Shakespeare Martineau adds legal director duo

Law firm Shakespeare Martineau has appointed two legal directors to its national trusts and estates disputes team.

Aaron Sanders joins the firm’s London office from Walkers, where he was a senior associate in the private capital and trusts team, while Kate Saunders has joined in Sheffield from Flint Bishop.

Aaron brings significant experience in contentious trusts and private wealth disputes, including three years advising high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients in Guernsey.

His expertise includes breach of trust and fiduciary duty claims, multi-jurisdictional disputes and matters involving the appointment and removal of trustees. He is also an advocate of the Royal Court of Guernsey.

Aaron said: “I was attracted to Shakespeare Martineau by the firm’s commitment to sustainable growth and its investment in people. 

“The collaborative culture was clear throughout the process of joining, and that creates a strong environment in which to build a practice. 

“My priority is to provide advice that reflects the individual circumstances and objectives of each client, particularly where disputes involve complex family dynamics, significant assets or sensitive issues around trusts and estates. 

“I’m looking forward to bringing my experience of complex private wealth disputes to the team and contributing to its continued growth.” 

Kate has more than ten years’ specialist experience in contentious probate, advising on inheritance claims, challenges to wills, executor and beneficiary disputes, trust disputes and contested Court of Protection matters.

Kate added: “Shakespeare Martineau has a strong reputation in the contentious probate market, and the depth of knowledge and experience within the trust and estates disputes team was a real draw for me. 

“The opportunity to work closely with clients, understand what matters to them and provide clear, pragmatic advice through what can be a complicated and emotionally challenging process is one of the most rewarding aspects of my role. 

“I’m looking forward to helping grow the Sheffield team and building on its strong reputation.” 

Both appointments add further specialist expertise to Shakespeare Martineau’s national trusts and estates disputes practice, with Aaron a member of STEP and ACTAPS and Kate also a full ACTAPS member.

Andrew Wilkinson, partner and head of trusts and estates disputes at Shakespeare Martineau, added: “Aaron and Kate bring complementary expertise and significant specialist experience to our growing trust and estates disputes team. 

“Their appointments strengthen our offering in London and Sheffield and support our ambitions to grow the team nationally.” 

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