In the third episode of our Private Wealth and Charities podcast series Richard Norridge and Mark Adair discuss music and law. Mark had a successful career as a composer before joining the firm, and shares his thoughts on what he has taken from his creative past into his legal career. The third episode of the … Read more

The second episode of our Private Wealth and Charities podcast series considers some recent decisions from the English courts in respect of out of time claims for reasonable financial provision brought under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. The second episode of the series is also now live on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, … Read more

In the recent decision in Cowan v Foreman [2019] EWCA 1336 the Court of Appeal overturned the first instance decision and granted permission to the applicant to bring a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (the “Act“) 17 months out of time. Confirming that the guidelines in Berger v Berger … Read more

In the latest in a series of decisions on out of time claims, the High Court refused permission to bring an out of time claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (the “Act“) where the claimant had failed to promptly bring her claim. The decision is a reminder both for claimants … Read more

In Nicholas Stewart Wood and David John Standish (as the joint trustees in bankruptcy of Karl Eric Watkin) v Kate Rebecca Watkin [2019] EWHC 1311 (Ch), trustees in bankruptcy sought to establish that a bankrupt (the Bankrupt) was the sole beneficial owner of three properties (the Properties), ostensibly purchased by him for his adult daughter. … Read more

A recent decision of the High Court clarified that where a beneficiary of a will predeceases the testator and the gift vests in the beneficiary’s children under s. 33 of the Wills Act 1837, those children take the gift subject to the same condition subsequent that would have bound the beneficiary. The ruling also confirmed … Read more

The Supreme Court has held that the requirement to show “serious harm” under section 1(1) of the Defamation Act 2013 (the “2013 Act“) not only raises the threshold of harm which must be proved but also requires its application to be determined by reference to actual facts regarding the impact of the statement and not … Read more

Welcome to the new look Herbert Smith Freehills Private Wealth and Trust Disputes Blog. Our blog has recently been updated with a new design. As well as a new look, the subscription process of our blog has recently been updated. Our blog now offers the opportunity to choose what jurisdictions/categories you want to receive alerts … Read more