National law firm Shoosmiths continues to expand its expertise in contentious trusts and probate with the recruitment of Tara McInnes, who will be based at the firm's Thames Valley office.
Senior associate Tara (previously a partner at Gardner Leader Solicitors) is a full member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) and brings a wealth of experience as well as significant expertise in civil litigation concerning estates worth several million pounds.
Tara was named in the 2018 Legal 500 Directory as a 'next generation' lawyer in her field, being described as a tenacious litigator who brings a pragmatic and commercial approach to her cases.
Many of her cases have set legal precedents and she has published articles in The Guardian, STEP, and the Law Society Gazette and is a regular, quarterly, guest blogger for Third Sector online.
Tara will deal with private client matters concerning Will, trust and estate disputes, particularly high value claims under The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and proprietary estoppel claims.
Tara said: "I'm really looking forward to working for a firm with such an evident commitment to a first-class client experience. I am sure that I'll be able to hit the ground running in developing our proposition and increasing the client base for contested probate disputes in Thames Valley and beyond."
Adam Draper, the partner heading up the firm's national contentious probate team, commented: "Tara's recruitment is a great boost during a time of growth for our contentious Trusts and probate team as is the firm's and her own recognition in Legal 500. I am sure she will play an important role in our ongoing success."
He added: "We will seek to further strengthen our national capability in the not too distant future with other key senior appointments to enable us to provide a truly national, best in class service for our clients."