Expertise

Caroline leads the Private Client Disputes team and her contentious work includes dealing with disputes arising from either a Will or Trust as well as claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (“1975 Act claims”), Variation of Trust Applications, and the removal of personal representative applications. Caroline advises Executors, Trustees, beneficiaries and professionals on their duties, obligations and rights with regards to Wills and Trusts. In addition to this, Caroline also advises on a wide range of non-contentious private client matters, including wealth protection, estate planning, trust and estate administration, and the preparation of Lasting Powers of Attorney, as well as applications to the Court of Protection. Caroline acts as both trustee for her trust clients and executor for her deceased clients.

Recent Experience

• Advising trustees of a large family trust worth over £90m on general trust administration.
• Applying for the removal of an executor, which was resolved through mediation.
• Advising a spouse in respect of a 1975 Act claim.
• Variation of Trust application on a £500m trust to include application for anonymity.
• Advising a couple on estate planning in respect of a £30m estate to include liaising with their accountant over the creation of a Family Investment Company and involving our corporate team for preparation of the articles for the same.
• Advising a charitable trust on its ongoing administration to include hosting biannual trustees meetings.
• Acting in the reported case of PQ and another v RS and others [2019] EWHC 1643 (Ch).
• Acting in the reported case of Rawstron and Anor v Freud [2014] EWHC 2577 (Ch).

Career History

Caroline trained at Penningtons and moved to the Private Client department of Finers Stephen Innocent in 2007. She joined the Private Client department of Cumberland Ellis in 2010 and has been at Wedlake Bell since the merger with Cumberland Ellis in April 2012. In 2019 Caroline was nominated for Lawyer of the Year/Partner at the CityWealth Future Leaders Awards. She is a member of Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS). Caroline is an elected member of the STEP Special Interest Group committee for Contentious Trusts and Estates.

Caroline qualified in 2006 and has a degree in Theology from the University of Durham.

Publications

Caroline has written a variety of  articles for publications to include Spears, eprivate client, Todays Wills and Probate and InTrust (Private Client team magazine).