Thomas Middlehurst

Partner

Biography

Thomas is a partner in the Trusts & Estates team, based in London, specialising in contentious trusts, probate and property ownership disputes.

Thomas generally acts for high-net-worth individuals, executors, trustees, and charities, assisting them with any contentious issues that arise in trust or estate administration. He has experience dealing with cross-border and complex estates with multiple asset classes.

His clients prize his pragmatic, commercial, and cost-effective legal advice. As an experienced litigator and negotiator, he utilises alternative dispute resolution (where possible) to avoid the time and expense of court proceedings.

Thomas previously headed the private wealth disputes team at a top-ranked law firm before joining Ashfords. He is ranked in Chambers High Net Worth Guide and named as a key lawyer in the Legal 500 and Doyles Guide for Private Wealth Disputes.

Thomas is a full member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialist (ACTAPS), Vice Chair of National Association of Independent Administrator (NAIA), and a member of Contentious Trusts Association (ConTrA).

Relevant experience

  • Appearing for the successful parties in the reported cases of Benjamin v Benjamin & anr [2024] WTLR 411 & Morley v Morley [2023] WTLR 299
  • Advising the independent administrators in a complex claim against the ex-executors of the estate including claims for an account on the footing of wilful default, breach of duty and the recovery of misappropriated assets.
  • Advising the settlor of various offshore trusts in respect of claims against the trustees for breach of their fiduciary duty.
  • Advising the surviving civil partner in Inheritance Act claim and will validity claim against the sister of his deceased partner.

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