Natasha McKeever

Overview

I am a Partner in Michelmores Disputed Wills & Estates team.

Over the last 15 years I have had the privilege of acting for families, individuals, trustees, beneficiaries, insurers and charities on a wide range of Will, Probate and Trust disputes.

I regularly deal with multi-million-pound estates involving assets in various jurisdictions. I specialise in Will challenges and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act (1975), including those with domicile issues. I have a keen interest in proprietary estoppel, professional negligence and claims under the Forfeiture Act (1982). My experience also extends to Court of Protection cases, particularly in respect of Statutory Wills, financial abuse and freezing injunctions.

I pride myself on taking the burden and stress away from my clients. I need to navigate them through the difficult litigation process, while they are often still grieving the death of a loved one.

I thrive on building extremely close relationships with my clients to truly understand the history of the dispute and ensure I know exactly what they want to achieve.

Qualifications

I am a qualified member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).

STEP Advanced Certificate in Administration of Estates.

STEP Advanced Certificate in Administration of Trusts.

STEP Advanced Certificate in Trust Disputes.

Recent experience

Acting for the partner of the deceased under an Inheritance Act claim. The estate was worth £6 million, and my client had been left nothing under the Will. The beneficiaries denied my client was ever in a relationship with the deceased. Despite this, I managed to agree a settlement for my client worth £2 million at an early mediation.

Acting in a Will challenge which proceeded to a full trial. My client was defending the action. There was a joint expert report saying the deceased did lack mental capacity to make the Will. Despite the report, through meticulous research and preparation for the trial, I was able to prove the Deceased did not lack capacity. The Will stood and my client won.

Acting for a client in respect of a claim against the estate for relief under the Forfeiture Act (1982). The estate included various trust structures and assets in multiple jurisdictions. The matter was further complicated as the applicant lacked mental capacity and required a Litigation Friend. I navigated my client through the difficult and stressful process to ensure a settlement he was very happy with via mediation.

Acting in a Statutory Will application of an estate worth £8 million involving parties in America and Iran and the Attorney General. I supported my clients through the stressful process and managed to secure the Statutory Will they wanted.

Acting in a professional negligence claim against a solicitor for failing to prepare the deceased’s Will before his death. My client issued a claim as a disappointed beneficiary. Despite the solicitor’s insurer heavily defending the action, I agreed an exceptional settlement sum for my client via mediation.