Company
Position
Partner
Index
Contentious Trust Lawyers
Legal
Location
London
Advice type
Alternative dispute resolution
Big-money cases
Cross-border
International cases
Legal - Dispute resolution
Asset Class
Trusts
Client type
Families
HNW
UHNW
Widowed
Sector Focus
Legal Advisory Services
Customer type
Lawyer
Claire-Marie Cornford
Spear’s Review
Claire-Marie Cornford joined Irwin Mitchell in 2017, having been headhunted from her previous role at Mishcon de Reya, to join the firm’s newly formed private wealth division. As head of will, trust and estate disputes in London, she leads a dedicated team of lawyers, including a second partner who specialises in Court of Protection cases.
Cornford regularly acts in high-value and complex private wealth disputes for a broad range of clients, including successful entrepreneurs and business leaders, landed gentry, farmers, charities, trustees and individuals. As part of her practice, she explores mediation, collaborative law, private dispute resolution and arbitration before turning to litigation.
She is also head of international private wealth at Irwin Mitchell, leading a multidisciplinary and multi-office group of practitioners who focus on international private wealth work.
Adviser Profile
Claire-Marie Cornford is a Partner and Head of the Will, Trust, and Estate Disputes team at Irwin Mitchell in London. She specialises in private client disputes and litigation, particularly involving trusts, estates, and succession issues. Claire-Marie represents private individuals, trustees, executors, administrators, protectors, and beneficiaries. Her notable cases include high-profile disputes like the estate of the 8th Earl Bathurst and international litigation involving significant assets. Recognised in Citywealth’s Top 10 Powerwomen Trust Litigators and Legal Week’s Private Client Global Elite Directory, Claire-Marie is known for her tenacity, expertise, and client-focused approach.
Rank: Top Recommended

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Address
40 Holborn Viaduct, London, EC1N 2PZ
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