Tamara is a Consultant Solicitor in the Inheritance and Trust Disputes team with nearly 20 years of experience working within the Private Client and Trust and Estate Disputes field. She has been with Stephens Scown since November 2021. She is a fully qualified member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) as well as the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and is also a Solicitor Advocate.
Tamara has worked in the South West for the last 17 years and has extensive experience of working with families and individuals in difficult circumstances, in particular in advising on challenging wills on either the grounds of lack of testamentary capacity, lack of knowledge and approval or undue influence as well as dealing with claims relating to mutual wills and promissory and proprietary estoppel. She has been involved in reported cases up to the Court of Appeal and also appeared in the High Court, County Court and Court of Protection.
Tamara has also spent many years advising clients on claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 both as claimant and defendant as well as working with families who need to use the legislation to resolve difficulties arising out of the intestacy laws.
As well as dealing with complex and high value estates and trusts and many estates with an international element, Tamara’s extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with the inheritance and capital gains tax regimes within England and Wales can be of significant assistance when structuring an Agreement.
Tamara is also very experienced in Court of Protection matters and has acted as Deputy on behalf of a large number of clients with a variety of capacity issues including acquired brain injuries. She often advises clients who have concerns about financial abuse of a loved one as well as individuals who are being investigated in relation to their role as Attorney or Deputy. This is a growing and highly specialised area of the law and Tamara is used to working with the Office of the Public Guardian, in the Court of Protection and with the Protection of Vulnerable Adults units within Local Authorities.
Through the course of Tamara’s career she has won two national awards in her role as the Partner heading the Private Client Team of the Year at a national firm, as well as having articles published in the STEP Journal and local and national publications.
Outside of work Tamara is an enthusiastic traveller and likes to get to at least one new country every year. She is also a keen reader, cook and allotment holder.
