4.6.2025
Supreme Court Confirms ‘No-Profit’ Rule For Fiduciaries
Trustees: Supreme Court confirms ‘no change’ to ‘no-profit’ rule for fiduciaries The contested probate and trusts team at Osbornes Law...
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“Katie has great knowledge of the law and superb people skills, with a drive to get the best result possible.”
“I would recommend Katie de Swarte, who is easy to deal with and a knowledgeable, formidable opponent.”
Head of Private Client Disputes
Katie is a Partner and Head of Private Client Disputes.
She is a highly experienced solicitor specialising in Contentious Trusts and Probate matters.
The types of cases Katie deals with include, but are not limited to, applications under the Inheritance (Provisions for Family and Dependents) Act 1975, challenging the validity and structure of wills and trusts, claims for breach of trust and disputes arising between executors/trustees, beneficiaries and third parties. These types of disputes give rise to professional negligence claims and claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act (ToLaTA), which Katie also has wide experience in. Katie undertakes Court of Protection work, such as obtaining Lasting Power of Attorneys and issues arising from the same, Statutory Will applications and making and contesting Deputyship applications.
Many of Katie’s cases involve international elements and cross-border issues. Katie has experience dealing with various jurisdictions, including Scotland, France, Spain and India.
Awards and memberships
Katie is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and is a STEP Technician. She is also a member of the ConTra, a Contentious Trusts Association for Lawyers and a full member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS). Katie is a member of Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) and was awarded the SFE Older Client Care Practice Award in November 2020.
Personal Interests
Katie enjoys socialising with her family and friends in her spare time, cooking and travelling.
Katie de Swarte is a first-rate lawyer.
Katie is professional, capable and I know and trust her to look after clients I refer to her.
I would recommend Katie de Swarte, who is easy to deal with and a knowledgeable, formidable opponent.
Katie de Swarte is very good with clients and committed to helping them achieve their objectives.
Katie de Swarte is a hard working and ambitious lawyer.
"Katie has a good rapport with clients and genuinely wants to help them. She's extremely committed to helping clients."
"Katie has great knowledge of the law and superb people skills, with a drive to get the best result possible."
Katie De Swarte – she is very client-focused and attuned to their needs without being fearful of setting out where she perceives there may be weaknesses in their position.
Katie develops a good rapport with clients and is a good specialist estates litigator.
Katie develops a good rapport with clients and is a good specialist estates litigator.
The right blend of experience from a leading partner who’s spent a career in this field to enthusiastic specialist nqs. I work most often with Katie de Swarte.
Katie is a very capable solicitor who can be relied on to do a great job in all kinds of disputes in this area.
Katie has a wealth of knowledge of her subject area and brings a robust but pragmatic approach to the resolution of private client disputes.
Thank you for managing my case, following a complete fiasco before I contacted Osbornes Law. I know that the work involved was rather complicated, possibly frustrating and often time consuming. I was impressed with your current knowledge of the case when we had the first meeting at your office. I regard a face-to-face meeting as imperative in developing positive relationships. Members of your team, such as Alex and Ella were impressive too, with their efficient, friendly manner of working.
I am grateful for your patience, advice and excellent support at a difficult time. Hopefully it won't be necessary to contact you again regarding this matter! I will definitely use Osbornes Law in the future."Katie de Swarte is extremely client focused and caring and supportive to her clients."
"Elspeth Neilson and Katie de Swarte are very competent private client lawyers, with good instincts for the merits of the case and a good manner with sometimes difficult clients."
"I’ve worked with Elspeth Neilson and Katie de Swarte on various pieces of private client litigation – two in the Court of Protection and one probate dispute. I’ve found them, and the firm, very efficient and capable and dealing successfully with some
difficult clients.""A capable contested probate team that seems to care. Katie de Swarte is an up and coming star."
“I very much appreciate all your help and support on this. I hope to never have to go through anything so dark again, but you made a huge difference… You're great at what you do and, with my new knowledge of solicitors, I wish there were more with the integrity that you have.”
