Jasmine Ivory

I’m a Senior Associate in Michelmores’ Disputed Wills and Trusts team.

I work closely with national charities in relation to issues which arise when charitable legacies are disputed. I am key contact for our partnership with Cancer Research UK and am fortunate to support their legacy team in defending the charitable legacies kindly donated to them.

I also advise private individuals, including beneficiaries, executors, and trustees when they face challenging circumstances in relation to an estate.  That can be in relation to the validity and construction of a Will, the management and handling of trusts and estates and / or in relation to claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and proprietary estoppel.

I separately support Holly Mieville-Hawkins in relation to claims arising in the context of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and issues relating to mental capacity.

I enjoy speaking and sharing knowledge in the contentious probate and charity sectors.  My personal highlight to date, and a real privilege, has been to speak at the International Workshop on Legacy Giving in South Korea with Tony Cockayne to share best practice in legacy disputes.

I support our Corporate Partnership with the Institute of Legacy Management and regularly contribute to their training programme and resources.

I am an Associate Member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (“ACTAPS”), and a member of the Contentious Trusts Association (“ConTrA”).

I joined Michelmores as a Trainee in 2015.  I am proud to be part of our growing and ambitious team and to be recognised as a Rising Star by the Legal 500.

Recent experience

Defending a series of six competing validity and family provision claims against a high value estate on behalf of the charitable beneficiaries

Advising national charities in relation to a Will construction claim and securing an early and competitive settlement on confidential terms which protects the charities’ interests and includes a full recovery of their costs

Advising in relation to a multi-million pound spousal settlement under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 involving complex issues arising from long-term domestic abuse and professional negligence

Negotiating a settlement of a knowledge and approval claim at a mediation which preserved the terms of the deceased’s last Will, and importantly for our client, prevented the requirement for his family business to be sold and embroiled in the dispute

Bringing a claim on behalf of an adult child and her minor son under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. This particularly challenging case included the requirement to quantify long-term care needs for a party who was not otherwise an eligible claimant and combine this with his mother’s needs as parent. It resulted in a successful and early settlement