Track record
UHNW Lasting Power of Attorney and welfare dispute
Withers acted for the well-known businessman Gopichand Parmanand ('GP') Hinduja and his siblings in Court of Protection proceedings concerning the health, welfare, property and affairs of his brother, Srichand Parmanand Hinduja. It is believed to have been amongst the longest-running and most complex Court of Protection disputes, spanning over twenty hearings on a wide range of issues. In August 2022, Mr Justice Hayden delivered two judgments (here and here) lifting all reporting restrictions, but at the Court of Appeal GP argued successfully that some restrictions should remain in place to preserve his brother's privacy. The Withers team was led by Stephen Richards and included Natasha Stourton, Richard Walker, Alexandra Dix and Rosalind Russell. Read the Court of Appeal's judgment here.
Lasting Power of Attorney
Assisted a daughter and grand-daughter in defending accusations of wrongdoing in an application to revoke a Lasting Power of Attorney in their favour, and securing the appointment of a chosen family member alongside the Panel Deputy.
Successfully replacing executors with an independent professional
Assisted a widow in Goodman v Goodman, reported at [2013] 3 WLR 1551, in successfully removing the executors of her late husband's estate in favour of her chosen professional. Click here to view article.
Recovery of lifetime transfers
Assisted two siblings in Burgess v Hawes, reported at [2012] WTLR 423, to successfully overturn a purported will of their late mother's and secure recovery of lifetime transfers made to their sister and her immediate family. Click here view our briefing or visit the Daily Telegraph article And again assisting them to successfully defend an appeal to the Court of Appeal, reported at [2013] EWCA Civ 94. Click here to view our briefing.
Charities and English immovable property
Assisted nine UK charities in Clark v World Wildlife Fund and others, reported at [2011] WTLR 961, to successfully argue that English law governs the validity of a will dealing with English immovable property (thus confirming the rule in Dicey for the first time).
Talks
'Withers talks: cryptocurrency | Ep 8 - Trusts issues with cryptocurrency - a European perspective,' Withers podcast - May 6, 2021, speaker
Probate Update, LexisNexis webinar - April 2016