Hannah Kenworthy
Hannah is a senior associate in our Wills, trusts and probate team. Hannah advises on all aspects of Wills, tax planning, probates and the preparation and registration of lasting powers...
Claire Sharp
I am a partner in Debenhams Ottaway’s highly regarded Wills, trusts and probate team, with significant experience advising individuals and families on a wide range of private wealth matters. My...
Barry Griffin
I’m a partner in our award‑winning Wills, trusts and probate team, where I help clients with all aspects of writing Wills, probate, tax planning and estate administration. I also support...
Angela Smith
Angela is a consultant in the private client team and has over 13 years’ experience in private client work. Angela offers specialist advice in Wills, probate, tax planning, estate administration and...
Andrew Spearman
Andrew is a partner in our private client team and has over 17 years’ experience in private client work. Andrew advises on all aspects of Wills, probate and estate administration,...
Andrew Yates
Andrew is a partner and heads our growing corporate and commercial team. He has over fifteen years’ experience dealing with corporate and business matters working with clients across multiple sectors...
Alexander Neale
Alexander is a partner in our dispute resolution and litigation team specialising in contentious and non-contentious insolvency. Alexander prides himself on his ability to act quickly and efficiently in relation...
Did you register an enduring or lasting power of attorney between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2017?
The Ministry of Justice has announced that refunds are being offered to those who have registered either enduring or lasting powers of attorney between 1 April 2013 and 31 March...
The Time Limit for Inheritance Act claims
In January this year the case of Sargeant v Sargeant [2018] offered insight on limitation matters for claims under the Inheritance Act. The Act The Inheritance Act provides that without the permission...
Training contracts
Debenhams Ottaway is a great place to start your career in law. Our long-running training contracts have been very successful, with many of our lawyers and partners starting out at...
Current Vacancies
Find out more about our latest job vacancies below. To make an application please send your CV and covering letter to recruitment@debenhamsottaway.co.uk Even if there isn’t a relevant vacancy listed,...
Work with us
We are changing the way people think about lawyers and we want you to join us on our journey! Be part of a team that prides itself on delivering award-winning...
Responsible business
As a long-standing Hertfordshire business, being part of our community is an important part of who we are. We want to make a positive difference not only through the legal...
Recommendations and awards
We place great emphasis on ensuring that our legal expertise and client service are of the highest standard to provide reassurance to our clients. This has been recognised by achieving...
What our clients think
Your experience matters most. Everything we do is shaped by what matters to our clients. That’s why we actively listen, through regular feedback surveys and mystery shopping, to understand what...
Contesting a Will made without proper knowledge or approval
The person making a Will (the ‘testator’) must understand and approve the contents of their Will in order for it to be considered legal. This is distinct from the physical...
Contesting a Will made under pressure or undue influence
When someone is unhappy with the contents of a Will after a loved one has died, it is not uncommon for them to question whether the Will truly reflects their...
The Will was made by someone not of sound mind
A person making or amending a Will must have the mental capacity (and a sound mind) to do so. This is sometimes phrased in legal terms as ‘testamentary capacity’. It is...
The Will was not signed, witnessed or drafted correctly
When a Will is signed (sometimes phrased in legal terms as ‘executed’), there are a number of formalities that must be followed, otherwise the Will can be invalid you and...
Boundaries and rights of way
With pressures on living space increasing all the time, it is becoming more common for issues to arise between neighbouring landowners around ownership and use of their land. We are...