Edward Stanley
Partner
Contentious Probate & TrustsWith a long background in Chancery litigation, spent chiefly with a major national law firm’s Manchester office, and at a Leeds city centre law firm, Ed joined up with Harrison Drury in 2014. Ed has specialised in disputed wills, estates and trusts for over 20 years. He also deals with non-contentious probate, particularly involving difficult estates. Ed’s practice area is therefore entirely private client-based through which he is able to offer clients the benefit of his insight gained from his vast experience of both contentious and non-contentious matters. He is head of contentious probate at Harrison Drury.
Ed acts for clients not just in the UK but across the world, who have an interest in estates in England and Wales.
Ed is known for his rigorous pursuance or defence of claims and is meticulous in his approach. He frequently deals with what are often highly sensitive issues, always with compassion whilst remaining focussed on the outcome his clients want him to achieve.
Some of the types of claims he handles include:
- The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
- Validity of Wills
- Lack of capacity
- Breach of trust
- Fraud and forgery
- Lack of due execution
- Financial mishandling/fraud by executors or trustees
- Wasting of estate/trust assets (“devastavit”)
- Removal of executors/trustees
- Undue influence
- Lack of knowledge and approval
- Proprietary estoppel
- Resulting and constructive trusts
Ed is a partner of Harrison Drury and registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority as a non-lawyer manager. He is an affiliate member of the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP). His Court of Appeal cases include:
- Taylors Industrial Flooring Ltd [1990] BCC 44
- Martin v. Browne and Another [2008] EWCA Civ 712
Outside of work you can find me…
Away from the office, Ed enjoys time with his family.
Cricket, Oldham Athletic, photography and the arts are among his interests.
Awards and Rankings
Harrison Drury is ranked by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500, two leading independent guides to the UK’s top legal firms and solicitors.
These guides highlight the solicitors who are providing the most cutting-edge and innovative advice to clients and we are ranked across our range of practice areas and people.
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