Paul Hewitt > Withers LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Clients of Withers LLP remark that ‘the partners in the practice are among the leading lights of charity law’ and notably single out Alison Paines and practice head Chris Priestley for praise. The ‘extremely professional and knowledgeable’ team acts for a significant proportion of the top 50 charities in the UK, and a key strength of the first-rate practice is its expertise in strategy and governance matters, as well as its regulatory engagement at a senior level with the Charity Commission. In addition, given the firm’s international reach, the practice is regularly instructed on charity matters that span different jurisdictions. Paul Hewitt heads up the firm’s work for charities on legacy income and trustee disputes, while Philip Reed advises charities, not-for-profit organisations and philanthropists on a wide range of issues. The senior associates in the department also receive a lot of plaudits; Roger Waite acts for some of the UK’s largest charities and has considerable experience of advising many of the most substantial NHS charities, Emma Flower garners praise for her wide-ranging experience in areas as diverse as mergers, constitutional matters and fundraising law, and Amy Carter advises charities, philanthropists and businesses on a broad range of matters.

The court of protection team at Withers LLP is ‘vastly experienced and has acted in some of the highest profile cases. It traverses this sometimes-idiosyncratic jurisdiction expertly and secures excellent results for its often HNW clients.’ As well as acting for families and appointed representatives of older and vulnerable people, it regularly acts for trustees, executors, charities and other professional groups. Julia Abrey has a particular interest in cross-border mental capacity issues. Stephen Richards also garners considerable praise for his expertise in elder law matters. Paul Hewitt specialises in all types of trust and probate disputes, and routinely advises on contentious court of protection matters. Natasha Stourton  covers issues such as statutory wills, lifetime gifts and contested registrations. Senior associate Alice Tomlin is another key figure who covers a range of contentious trust and succession disputes, and has a particular focus on court of protection matters. The team also excels at advising on disabled trusts, and advance decisions to refuse medical treatment.

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.