Louise Corfield is an expert in family disputes over wealth, asset management and and inheritance.
Her primary area of practice and specialist experience consists of the full spectrum of contentious estates and trusts work, with particular and extensive experience of 1975 Inheritance Act claims, will validity challenges and advising on the construction of wills and trusts, as well as the removal of executors.
Louise is regularly instructed in disputes arising in the context of the administration of family trusts, including allegations of breach or mismanagement of trusts and the removal of trustees.
Louise also regularly represents clients in real property issues arising in family wealth disputes, such as proprietary estoppel claims brought within faming families, TOLATA claims and other real property disputes arising within the administration of estates.
Louise is experienced at acting as Counsel and also as a Mediator in this area of work, helping parties to bring to an end their disputes over contested estates and trusts.
Louise is a member of the Business and Property Group in Chambers. She is a barrister and an experienced mediator. She specialises in Inheritance, Will and Trust disputes, and also undertakes real property work and TOLATA cases.
Louise is an accredited mediator and a Registered Member of the Civil Mediation Council (CMC). She was trained by the Society of Mediators and has been invited to teach mediation relating to contested probate disputes on the course run by the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists.
Louise is a specialist practitioner in estate and trust disputes, with over 17 years of experience litigating in the High Court/Business and Property Courts. She is particularly experienced in 1975 Inheritance Act claims, contentious probate claims, such as those involving the disputed validity of wills, claims seeking orders in the administration of trusts and estates (including for the removal of executors and trustees), proprietary estoppel claims (particularly within farming families) and TOLATA claims (whether they arise within or outside of estate disputes).
Louise brings this in-depth subject knowledge and practical experience of litigation to her mediation work, specialising in estate and trust mediations. She puts the parties back in control of the process, allowing them to have their say and take time to reflect upon what they want and need from the ongoing dispute or litigation. She is regularly instructed by leading solicitors firms in this area of work. She has an excellent track record of settling cases within a standard working day.
Louise is a passionate believer that mediation is of particular value in family wealth/estate disputes; there is almost always a finite ‘pot’ of money or assets that lies at the heart of the dispute, participants will very often be families, the issues involved can be highly emotive and often involve matters of principle. The individuals who find themselves involved in this sort of complicated and expensive litigation don’t have the backing of corporate entities or structures, either to fund the litigation or to shield them from the emotional strain of the court process.
“Throughout my practice I have rarely encountered a case in which the people involved would not be best served by avoiding expensive and unpredictable litigation, and finding a compromise that they can all live with, so that they can move on with their lives. Litigation is for lawyers, but mediation is the right option for the people who want resolution, control and to put their dispute and difficulties to bed. As a mediator I am keen to understand what is important to the individuals involved and to put them at the heart of decision making.”
Louise is experienced in conducting in person and remote mediations. Whilst in person mediations can often focus parties’ minds and give a flavour of what preparing for court attendance might feel like, she is alive to the benefits of remote mediation for family disputes. She believes that there can be real merit in taking away the fear of bumping into one another and the stress of being asked to attend a professional and unfamiliar office to make life changing decisions. Louise is happy to discuss with parties instructing her what sort of mediation will best suit them and how to get the most out of the day.
Louise enjoys practicing across a spectrum of land and property work. She acts as both a barrister and a mediator in this area.
Louise has considerable experience in proprietary estoppel cases, in particular those centred around family farms. In the last 12 months she has:
Louise also has extensive experience of advising and representing both claimants and defendants in TOLATA matters and is regularly instructed in property disputes arising in trust/estate administration cases, over rights of way, boundary and possession issues. She has recently secured a Declaration of trust and Order for Sale of a Property in a protracted TOLATA matter and advised another client about the TOLATA implications of a multi million pound portfolio of jointly owned properties.
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. She 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 has experience of hearings at all levels and regularly appears in the London and regional specialist Business and Property Courts, including for 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 enjoys practicing across a spectrum of land and property work.
She has extensive experience of advising and representing both claimants and defendants in TOLATA matters and is regularly instructed in disputes over rights of way, boundaries, and proprietary estoppel claims. She has recently secured a Declaration of trust and Order for Sale of a Property in a protracted TOLATA matter and is advising another client about the TOLATA implications of a portfolio of jointly owned properties.
She also has considerable experience in landlord and tenant matters including experience of advising on and obtaining vesting orders in cases of insolvency and missing/untraceable landlords. She has recently conducted a multi-day trial relating to alleged breaches of a tenancy agreement and involving complex expert evidence, securing an excellent and unexpected positive result for a landlord.
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. She 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 has experience of hearings at all levels and regularly appears in the London and regional specialist Business and Property Courts, including for 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’s primary area of practice and specialist experience consists of the full spectrum of contentious probate work and as such she has particular and extensive experience of 1975 Inheritance Act claims, both as a barrister and a mediator. Louise understands the personal and emotional needs of clients involved in these cases, as well as being a practical strategist in an area of work where there is little exact science to be applied to outcomes.
