Stephen Lawson

Frodsham, United Kingdom

3 Testimonials
1 Case studies
1 Articles

Summary

Practice Areas:

  • Contested Probate
  • Civil Litigation
  • Disputed Wills
  • Inheritance and Tax Planning
  • Private Client Litigation
  • Professional Negligence

I am a tenatious dedicated lawyer with more than 35 years experience successfully fighting for the rights of clients.  I am a specialist Civil Litigator who undertakes traditional “Chancery” work including Inheritance, Will and Trust Disputes.  I also deal with Professional Negligence Claims, Disputes about Land & Court of Protection Work.

I work had to resolve disputes in the most economic and appropriate way for clients.  I often help clients to settle disputes early at a mediation – saving time, cost and worry.  I regularly work with a stable of top mediators throughout England & Wales.

Through my work on national committees I regularly deal with national practicitioners – solicitors, Counsel and experts throughout the country.  I am regularly invisted to present lectures on a nationwide basis to other lawyers.  I am a legal author who has published a book (with Frost & Jacoby) devoted solely to the subject of “Testamentary Capacity” – Oxford University Press.  I have also written for The Times, The Law Society Gazzette Trust Quarterly Review, Cycle Active Magazine and Country Smallholder!  I am a passionate advocate for rural affairs and I am one of the few lawyers who can sheer a sheep and milk a cow.

I care about my job.  I care about my clients.  I am very fortunate to be able to do a job that I love – I always wanted to be a solicitor since I was 10 years old.  I am “living the dream”.

Previous Employment

FDR Law LLP1989 - 2016

Partner/Head of Civil Litigation

Experience

I have worked on many high profile cases.  Seven of my cases have gone to the Court of Appeal.  Many of my cases have attracted media interest (just type Stephen Lawson CSA into an internet search engine) – I used to undertake a considerable amount of Child Supprt work – but I am now a specialist Private Client litigator.

Education

College of Law

University

1978 - 1981

LLB (Hons)

LPC

University College Cardiff

1981 - 1982

Legal Practice Course

Testimonials

David Harvey ex STEP C.E.O.

“Working with Stephen Lawson is like having Napolean on your side – his presence is worth four batalians”

 

Karl Tonks former APIL President.

“with Stephen Lawson you get passion and commitment”

Julian Shaw, of Counsel, 28 April 2016 to the High Court at Mold.

“It may well be that Mr Lawson (or his reputation) as a leading expert in this field (Contentious Probate) is well known to the court”

Case Studies

Removing Executors

We were asked to represent Beryl.  Her mother had sadly passed away.  Her brother was appointed as executor but would give her no information at all about the estate.  She came to us a year after her mother had died – still with no information.  We entered into correspondence with the executor but he wouldn’t produce information to us either.  Eventually we issued legal proceedings to have him removed as an executor and he duly provided us with all of the relevant information and proceeded to complete the administration of the estate resulting in a considerable payment to our client.  We secured payment of our legal costs from the executor.

We were consulted by John.  A Solicitor had made a Will for his mother – in which he was excluded from the estate.  She left her estate to friends and neighbours rather than to her own son.  What the solicitor who made the Will did not know was that Maureen suffered from Dementia.  Her medical records confirmed that, sadly, she had been very ill for many years before she died – and that she suffered from delusions.  We got the Will set aside and the estate was paid to our client.

We were asked to represent Florence.  She was estranged from her mother.  Her mother died and left all of her estate to her son.  Florence made a claim for reasonable provision under the Inheritance Act of 1975.  We successfully negotiated a “life changing” settlement for Florence at a mediation – and secured payment of her costs.

Published Cases

This solicitor hasn't yet added any Published Cases to their profile

Press Cuttings


Achievements

Awards

APIL

Honorary Life Membership of APIL

2013

Times Lawyer of the Week

Associations & Memberships

ACTAPS - since 2002

Association of Contentious Trust & Probate Specialists

STEP - since 2010

Society of Trust & Estate Practicioners

The Law Society - since 2012

Law Society Civil Justice Committee