Mike Pollard
Legal Director, Will, Trust & Estate Disputes
Mike is an experienced litigation solicitor and a member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Contentious Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).
Having previously been a Partner and Director of two law firms in Berkshire, Mike now specialises in the resolution of contentious probate, trust and inheritance disputes for clients, finding solutions via a variety of methods such as court proceedings or mediation.
Over the years, Mike has dealt with complex Private Client work both in the High Court and County Courts. Not only has he supported clients with challenging a Will or Inheritance disputes, he is also proficient in the administration of Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) and Estate Administration.
Mike has always sought to put the needs of individuals or families at the centre of any solution to resolve their disputes and to provide the advice required to progress their instructions to a positive conclusion.
Outside of the office Mike is a supporter of Leeds United Football Club and lives with his wife, 3 sons and the family dachshund.
Experience
- Administration of many multi-million-pound high net worth estates
- Conducted litigation in an eight-day High Court Trial for the recovery of a multi-million-pound company and property assets.
- Claims relating to the validity of Wills (capacity, knowledge and approval, undue influence, presumption of due execution)
- Inheritance Act claims for Families and Dependents
- Represented two Directors defending an appeal to the Court of Appeal in a multi-party breach of trust litigation claim, resulting in a dismissal of the appeal through mediation and a substantial costs order in their favour
- Obtaining freezing / proprietary injunctions
- Cases involving the removal of trustees.
- Pursuing claims for the taking of an account against trustees
- Undertaking forms of action involving Proprietary Estoppel, Constructive or Resulting Trusts
Case Studies
Mike has recently issued a number of High Court claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, he has also recently assisted clients in resolving by dismissal claims under the same provisions.
A partner brought a claim for unreasonably provision. Settlement was reached on the basis of the sale of the main property asset, reinvestment into new smaller property on a life interest basis for the partner, agreed release of capital to our clients, each party bearing own costs.
Following an 8 day trial our client received a very favourable judgment providing a declaration in her favour as to beneficial ownership of all 3 companies and 2 of 4 properties, one property alone worth in excess £5 million.
A settlement was reached on the basis of no lack of capacity or undue influence acknowledged. All funds released in the estate to our client.
Mike acted for the spouse, the case settled at mediation allowing for some provision on a deferred basis to be paid to the deceased’s children after the souse’s death on a commercial basis and this allowed the estate to unlock the estate funds for the benefit of the spouse during her later years, each party bearing their own costs.
Best Law Firms 2024
Herrington Carmichael has once again been named in the Times Best Law Firms. We were first listed in 2023 and have once again made the Best Law Firms list for 2024.
