Wednesday 29 April 2026
29 April 2026 | Cardiff
This seminar and networking event was held in conjunction with both of the National Association of Independent Administrators and the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists, hosted by Hugh James at their Cardiff office.
Chaired by HHJ Paul Matthews, our panel of Alex Troup KC, Danielle Cahill, Fiona Lawrence, Thomas Middlehurst and Toby Bishop presented a lively discussion on:
The role of the professional personal representative in contentious estates: maintaining neutrality while seeking directions from the court, and knowing when neutrality is no longer viable.
Declarations of trust and uncertainty: practical problems where historic documentation creates disputes over beneficial interests.
Dealing with challenging parties: procedural, practical and strategic challenges when beneficiaries are unrepresented or located in another jurisdiction.
AI and modern party behaviour: how technology is influencing the way parties research, frame and pursue claims, and where a litigant in person is quoting AI in their pleadings.
Case management tools of the court: including unless orders, civil restraint orders and other mechanisms used to control prolonged or unmeritorious litigation.
The role of section 50 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985: is it still fit for purpose, and how to best utilise it in a contentious estate.
