Contentious Probate Partner

• Take ownership of an established Contentious Probate practice with significant growth potential
• Enjoy autonomy, complex disputes and genuine opportunities to progress towards Shareholder status
• Join a profitable, growing regional firm offering hybrid working and a supportive culture

Are you an experienced Contentious Probate Solicitor seeking a Partner-level opportunity to develop a specialist practice and influence its future?

This highly regarded regional firm is seeking a Contentious Probate Partner to strengthen its growing Dispute Resolution department.

The role can be based in Sheffield, Chesterfield or Mansfield, with hybrid working and flexibility around your preferred office location.

You’ll inherit an established contentious probate caseload, supported by internal referrals, experienced litigation colleagues and a strong support structure.

What makes this opportunity attractive is the platform for growth. Rather than building from scratch, you’ll develop an existing practice, attract new instructions and strengthen its market reputation.

The firm has invested significantly in technology, infrastructure and its people. Its expanding Dispute Resolution department offers an excellent environment for developing a profitable specialist practice.

You’ll have genuine influence over the future of contentious probate. Working alongside the Head of Dispute Resolution, you’ll contribute to strategy, support junior colleagues and develop the firm’s specialist offering.

The culture is friendly, collaborative and commercially minded without being corporate. You’ll enjoy autonomy, strong support and opportunities to progress towards Shareholder status.

If you’re seeking a Partner-level role combining complex litigation, business development and long-term opportunities, this could be an excellent move.

Who we’re looking for

• Significant experience handling contentious probate and trust disputes (E)
• Ability to independently manage complex contentious probate matters (E)
• Experience handling high-value and technically challenging disputes (E)
• Strong knowledge of contentious trusts, probate and inheritance law (E)
• Proven experience delivering high-quality contentious probate work (E)
• Excellent client relationship management and communication skills (E)
• Strong commercial awareness and professional judgement (E)
• Ability to develop internal and external professional relationships (E)
• Confidence taking ownership of a specialist practice (E)
• Collaborative, approachable and team-oriented approach (E)
• Commitment to excellent client service (E)
• 5+ years’ PQE in contentious probate or related litigation (D)
• Existing referral network or portable following (D)
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior lawyers (D)
• Regional, mid-tier or national private practice background (D)
• Business development and networking experience (D)
• Ambition to grow a specialist practice and contribute to leadership (D)

What you’ll be doing

• Managing an established caseload of complex contentious probate disputes
• Handling will validity disputes and Inheritance Act claims
• Advising on executor, trustee and beneficiary disputes
• Managing proprietary estoppel, trust and estate administration disputes
• Handling related commercial litigation where appropriate
• Developing the firm’s contentious probate offering and market reputation
• Building referrals from accountants, IFAs, Private Client Solicitors and other introducers
• Strengthening internal referral relationships
• Working with the Head of Dispute Resolution on growth strategy
• Supporting and mentoring junior lawyers where appropriate
• Contributing to fee income, profitability and business development

Salary & Benefits

• £70,000–£100,000, depending on experience, following and commercial contribution
• Flexible hybrid working
• Choice of Sheffield, Chesterfield or Mansfield office base
• Opportunity to develop an established Contentious Probate practice
• Significant autonomy over caseload management and business development
• Genuine progression towards Shareholder status
• Existing caseload of complex contentious probate disputes
• Established internal referrals and wider litigation expertise
• Experienced support staff and modern IT systems
• Investment in technology, infrastructure and departmental growth
• Opportunity to influence Dispute Resolution strategy
• Friendly, collaborative and non-corporate culture
• Long-term stability within a profitable, expanding regional firm

This is an excellent opportunity for a Contentious Probate specialist seeking a Partner-level platform, sophisticated disputes and genuine commercial influence.

If you’re ready to develop an established practice and shape its next stage of growth, we’d love to hear from you.

Contact Bill Szajna-Hopgood
📩 bill.szajnahopgood@realmrecruit.com
📞 03300 245 606

While this advert sets out the criteria applicable to each salary band, the salary guidance given is purely indicative. The precise salary offered within that band will ultimately be determined by the hirer, taking into account the individual candidate’s experience, qualifications and overall suitability for the role.