“Wilsons' reputation in charity litigation is second to none.”
Chambers, 2025
“The Wilsons team is consistently reliable, providing a wealth and breadth of expertise.”
Chambers, 2025
“Superb team with a practice which competes with the top London firms. They have been involved in some of the most high-profile cases in this area in recent years.”
Legal 500, 2025
“Charlotte Watts and James Aspden are experienced and provide practical advice for their clients. They provide straightforward and commercial advice and their charitable clients have confidence in their work and respect their judgement.”
Legal 500, 2025
“Wilsons have a well-deserved and earned reputation in the charity sector. They have real subject matter expertise.”
Legal 500, 2025
“The firm's lawyers are knowledgeable and dedicated.”
Chambers, 2024
“Wilsons provide trusted and professional advice time after time.”
Chambers, 2024
“The team at Wilsons is rightly recognised for their work for charities. Wilsons are the team you think of when you think of charity work (both contentious and non-contentious). They have a really strong profile in the market and well-deserved recognition as experts in this area”
Legal 500, 2024
“They have a unique understanding of the needs of charities; not just the legal aspect but also how Trustees need to be advised – their written and verbal advice reflects this. They manage to home in on the critical points of a case, advise accordingly and ensure that all points are covered.”
Legal 500, 2024
“Excellent guidance and advice in respect of contentious matters and the needs of the charities and its trustees.”
Legal 500, 2024
“This is a team with all the expertise and experience of a London firm. The lawyers are experienced and clever and have real expertise in the area.”
Legal 500, 2024
“Wilsons hold a unique position in the Wills and Probate sector, especially when dealing with charities, both as beneficiaries and executors. Their team have an intimate knowledge of the requirements of clients and beneficiaries, dealing with all aspects of administration with delicacy and understanding. When matters turn contentious, Wilsons contentious probate team are exceptional, giving excellent advice and ensuring costs are kept to a minimum and beneficiaries receive their full entitlement. ”
RNIB, 2023
“Wilsons are always responsive and happy to help. The probate and estate administration team are proactive and have a really good grasp of the important issues in dealing with probate, in particular complex tax matters. The contentious probate team are not only good strategically but also very pragmatic and cost effective, finding creative solutions to get the best outcome for the charity. We have always found them approachable and happy to talk things through.”
RSPCA, 2023
“We rely on Wilsons’ expertise in charity law, and their sympathetic and pragmatic approach to resolving complex matters - they always provide a friendly and efficient service. Wilsons have helped our charity over a number of years to safeguard legacy gifts which are vital to our work in providing care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia.”
Royal Star & Garter, 2023
“We have instructed Wilsons on a number of matters over the past year, and we’re always impressed with the consistent level of service received no matter which solicitor is dealing with it. They are a knowledgeable team, giving clear and thorough advice, and we particularly appreciate their wider work in support of charities and the legacy administration sector. We would definitely recommend them to other organizations, or individuals, looking for a friendly, professional and efficient firm.”
Client, 2023
“Our experience of working with Wilsons Solicitors LLP, in a variety of legacy and charity law matters, is consistently of the highest standard. They are able to consider matters quickly and efficiently and always provide clear and pragmatic advice on the best way forward. We have found them to have extensive specialist knowledge in a number of arears affecting charities that proves invaluable when seeking advice.”
Client, 2023
Protecting your income and reputation
Working with legacies requires strategic thinking coupled with a sensitive approach. Our team is the largest outside London, supporting over 500 charities of all sizes to help ensure the outcome the legacy donor has intended.
A complete service
From large household names to smaller local charities, we advise on all of the issues charities may be faced with concerning their legacy income.
We are known as leading experts when it comes to resolving legacy disputes for charities, solving problems in the administration of estates in which charities have an interest and statutory will applications. We can cover any issue that may arise and with a specialist team of 4 partners, 2 associates and 4 solicitors working with our broader charity team across all disciplines, we offer unrivalled strength in depth to our charity clients.
Our approach is pragmatic. Our advice is clear, strategic and focussed. We are experienced in handling the publicity that can attach to legacy disputes.
We resolve the vast majority of our cases for charities without the risk and expense of a court hearing. In the few cases where this has not been possible, we have a strong track record and acted for charities in several of the leading decisions in this field. Examples of our work include:
| Ilott v Blue Cross |
The Supreme Court's first ever ruling on claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, where we acted for the successful appellant charities. |
| King v Dubrey |
The leading case on gifts made in contemplation of death (donations mortis causa) where we acted for the successful appellant charities.
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| RNLI v Headley |
This decision provides clear guidance on the requirement for trustees to provide accounts to beneficiaries. We acted for the successful charity applicants. |
| Kell v Jones |
When can a solicitor's mistake in drafting a will be fixed by rectification, and when must the solicitor pay damages to remedy the problem? We acted for the successful defendant charities. |
We have been corporate members of the Institute of Legacy Management since it began, and every solicitor in our team is a full or associate member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).
