning is critical to ensure putting in place structures to ensure maximisation of asset protection. I have specialist experience in advising the Elderly and Vulnerable and Later Life issues and planning, in relation to Lasting Powers of Attorney and registration of Enduring Powers of Attorney, as well as Court of Protection work including Deputyship and Statutory Will applications. Being fully bilingual in French and English comes in very useful not just for my own clients, but helping colleagues too.
Claire Howard

Claire Howard

Claire is head of the Serious Injury team in Southampton and specialises in claims for adults and children who have suffered life-changing injuries, which may include brain or spinal injury. These injuries can result from road accidents, accidents at work, falls from height, defective products or chemical exposure. Claire has over 20 years of experience and has acted on behalf of accident victims throughout that time. She always ensures that clients receive the rehabilitation they need via co-operation with the defendant insurer, issuing proceedings early and securing court ordered payments or, if liability is disputed, ensuring the NHS provide all available support.
Stephen Ireland

Stephen Ireland

I am a Senior Associate in the Contentious Trust and Probate Department and I lead the Chichester team. I deal with a mixture of disputes arising from wills, trusts and the administration of estates which can also involve powers of attorney. I represent executors, beneficiaries, trustees and other interested parties (such as family members) in both bringing and defending claims. This includes arguments about the validity of wills, mental capacity, undue influence, claims for financial provision, breach of trust, removal of executors, intestacy and many others. The majority of cases are brought before the County Court or High Court, but I do represent clients in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court as well as the Court of Protection. Most claims are settled by negotiation or some form of alternative dispute resolution such as mediation. I am listed as a key lawyer in the Legal 500 and I am listed as an Associate to Watch in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2023.  I am a full member of ACTAPS and a Director of the Chichester Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Rose Macfarlane

Rose Macfarlane

Legal 500 Rising Star and Senior Associate Solicitor, Rose joined IM in January 2020 from another Tier 1 private client in the South East, to assist in the leadership and growth of Irwin Mitchell’s Gatwick private client team. The team has doubled in size since.   Rose enjoys advising a wide range of clients, often business owners and entrepreneurs and those with complex assets, some with international elements. She advises on all aspects of asset protection, succession and tax planning using Wills, lifetime giving, trusts, and enjoys working with clients’ professional advisers and corporate and tax colleagues to achieve holistic planning aims.   Rose has a strong reputation as a trust specialist amongst her colleagues, peers and referrers, acting as or advising trustees of dynastic family trusts, as well as trusts for business assets. She is a general legal resource for her family office clients, and is honoured to be personally appointed to the trusted roles of executor, trustee and attorney for clients.   Law is Rose’s second career, her first being in film, music video and commercials production. She particularly appreciates working with junior lawyers, encouraging and supporting their growth and development.
Margaret Windram

Margaret Windram

Associate Solicitor Margaret specialises in disputes about trusts and wills, and also court of protection work, where there is a dispute involving  a potentially vulnerable or elderly person who may lack capacity to make financial or health care decisions for themselves. She can help people bringing or defending claims about the validity of wills, act in disputes between executors and beneficiaries or claims against the estate, for example under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975.