Frodsham, United Kingdom
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”.
Partner/Head of Civil Litigation
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.
University
1978 - 1981
LLB (Hons)
1981 - 1982
Legal Practice Course
“Working with Stephen Lawson is like having Napolean on your side – his presence is worth four batalians”
“with Stephen Lawson you get passion and commitment”
“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”
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.
Honorary Life Membership of APIL
2013
Association of Contentious Trust & Probate Specialists
Society of Trust & Estate Practicioners
Law Society Civil Justice Committee