Suzanne Todd > Withers LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

The mediation practice within Withers LLP‘s family team is spearheaded by Suzanne Todd, who is sought after for her expertise in Italian cases. Diana Parker‘s longstanding mediation experience is bolstered by her qualification as a family arbitrator. Along with Claire Blakemore, Parker has developed the firm’s ‘Uncouple’ offering, combining mediation and arbitration to minimise conflict and find common ground for separating couples. The team often handles matters for high-profile clients, and emphasises privacy, acting in both financial and children-related mediation.

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.

‘Without doubt one of the top London firms‘, Withers LLP fields a family team with ‘a strength in depth, from the most junior trainee to the most senior partner, which is unparalleled‘. The group’s non-court dispute resolution offering, including the firm’s Uncouple model, is a standout element: Claire Blakemore and Diana Parker are key to the model’s development, and Adele Pledger is also noted for her mediation work. ‘Superb‘ team head Suzanne Todd has notable experience in Anglo-Italian matters and multijurisdictional pre-nups, while Michael Gouriet regularly acts for entrepreneurs and land owners. Katharine Landells is recommended as ‘a cut above‘ in financially and emotionally complex cases, and Brett Frankle‘s practice spans financial disputes and private law children work, including international relocations. Julian Lipson‘s work often features tax and trust concerns, which are also a strength for the ‘bright and effective’ Jennifer Dickson. Alexander Breedon has a growing practice in jurisdiction/forum disputes, and Sarfraz Ali is praised for his ‘keen eye for detail‘.