Eleanor Clarke

Biography

Eleanor advises on a wide range of probate disputes including will validity challenges, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and advising beneficiaries and executors when a dispute has arisen.

Eleanor studied American Studies at the University of Nottingham before undertaking her legal training in Manchester. She trained at JMW Solicitors before moving to Linder Myers in 2015 to specialise in Contentious Trusts and Estates. Eleanor joined the Probate Litigation department at Myerson in 2018. Eleanor is an Associate Member of the Association of Contentious Probate Solicitors.

Eleanor has been featured in the Law Society Gazette as Lawyer in the news and in October 2024, Eleanor successfully defended a client in the high-profile contentious probate case Neate v Heselden, which had attracted media attention, appearing in The Telegraph, Mail Online, The Times, The Mirror and more, due to its unusual circumstances involving a valuable stamp collection and a longstanding friendship between the Deceased and his former cleaner, Susan Pope. His Honour Judge Gerald, sitting at the County Court at Central London, delivered judgment on the 24th October 2024, confirming the validity of the Will of the late Raymond Watts, dated 2nd May 2019, as modified by a codicil on 12th November 2020.

Expertise and Past Cases

Eleanor has a wide range of experience of probate litigation including: 

• In October 2024, Eleanor successfully defended a client in the high-profile probate case Neate v Heselden, where the court upheld the validity of Raymond Watts’ will despite claims of undue influence and lack of capacity.
• Acting for clients challenging or defending the validity of a will due to lack of capacity, undue influence, fraud and improper execution
• Acting on behalf of claimants and defendants in relation to claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
• Acting on behalf of executors or personal representatives when a dispute has arisen between the beneficiaries or there is a claim against the estate
• Acting on behalf of claimants and defendants in relation to estoppel claims
• Acting on behalf of beneficiaries in claims against executors or trustees including negotiated settlements and applications for the removal of an executor
• Negotiating the sale of property and distribution of chattels where a dispute has arisen and litigation is threatened