• Profile:

    Deborah heads up the Private Wealth Disputes team at Brachers, specialising in disputes relating to Wills, trusts, the estates of deceased persons and other inheritance related disputes. Deborah also acts for parties in dispute over alleged financial abuse of the elderly in respect of transactions made in their life time.

    Deborah joined Brachers as a Partner in 2017 having previously worked for a West End law firm and Sussex firm. She is a specialist in contentious trust and probate work and is a longstanding member of both the Association of Contested Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) and the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association (PNLA).

    Deborah maintains excellent relationships with her clients, colleagues and with external service providers. She is renowned for her specialist legal knowledge and as a result frequently receives instructions and referrals from other law firms who are either unable to offer the specialist service that Deborah provides, or are conflicted.

    Deborah is named as a ‘leading individual’ in the Legal 500 2024 directory. Her specialisms are:

    • Disputes about the validity of a Will or a codicil
    • Claims for financial provision from an estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975
    • Claims for a share of an estate based on promises made and broken (estoppel)
    • Disputes between beneficiaries and trustees/personal representatives (executors), including applications to remove trustees/personal representatives (executors)
    • Breach of trust claims
    • Disputes between trustees/personal representatives/executors
    • Disputes between the beneficiaries of a trust or a Will
    • Disputes about the validity of transactions made during the lifetime of a person now deceased (e.g undue influence claims).
    • How to respond to, or how to make requests for information and documents relating to a trust or Will;
    • Disputes about the meaning of a Will or trust document
    • Claims in negligence against professionals such as will draftsmen, those providing estate planning advice and those administering an estate.

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    Awards:

    • Deborah Cain was extremely sharp and knowledgeable of what she was doing. This was only confounded when seeing her communications / dealings of my case. She worked extremely efficiently and never left a stone unturned or angle overlooked.

      The Legal 500 2024
    • Deborah Cain is an extremely good contentious probate lawyer. She has a great talent in ensuring that her client’s case is put as fully and firmly as possible but gives measured advice to clients in respect of realistic outcomes.

      The Legal 500 2024
    • Deborah Cain went above and beyond to understand the history of the case – this crucially put Deborah and the case in a better position than it had been previously.

      The Legal 500 2024
    • Deborah Cain is absolutely first-class. Approachable and practical in her approach, but an excellent lawyer and great guide through the litigation process for bereaved clients.

      The Legal 500 2023
    • I have referred contentious estates work to Deborah Cain. She is a very impressive contentious probate lawyer with a wealth of knowledge and experience. She is also popular with clients.

      The Legal 500 2022
    • Deborah Cain is friendly and very approachable – we are pleased that she is working for us, not against us! We have a fantastic relationship with her and received excellent advice with a very difficult issue – she listens, understands and advises.

      Client quote
    • I would recommend Deborah Cain unreservedly. I recommend her for her logical application of the correct law and her ability to know who to contact or employ has also been invaluable.

      The Legal 500 2024

    Contact details:

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