David Catchpole

Partner

photo for David Catchpole

What can I do for you

David specialises in trust and probate disputes with 25 years experience. He deals exclusively with these matters and has developed real expertise. He helps individuals and organisations like charities and higher educational establishments. He advises on testamentary capacity, undue influence, applications under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, proprietary estoppel and breach of trust actions.

What do others say

The Legal 500 describes David as "vastly experienced with excellent judgment.  He is incredibly personable but the opposite of a pushover: he fights tenaciously for his clients always with a keen eye on their greater interests ". 

Chambers directory says: "David's advice is always considered and clear even where it is complex".

Receiving positive feedback from pleased clients is really what makes his job worthwhile says David.  He is very proud to be named in the legal directories as being a leader of "an exceptional team with great strength and depth".

Supporting your ambitions

David recently successfully acted for a client who had been promised all of his father's estate but who was due to receive very little under the intestacy rules as no will could be found.  As with many cases of this nature, emotions were running high between the parties. Working closely with the client, David was able to use his specialist legal knowledge and years of experience to negotiate a compromise which satisfied the client while retaining some of the estate for other family members in what was a bitter feud.

What else should you know?

David is a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) - and one of the few members of this prestigious organisation outside London.

He is a keen sportsman and regularly plays football, squash, badminton and golf.  He enjoys skiing and running, having completed what he says was a rather gruelling, hot London Marathon in April 2018.

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What our clients say about us

“I think Mills & Reeve are a wonderful firm. The support they have provided to us in a really difficult area has been brilliant, collaborative and commercially minded. The team were absolutely wonderful and a joy to work with. Amazing advice and support and a real collaborative effort with us. I can't thank them enough for getting us through some really tough times and doing so with an amazing can-do attitude.”

“They are friendly, fast, always available and always on top of the game. I tend to judge my legal team against the other side's legal team and never doubt Mills & Reeve is the better of the two.”

“All interactions have been very clear. Responses to questions have always been very swift and unambiguous. Our company, and my family, have used various services in Mills & Reeve with the same level of satisfaction.”

“I value the fact that Mills & Reeve are recognised as a good place to work in the UK Best Companies survey. This aligns with the values of our business and means that Mills & Reeve can share what is required to achieve this status with our business.”