Steven Kempster > Withers LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Withers LLP Offices
20 Old Bailey
LONDON
EC4M 7AN
England
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Steven Kempster
Work Department
Trust, estate and succession disputes team.
Position
Partner.
Steven specialises in the resolution of disputes relating to trusts and estates in a UK and international context, in particular where cross-border issues and conflicts of law are involved. Recent cases have involved disputes in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Switzerland, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, Hong Kong, Singapore, Cayman Islands and Bermuda. He also advises on dispute resolution where UK charities are involved. Steven has also accepted appointment by the relevant courts to act as a representative party looking after the interests of children and unborn beneficiaries in trusts and estates disputes. He also has particular expertise in guiding clients through alternative dispute resolution processes, including mediation, early neutral evaluation and the evolving use of arbitration in trusts disputes.
Career
Trained and qualified, Herbert Smith LLP, London, 1998 to 2008
Partner at Taylor Wessing LLP, London, 2008 to 2014
Partner at Withers LLP, London, 2014 to present.
Publications
Editor and contributing author to ‘International Trust Disputes’, published by Oxford University Press 2013 (first edition) and 2020 (second edition).
Memberships
STEP (elected as committee member for Contentious Trusts Steering Group); and
Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists.
Lawyer Rankings
London > Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
(Hall of Fame)Withers LLP ’has a great team across all levels. The partners that we work with are excellent and the associates/senior associates are top notch.’ Led by Suzanne Todd, the ‘knowledgeable and hardworking’ team ‘gets brilliant results for clients’ in the context of international trust disputes, UK and international succession disputes, as well as elder law/court of protection issues. It also garners considerable praise for its expertise in charity legacy disputes, and for its international expertise. Paul Hewitt has an ‘exceptional reputation’ for his particular interest in representing families with connections to the sub-continent. Senior Counsel Dawn Goodman has a wealth of experience in trust and succession disputes. Steven Kempster has a substantial offshore trusts practice, and also handles cases relating to charities. Stephen Richards advises clients both in the UK and internationally on disputes concerning inheritance and trusts, and often directs litigation in multiple jurisdictions. Natasha Stourton, Sarah Aughwane and Alice Tomlin are among the other key names to note.
Lawyer Rankings
- Contentious trusts and probate London > Private client
- Hall of Fame London > Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Private client > Agriculture and estates
- Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- Private client > Court of protection
- Private client > Family
- Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Employment > Senior executives
Firm Rankings
- Private client > Art and cultural property
- Private client > Family: mediation
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Smaller Deals, £10m-£100m
- Dispute resolution > Public international law
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
- Real estate > Residential property
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- Corporate and commercial > Venture capital
- Public sector > Education: institutions
- Public sector > Education: schools
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil
- Employment > Immigration
- Insurance > Professional negligence
- Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates)
- Employment > Employers
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)