Ashton has over 25 years of experience and is a contentious trust and probate specialist, dealing with trust and estate disputes.
His practice covers a broad range of matters, including challenges to the validity of wills, maladministration of trusts and estates, 1975 Inheritance Act claims, financial abuse of the elderly and the vulnerable by attorneys and deputies, misappropriation of estate and trust assets, and applications for removal of trustees and executors.
Ashton acts for both professional and lay clients including trustees, executors, attorneys, deputies and beneficiaries in different sectors including private HNW individuals, charities and the financial services industry.
Ashton is a very tough litigator but very client focused and always looking for practical solutions to tough problems rather than chasing a ‘win’ for the sake of it.
The Legal 500 Testimonial
An excellent lawyer who really understands his clients and goes the extra mile to deliver their objectives.
Chambers HNW Testimonial
Ashton is an excellent lawyer with a great grasp of what is important and what is less pressing.
The Legal 500 Testimonial
He has a lot of experience and is clearly able to draw on that when identifying potential issues in new instructions.
Chambers HNW Testimonial
An extremely well-regarded litigator who has considerable experience handling trust and estate disputes for high net worth client.
Chambers HNW 2023
Honestly exceptional. He couldn't have been more perfect personality-wise and he offered an instant understanding - we felt like we were in safe hands.
HNW client
Ashton is superb on the contentious side of things. He is so knowledgeable and quick on his feet.
HNW client
Expertise
- Disputed wills, trusts and estates
- Construction / rectification of wills
- Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependents) Act claims
- Financial abuse of elderly and the vulnerable
- Misappropriation and mismanagement of estate and trust assets
- Investigations into the actions and conduct of trustees and executors
- Professional negligence
Experience
General
- Acted for the claimant in a successfully resolving claim regarding rectification of a trust deed affecting the client’s interest in his own home.
- Acted for a disappointed beneficiary in successfully resolving claim to ensure the fulfilment of the deceased’s clear testamentary intentions after the failure of the will drafter to ensure execution of a will before death.
- Acted for the executors of substantial estate in successfully recovering in full the entire value of the deceased’s assets previously misappropriated by the attorney.
High Net Worth
- Acted for the claimant, the widower of a property investor with a multi-million-pound portfolio, to secure substantial provision.
- Acted for the claimant, the elderly cohabitant of a millionaire farmer, to secure further reasonable provision from the estate.
- Acted for the defendant beneficiary of a multi-million-pound estate against parallel 75 Inheritance Act claims by the widow and sibling.
- Acted in a Court of Protection application for a £10 million statutory gift and statutory will in a multi-million estate.
- Acted in a professional negligence claim for a disappointed beneficiary against solicitors for failure to ensure the execution of the deceased’s last will after a delay of over 7 months.
- Acted for an advisor to the mother of a member of an international royal family in a claim brought by the family for reimbursement of professional charges.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS)
Top Ranked by Chambers HNW (2018-2024) for Private Wealth Disputes (Ranked Tier 1 for the South)
Recommended by The Legal 500 (2021-2023) for Contentious Trusts & Probate
Career
Ashton qualified as a solicitor in 2001. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2024, he worked at the following firms:
- Adams and Remers
- Thomas Eggar LLP