Solicitor – Admitted 2012
“Alexa Payet is technically very able and meticulous in her analysis and work product. She cares intensely about moving her client’s positions towards their objectives.”
Legal 500 2025
“Alexa Payet deserves recognition as a highly effective litigator with the real subject matter expertise that is essential in this area. She is really great with clients.”
Legal 500 2025
“Alexa has helped shape the modern law on applications for relief against forfeiture. She has had conduct of the litigation in the leading decisions. There is nobody more experienced in guiding families through these challenging applications.”
Toby Bishop, 5 Stone Buildings
“The most experienced solicitor in the country in this area of law”
John Critchley, Head of Chambers, Field Court Chambers
“What a day and how I was dreading it but thanks to you and your team we managed to keep your 100% success record in this field! I cannot tell you how anxious we were all were and what a terrible journey this was for us all but you guided us well through thick and thin so thanks once again.”
Client
“Thank you so much for this, your dedication, empathy and thorough handling of the entire case and dealing with all our queries and frustrations.”
Client
Overview
I am a Partner in the Disputed Wills & Estates team.
I am a specialist trusts and estates litigator, with particular expertise in disputes focusing on trust and probate claims and contentious Court of Protection matters. I act for a wide range of clients based nationally and internationally, including beneficiaries, trustees, personal representatives, and charities.
I frequently advise on high value and/or complex probate and estate disputes, including invalidity claims, capacity and construction issues, as well as claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
I advise in a broad range of trust related actions, including trustee-beneficiary disputes and applications for the removal of trustees.
I also advise families regarding the potential financial consequences of assisted suicide and applications for relief from forfeiture under the Forfeiture Act 1982 and have acted in for the successful Claimants in the landmark decisions in Ninian v Findlay [2019] EWHC 297 (Ch) and Morris v Morris [2024] EWHC 2554 (Ch).
I am sensitive to the needs of my clients and always strive to marry high-quality and pragmatic legal advice with a thoughtful and personable manner.
I am a full member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists, a full member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers, an Affiliate member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, and a qualified solicitor advocate.
Recent experience
Acting for the successful Claimant in Ninian v Findlay [2019] EWHC 297 (Ch) in connection with an application under the Forfeiture Act 1982 for relief against the effects of forfeiture in relation to the interest which passed to her in consequence of her husband’s death, including the provision he had made for her in his will. The matter was highly sensitive and complex and was the first reported case of its type
Acting for the successful Claimant and the First and Second Defendants in Morris v Morris & Others [2024] EWHC 2554 (Ch) which is the second landmark decision in a relief from forfeiture application concerning an assisted dying case
Acting for an executor and beneficiary in connection with a high value estate and defending a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975
Advising a client in connection with a proprietary dispute involving constructive trust and proprietary estoppel claims and financial abuse
Acting as litigation friend for a vulnerable client in the Court of Protection in connection with an application made by a family member regarding the client’s lasting powers of attorney
Successfully negotiating a settlement of a spouse’s claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975
