Victoria joined Stephens Scown in 2026, and she is a Partner specialising in inheritance, trust, and Court of Protection disputes.  

Victoria has over 24 years’ experience of advising and supporting individuals, families, companies and charities in complex cases, helping them to navigate disputes with clarity and empathy. Her practice covers the full spectrum of contentious private client work, including; 

• Disputed will and trusts; 

• Claims under the Inheritance (provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975  (claimant and defendant); 

• Will construction claims; 

• Resolving disputes between beneficiaries and executors or trustees; 

• Proprietary estoppel claims;  

• Resolving disputes between executors or trustees;  

• Disputed Court of Protection applications, e.g. disputes between Deputies or attorneys, disputes about financial decisions and statutory wills; 

• Investigating elder fraud and the financial abuse of vulnerable adults; 

• Tracing and recovering missing estate assets;  

• Protecting charitable legacies; and  

• Setting aside lifetime transactions and gifts.  

Victoria is a full member of ACTAPS (Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists) and a member of the Charity law Association. Recent examples of Victoria’s work include: 

• Advising will beneficiaries and relatives of the deceased testator (will maker)  in defending a claim brought by another family member under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975 for reasonable financial provision from an estate. Settling the claim through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and preserving most of the estate for the client beneficiaries. 

• Representing and advising a Deputy in a complex dispute about a statutory will for a vulnerable adult with an acquired brain injury. Obtaining a statutory will and order for costs. 

• Advising the child of a testator (will maker) in a complex dispute involving mutual wills and a family trust. Investigating to determine the facts and obtaining a settlement for the client through ADR. Recovering the main estate asset for the client.  

• Advising a professional executor about the interpretation of will where some charitable legacies in the will were at risk of failing. Identifying alternative charities to receive the legacies, providing for the spirit of the testator’s (will maker’s) charitable wishes to be carried out and for similar charities to benefit from the estate.  

Victoria has also worked with a range of local and national charities (which provide vital support and services in the UK in areas including; the environment, welfare and health) by assisting them to realise legacy income and achieve their charitable aims.  

Alongside her legal work, Victoria is also committed to contributing to local communities. As well as representing charity clients and providing training to charities, Victoria has also been involved in a number of successful volunteering and fundraising projects since 2009. During the Covid-19 pandemic she also volunteered as an NHS Royal Voluntary Service Responder.  

Outside of her practice, she enjoys hiking, painting, reading and spending time with her family and Labrador.