Contentious Probate Solicitor in Bristol
How Can Fiona Help You?
A specialist in her field, with many years' experience dealing with a broad range of inheritance and Will disputes and trust disputes, Fiona is ideally placed to assist you.
Her clients range from private individuals including executors, administrators and beneficiaries, to professional trustees and executors.
Fiona also acts as a Court appointed Independent Administrator in contested estates, which often requires her to take firm, decisive action to relieve the deadlock in the estate and bring the estate administration to a conclusion.
Fiona is also experienced in contested Court of Protection matters; she regularly advises on matters involving attorneys acting in breach of duty, and financial abuse of vulnerable people.
Fiona works alongside our nationally acclaimed Charities team and our Estates, Tax and Trusts team, to advise national charities, higher education institutions and Universities in respect of protecting legacies due to them. We also continue to defend a number of contested legacies for national charities and other non-profit organisations.
Examples include:
- Advising a national charity in relation to a Will challenge brought by beneficiaries under an earlier Will on the grounds of lack of capacity, want of knowledge and approval and undue influence.
- Advising a school in defending an Inheritance Act claim brought by the widow of a former pupil, who left his entire estate to the school.
Meeting Your Needs
Fiona is committed to achieving the most favourable outcome for her clients, and sees litigation as a last resort. She deals with cases in the most cost effective way she can, and she is experienced in achieving out of court settlements by way of mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Fiona is formidable, tenacious and truly understands the complexities of a case.
What Others Say
'Fiona Lawrence is a highly skilled and experienced professional, who from our first communication has impressed me with her vigour and determination in mediating a resolution to a toxic family dispute. Her written communication is outstanding and highly effective.’ - Legal 500 2025
‘Fiona Lawrence is a really approachable lawyer with a wealth of experience. She is excellent at explaining matters clearly and giving clear advice and cutting through the noise to get to the heart of the issue. ’ - Legal 500 2025
‘Fiona Lawrence has been an excellent adviser to us throughout this process. She has been commercial, available at all times and practical in her advice.’ - Legal 500 2025
‘Fiona Lawrence surpassed all expectation.' - Legal 500 2025
‘Fiona Lawrence was able to navigate and negotiate us through a highly toxic family contentious probate case to nearly triple the position which we started from. Her communication was excellent throughout.' - Legal 500 2025
"Fiona is unflappable, on top of the details, communicates well and knows how to delegate. She is a very impressive operator." - Chambers & Partners HNW Guide 2025
"Fiona has worked diligently for us through the contentious matter under review. She has been thorough, practical and commercial throughout." - Chambers & Partners HNW Guide 2025
"Along with great experience and professionalism, Fiona brings patience, insight and sensitivity. I appreciate her vigour in following up on new evidence and her creative, pragmatic approach." - Chambers & Partners HNW Guide 2025
"Fiona has always been attentive, knowledgeable and available to answer queries in a timely manner. She's very professional at all times." - Chambers & Partners HNW Guide 2025
"Fiona is fantastic to work with and offers support, guidance and solutions. She is able to manage complex clients and matters." - Chambers & Partners HNW Guide 2025
What You Might Like to Know
Fiona has been at VWV since 2002, and previously worked for Thring Townsend.
She is a member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).
Fiona has been involved in the following reported cases:
- Bowack v Saxton [2020] EWHR 1049 Ch - a case involving the validity of two trusts despite a string of documentation errors;
- Tachi v Woodward [2018] WL 0627 1050 - a Will challenge case; and
- Green v Astor [2013] EWHC 1857 - the first reported decision in which the Court ordered a beneficiary to pay the costs of an application by a personal representative for directions, on the grounds that his unreasonable conduct was responsible for the costs of the application.
Fiona has published the following articles:
- 'Contested wills: late for a very important date', an article published in the Trusts & Estates Law & Tax Journal in which Fiona and Julia Hardy review the considerations that will be taken into account by a Court when allowing a very late amendment to a Will challenge case, having regard to the Tachi v Woodward decision;
- 'Casing the joints', an article published in PS, the magazine of the Law Society’s Private Client Section, in which Fiona and Julia Hardy consider the problems faced by personal representatives in relation to joint bank accounts after the death of one of the account holders; and
- 'Stuck in the Middle', in which Fiona and Christine Green provide a first hand account of how challenging the role of Independent Administrator can be, with reference to the Green v Astor judgement. First published in PS, the magazine of the Law Society’s Private Client Section, a version of this article was also featured in the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPs) Journal.
Outside work, Fiona enjoys spending time with her family and her teenage boys, cycling and open water swimming. Fiona is currently training to swim the Dart 10k.