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England - Regional Bar • Northern Circuit
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Private wealth, probate and tax

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Kings Chambers

More information
Kings Chambers remains the set of choice on the Northern Circuit for private wealth, probate, and tax work, with a particularly strong reputation for its probate expertise. The set is widely praised as ‘an outstanding regional set, with excellent specialists at all levels from their numerous KCs to some highly promising junior barristers’. ’Exceptional advocate’ Lesley Anderson KC successfully acted on behalf of the claimants in an interesting High Court case concerning a claim brought by the executors of the estate of Paula Leeson against her husband for forfeiture of his entitlement to assets on the grounds that he unlawfully killed her whilst on holiday in Denmark, notwithstanding the fact that an earlier criminal trial had been halted on the basis of insufficient evidence. Sarah Lawrenson’s broad expertise spans all areas of contentious and non-contentious probate claims as well as trusts disputes. She is widely praised by clients for her ‘technical expertise’ and client care skills.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Gary Young is a first-class senior clerk and runs the clerking at a very high level.'
  • 'James Mason is second to none - very quick to reply and very organised!'
  • 'Harry Young and Gary Young are both extremely helpful clerks and great to work with.'
  • 'Drew Platt is always helpful and prompt to reply.'
  • 'Kings Chambers has a number of experienced counsel, including seniors and juniors, specialising in probate litigation. They are well respected on the Northern Circuit and generally there is always availability within chambers, with alternative counsel happy to be instructed should preferred counsel not be available. They provide various in-person and online seminars and webinars on case law and legislation updates.'
  • 'Kings is a very large set and has strength across all the main disciplines.'

Lawyers

Leading Silks

KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.

1
Lesley Anderson KC
‘Lesley is extremely thorough, being able to absorb vast amounts of information at speed and apply it to the relevant law without missing any point. She is able to think on her feet and get to the core of an issue. Lesley is a force to be reckoned with where necessary and yet able to discuss highly sensitive matters with clients with empathy and compassion.'

Leading Juniors

Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.

2
Nigel Clayton
 
2
Fay Collinson
‘Fay can cut through the complexities to identify the issues at the heart of a matter. She is pragmatic in her approach and brilliant with clients and judges. Her written and oral advocacy is outstanding.’
2
Matthew Hall
'Matthew is very through and offers very clear jargon-free advice for clients, which is essential in such an emotive area of law. He is knowledgeable and confident in advocating his client’s case.'
3
Richard Lander
‘Richard combines a wealth of knowledge with an ability to grapple with and find a way through the most thorny and complex issues. He has a helpful and practical approach with clients. In court his advocacy is measured and persuasive, and unassumingly forceful and effective.'
3
Sarah Lawrenson
 ‘Sarah is a highly skilled and insightful barrister with a wealth of experience in property, trusts, and probate law. Her technical expertise is extraordinary, and she possesses a rare ability to simplify complex legal issues while delivering thorough, reliable advice. Sarah’s in-depth knowledge of the field enables her to address intricate matters with a clear focus on practical outcomes, ensuring that clients receive effective, actionable guidance.’