Charlotte Watts and Gillian Fletcher head up Wilsons’ charities and contentious trust and probate team. The firm excels in acting for a diverse range of top clients across all areas of will disputes, from Inheritance Act claims and fraud to Variation of Trusts Act applications and trustee removal and replacement applications. Watts routinely handles high-profile matters, such as Court of Protection work, and Fletcher is highly knowledgeable of the Charity Commission’s regulatory framework. James Aspden is notable for his work on high-value cases involving new and old money trusts, while Peter Jeffreys has a wealth of experience in the charity legacy sector. Clare Dyer joined the team in October 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The charity team has built up a formidable reputation for excellence in advising across the whole area of charity law, from probate to contentious matters.'
- 'The probate team is exemplary in dealing with administration cases and the contentious team has a depth of specialism second to none.’
‘Peter Jeffreys, James Aspden, Charlotte Watts, Grace Chapman, Niamh Lewis - all excellent, regular and appropriate communication.'
‘Strong and experienced team with significant experience in dealing with charity related estate administration and probate matters. A very high level of knowledge of issues affecting registered charities and strong governance advice.’
‘Peter Jeffreys puts charities at the heart of his advice and his concern for reputational and ethical consideration drives the advice given to achieve great outcomes.'
Key clients
- RNLI
- RSPCA
- Macmillan Cancer Support
- Blue Cross
- PDSA
- RNIB
- Royal Star and Garter Homes
- Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Practice head
Charlotte Watts; Gillian Fletcher
Other key lawyers
James Aspden; Peter Jeffreys; Clare Dyer; Grace Chapman; Niamh Lewis