Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP’s private wealth disputes team advises individuals, families, trustees, charities, and professional fiduciaries on the full range of contentious trust and probate matters. The team, led by Joe Kelley, deals with complex disputes, including cross‑border and fiduciary misconduct matters. Kelley is regularly involved in probate litigation, will disputes, proprietary estoppel claims and private client solicitor professional negligence claims. Alongside him, Stephanie Antrobus advises on all aspects of trust and estate administration matters, as well as Variation of Trust Act claims.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Sits within the private capital team, so their knowledge base is very good. They have dealt with a number of court cases - some reported - and for statutory wills and other Court of Protection matters.
- Joe Kelley is a very calm presence and advisor, which is reassuring. He deals with matters promptly and involves team members to ensure matters progress even in his absence. He takes on board the objectives and is proactive in suggesting how matters can be dealt with. He is an expert in his field.
- As always, it is the people that make the difference. Our main contact has been Stephanie Antrobus, and she has been excellent. She has made a very difficult situation less stressful; she is highly responsive and always a pleasure to deal with.
- Stephanie Antrobus has been excellent.
- Rosie Taylor is a great lawyer and is very highly recommended.
- Joe Kelley is really star quality, combining practical experience and detailed legal knowledge. He is a real asset to all cases he is instructed on and a great addition to WBD's partnership team.
- WBD has a really great offering within its contentious trusts team. The team is uniformly proactive and experienced; they combine good tactical nous with in-depth legal and factual knowledge of the cases they are instructed on.
- Joe Kelley knows his onions, that's for sure, but he is the master of making sure you know he is on your team, and he does everything in his power to get the right result. Joe's client care is second to none. Stephanie Antrobus is definitely a rising star in the Private Client marketplace and has that perfect balance of approachability and authority.
- The WBD Contentious Trusts and Probate team, as always, provides a fabulous service. The perfect blend of safe hands and outside-the-box thinking. The firm has a number of offices nationwide that all seem to work together seamlessly.
- WBD took on the task from day one in a calm, assured, and efficient manner. Communication from WBD throughout has been excellent.
Key clients
- Womble Bond Dickinson (Trust Corporation) Limited
Work highlights
Advised Womble Bond Dickinson (Trust Corporation) Limited, as independent trustee of the Procter Family Trusts, in long-running High Court and Court of Appeal litigation concerning an £8 million agricultural estate in Yorkshire.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Joe Kelley
Other key lawyers
Stephanie Antrobus