Stephen Richards > Withers LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Withers LLP ‘is at the top of the tree in terms of private client work and trust related matters. It has a wealth of experienced lawyers in its ranks and a well-earned reputation for being very client focused and diligent’. It has ‘great strength in depth in its lawyer bench’. Led by Suzanne Todd, it has continued to attract a variety of complex and high-value cases from around the globe. The entire team is adept at handling cross-border and complicated trusts, estate, inheritance, and Court of Protection disputes. It has a solid grounding in charity legacy disputes, and in domestic work too. Paul Hewitt continues to be recognised as one of the top contentious trusts and probate practitioners, along with Steven Kempster. Stephen Richards is increasingly advising families of which a vulnerable member, often with cognitive decline, has suffered financial abuse. Natasha Stourton has a particular interest in the succession and trusteeship of digital assets and cryptocurrencies. Senior Counsel Dawn Goodman is recommended, along with Alice Tomlin, Sarah Aughwane, and Alexandra Dix.

There are ‘brilliant partners’ at Withers LLP who are ‘backed by top-quality associates and trainees. Everyone at Withers is intelligent and personable.’ Stephen Richards and Julia Abrey co-head the ‘excellent team’, which acts for the families and appointed representatives of older and vulnerable people. It regularly acts for trustees, executors, charities, and other professional groups. In addition, the team is recommended for its work on disabled trusts, and for its advice on advance decisions to refuse medical treatment. The team has particular strength in advising on cross-border mental capacity issues. Natasha Stourton is another known name for her advice on a broad array of Court of Protection matters, such as lifetime gifts, statutory wills, and powers of attorney. Alice Tomlin acts for charities, private individuals, and institutions on all aspects of contentious trust and succession disputes, with a particular focus on Court of Protection matters. Paul Hewitt is another leading name in the department.