Hugh James Expands Contested Wills, Trusts, and Estates Team with Senior Associate Appointments

Hugh James, a top 100 UK law firm, has recently expanded its Contested Wills, Trusts and Estates team with the addition of senior associates Sarah O’Grady and Ryan Taylor. This move has solidified their position as one of the largest teams specializing in this area in England and Wales.

Sarah O’Grady, who joins the Cardiff office, brings with her a wealth of experience in will, trust, and estate disputes. She is recognized as a ‘rising star’ by Legal 500 and is a member of both STEP and ACTAPS. With expertise in agricultural estates, including proprietary estoppel claims and partnership disputes, Sarah is a valuable addition to the team.

Ryan Taylor, based in the London office, also specializes in disputed estates and trusts. With a background in private client law and a focus on estate and trust litigation, Ryan has been recognized as a key lawyer in successive Legal 500 rankings. His cross-qualification and experience in contentious trusts and probate make him a strong asset to the team.

Partner Victoria Jones, who recently joined the Southampton office, brings over 20 years of experience in advising high net-worth families on contentious wills, trust, and estate cases. She also has a niche charity legacy practice and is a full member of various professional associations.

The expansion of the Contested Wills, Trusts and Estates team comes at a time of growth for Hugh James, following the acquisition of Potter Rees Dolan last year. The firm is now actively looking to bring in a senior hire to develop the practice in the north of the UK.

Head of the Contested Wills, Trusts and Estates team, Roman Kubiak, expressed his excitement about the new hires and confirmed plans for recruitment in the North of England in 2023. He emphasized the importance of bringing on and retaining top talent to support the firm’s ambitious future goals.