Louise is a member, and a Director, of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS). Her expertise in this area has been recognised by being invited to teach as part of the mediation element of the ACTAPS practitioner’s course.
Louise regularly represents clients in the High Court and at mediations both claiming and defending 1975 Act claims. Recent cases include
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 is compassionate and able to explain complicated legal principles in a straightforward way, to those who are under emotional strain.
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 specialist 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 is an accredited mediator and a Registered Member of the Civil Mediation Council (CMC). She was trained by the Society of Mediators and has been invited to teach mediation relating to contested probate disputes on the course run by the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists.
Louise is a specialist practitioner in estate and trust disputes, with over 17 years of experience litigating in the High Court/Business and Property Courts. She is particularly experienced in 1975 Inheritance Act claims, contentious probate claims, such as those involving the disputed validity of wills, claims seeking orders in the administration of trusts and estates (including for the removal of executors and trustees), proprietary estoppel claims (particularly within farming families) and TOLATA claims (whether they arise within or outside of estate disputes).
Louise brings this in-depth subject knowledge and practical experience of litigation to her mediation work, specialising in estate and trust mediations. She puts the parties back in control of the process, allowing them to have their say and take time to reflect upon what they want and need from the ongoing dispute or litigation. She is regularly instructed by leading solicitors firms in this area of work. She has an excellent track record of settling cases within a standard working day.
Louise is a passionate believer that mediation is of particular value in family wealth/estate disputes; there is almost always a finite ‘pot’ of money or assets that lies at the heart of the dispute, participants will very often be families, the issues involved can be highly emotive and often involve matters of principle. The individuals who find themselves involved in this sort of complicated and expensive litigation don’t have the backing of corporate entities or structures, either to fund the litigation or to shield them from the emotional strain of the court process.
“Throughout my practice I have rarely encountered a case in which the people involved would not be best served by avoiding expensive and unpredictable litigation, and finding a compromise that they can all live with, so that they can move on with their lives. Litigation is for lawyers, but mediation is the right option for the people who want resolution, control and to put their dispute and difficulties to bed. As a mediator I am keen to understand what is important to the individuals involved and to put them at the heart of decision making.”
Louise is experienced in conducting in person and remote mediations. Whilst in person mediations can often focus parties’ minds and give a flavour of what preparing for court attendance might feel like, she is alive to the benefits of remote mediation for family disputes. She believes that there can be real merit in taking away the fear of bumping into one another and the stress of being asked to attend a professional and unfamiliar office to make life changing decisions. Louise is happy to discuss with parties instructing her what sort of mediation will best suit them and how to get the most out of the day.
Louise is experienced in all types of trust litigation, including issues arising on the construction and meaning of trust documents, the administration of trusts and the removal of trustees. Louise acts in disputes concerning wills trusts (those created by a will) and lifetime settlements for the management of family wealth.
Louise is a member, and a Director, of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS). Her expertise in this area has been recognised by being invited to teach as part of the mediation element of the ACTAPS practitioner’s course.
Recent cases include:
No5 Business and Property group invites you to attend the Estate Day seminar. Programme 9:30am – 9:50am Registration and refreshments 9:50am – 10:00am Welcome –…
No5 Barristers Chambers is delighted to announce that Angus Burden and Louise Corfield have been ranked in Chambers & Partners High Net Worth 2024. Angus is a pure traditional…
"Louise Corfield is gifted in resolving matters and has a clear vision. Her calm and approachable nature makes her a very popular choice."
"Louise Corfield has a strong reputation as a mediator."
"Louise has the full gamut of skills. She is supremely intelligent and very disarming with both opposing advocates and with difficult clients. She is also very strategic in the way she thinks." "Louise is absolutely brilliant. She is so clear with advice to clients and getting across complex ideas to them."
"Louise is very client focused and can handle complex issues. She is particularly good in mediation, managing the client and is a good negotiator."
"Louise has excellent knowledge of the law and is approachable and helpful. She is incredibly methodical in the way she handles her cases, but she is practical too." "...is praised for her ‘concise and direct advice"
"She is excellent on paper in providing sensible and clear written advice, and extremely responsive. She is a powerful advocate and also incredibly good with clients." "She is adaptable to the case and the client, and she can be tenacious and forthright."
"Louise is very savvy, clever, tactical, and insightful. She is good on her feet and gives reliable and succinct advice."
"Louise is extremely capable and very good on her feet. She is tactically excellent."
"She is technically competent but also strategically astute - she has a great balance."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"She combines excellent legal knowledge with a commercially-minded and practical approach."
"Her advocacy, oral submissions and cross-examination are focused and persuasive."
"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."
"Very good with clients, she can explain complex legal issues carefully without being patronising."
No5 Business and Property group invites you to attend the Estate Day seminar. Programme 9:30am – 9:50am Registration and refreshments 9:50am – 10:00am Welcome –…
No5 Barristers Chambers is delighted to announce that Angus Burden and Louise Corfield have been ranked in Chambers & Partners High Net Worth 2024. Angus is a pure traditional…
