Louise’s primary area of practice and specialist experience consists of the full spectrum of contentious probate work, with particular and extensive experience of 1975 Inheritance Act claims, capacity based will challenges and advising on the construction of wills and trusts. Louise is experienced at acting as Counsel and also as a Mediator in this area of work, helping parties to bring to an end disputes over contested estates. Recent cases include achieving a settlement in a capacity challenge to a will that left the Estate outside the family, which had previously seemed unsettle-able and advising on how to move forward the administration of an Estate in which the executors’ relationship has broken down.
She also has a growing non-contentious practice and is able to draft trusts, settlements and related Deeds/documentation such as Deeds of appointment, removal, substitution etc. together with straightforward tax advice.
Louise also regularly advises and drafts pleadings in trusts and TOLATA cases. She has significant experience of successfully removing problem executors and trustees and, in a recent case, of finding a solution to enable entrenched family trustees to work together. Her strengths and main interests lie in the more complicated and technical aspects of the law in these areas.
Louise strives to deliver both to her professional and lay clients and prides herself on her ability to build a good rapport with those whom she represents. Louise has had exposure to a wide variety of court work and tribunals, which provides her with a strong practical base and substantial advocacy experience. Louise regularly appears in the High Court and Business and Property Courts, including multi day trials and appeals to the High Court. She regularly advises pre-action through to trial and drafts pleadings and applications.
Louise is also an experienced negotiator, having extensive experience obtaining settlements for clients by representing them at FDR Hearings, round table settlement meetings and mediations. She has had considerable success obtaining favourable settlements for clients at both an early stage and when brought into long running contentious cases.
Louise also has experience appearing in and drafting documents for the Court of Protection and in dealing with trusts and estates that are insolvent or have insolvency complications.
Recommendations
“What you get with Louise in court is a very thorough approach to preparation,”observes a commentator, who explains: “Her skeleton arguments are always dense in terms of content and authority. On her feet she is very quick and not fazed by judicial challenge, but, equally, she has the ability to read the judge.” Another interviewee states: “She is excellent on paper in providing sensible and clear written advice, and she is extremely responsive. She is a powerful advocate, and also incredibly good with clients. That all translates to her work as a mediator.”
High Net Worth 2022 (Chancery: Traditional - National Leaders (outside London))
“Louise is very savvy, clever, tactical, and insightful. She is good on her feet and gives reliable and succinct advice.”
Legal 500 2023 (Chancery, Probate and Tax)
“Louise is extremely capable and very good on her feet. She is tactically excellent.”
Legal 500 2023 (Property and Construction)
“Louise has all of the primary attributes (technical knowledge, accomplished advocacy and superb drafting skills) but what sets her apart is her strategic focus and ability to connect with clients.”
Legal 500 2022 (Chancery, Probate and Tax)
“Organisations, service levels and sticking to her promised time-scales are clearly real strengths but this just complements her sharp tactical mind. Louise is quick to get to the nub of the issue in a case and not afraid to form a definitive view.”
Legal 500 2022 (Property and Construction)
“She’s an incredibly bright, effective, robust and brilliant opponent and barrister. You know you’re going to have a good, clean fight and where pragmatism needs to be applied it will be.” “Louise is incredibly studious and very reliable in terms of response time - she does what she says when she says.”
Chambers UK 2021
“She combines excellent legal knowledge with a commercially-minded and practical approach.”
Legal 500 2021 (Chancery, Probate and Tax)
“Her advocacy, oral submissions and cross-examination are focused and persuasive.”
Legal 500 2021 (Property and Construction)
“She’s practical and easy to deal with. She’s more interested in finding solutions than winning technical arguments.” “Louise offers a fantastic service. She is fast, knowledgeable and extremely helpful.”
Chambers UK 2020
“Very good with clients, she can explain complex legal issues carefully without being patronising.”
Legal 500 2020
Reported Cases
Pegler v McDonald [2022] EWHC 2405 (Ch)
Pegler v McDonald [2022] EWHC 2505 (Ch)
Memberships
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
Chancery Bar Association
Committee member of the Midlands Commercial and Chancery Bar Association
Civil Mediation Council Registered Mediator
Society of Mediators
Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists
Qualifications
BA Hons Jurisprudence, First Class, Oxford University
BVC graded ‘Very Competent’, Inns of Court School of Law
Inner Temple Major Scholarship (2007)