"I wanted to say a huge thank you for your tremendous help and advice throughout and I am incredibly grateful for your knowledge, support and striving to get us the best outcome possible in this situation. I very much appreciate it. Thank you again for working patiently with us and for your sensitive approach throughout. "
I would highly recommend Katie de Swarte. Her attention to the details of my case, combined with her sensitivity and support, to what was an emotionally challenging and complex legal matter, was much appreciated and excellent. I felt she always listened to what I was saying and never rushed me. She was happy to work with me collaboratively where appropriate, as well as guiding my decisions with solid, legal advice at all times.
Katie's directory testimonials
Katie de Swarte is a first-rate...
Katie de Swarte is a first-rate lawyer.
Katie is professional, capable and I...
Katie is professional, capable and I know and trust her to look after clients I refer to her.
I would recommend Katie de Swarte,...
I would recommend Katie de Swarte, who is easy to deal with and a knowledgeable, formidable opponent.
Katie de Swarte is very good...
Katie de Swarte is very good with clients and committed to helping them achieve their objectives.
Katie de Swarte is a hard...
Katie de Swarte is a hard working and ambitious lawyer.
"Katie has a good rapport with...
"Katie has a good rapport with clients and genuinely wants to help them. She's extremely committed to helping clients."
"Katie has great knowledge of the...
"Katie has great knowledge of the law and superb people skills, with a drive to get the best result possible."
Katie De Swarte – she is very...
Katie De Swarte – she is very client-focused and attuned to their needs without being fearful of setting out where she perceives there may be weaknesses in their position.
Katie develops a good rapport with...
Katie develops a good rapport with clients and is a good specialist estates litigator.
Katie develops a good rapport with...
Katie develops a good rapport with clients and is a good specialist estates litigator.
The right blend of experience from...
The right blend of experience from a leading partner who’s spent a career in this field to enthusiastic specialist nqs. I work most often with Katie de Swarte.
Katie is a very capable solicitor...
Katie is a very capable solicitor who can be relied on to do a great job in all kinds of disputes in this area.
Katie has a wealth of knowledge...
Katie has a wealth of knowledge of her subject area and brings a robust but pragmatic approach to the resolution of private client disputes.
"Katie de Swarte is extremely client...
"Katie de Swarte is extremely client focused and caring and supportive to her clients."
"Elspeth Neilson and Katie de Swarte...
"Elspeth Neilson and Katie de Swarte are very competent private client lawyers, with good instincts for the merits of the case and a good manner with sometimes difficult clients."
"I’ve worked with Elspeth Neilson...
"I’ve worked with Elspeth Neilson and Katie de Swarte on various pieces of private client litigation – two in the Court of Protection and one probate dispute. I’ve found them, and the firm, very efficient and capable and dealing successfully with some
difficult clients."
Katie de Swarte and Elspeth Neilson...
Katie de Swarte and Elspeth Neilson have both instructed me recently, and both seemed to me to be able to build excellent relationships with their clients and to run their practices very efficiently
Katie de Swarte is hardworking and...
Katie de Swarte is hardworking and has great empathy for her clients
Insights from KatieVIEW ALL
15.5.2025Family Conflicts Over Contested Wills
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22.3.2024Forged Wills
Will fraud and forged wills are increasingly common. If the contents of a will comes as a surprise, then one...
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Deed of Variation: Making a Change to an...
What is a deed of variation? A deed of variation is a legal document which can be used to alter...
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9.6.2023High profile probate dispute of Vladimir Scherbakov
Probate dispute of Russian billionaire’s missing will You’d imagine a wealthy businessman with assets in different countries would...
Read more- 9.6.2023
Of Bad Character: Undue Influence Claim Succeeds
Naidoo v Barton: undue influence and the risks of mutual wills Can someone’s bad character be used to prove...
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19.1.2022Is Jersey part of the UK for probate...
Partington v Rossiter If you own assets in more than one country, it’s important to make a robust Will...
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25.10.2021Inheritance Claims CFA Success Fee Judgment
The Court of Appeal upholds the recoverability of CFA success fees in 1975 Act claims. An individual who claims reasonable provision...
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Evidence Needed When Contesting A Will
There must be a clear legal reason to contest a will on someone’s death, backed up by strong evidence....
Read more - 20.10.2021
Dispute Surrounding Interpretation of Will
The ‘nil rate band’ offers an incentive to testators to make their will in a tax-efficient manner, maximising the amount...
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20.10.2021Handwriting Expert Witness Concludes Will Forgery
Successful contesting a will claim following testimony of handwriting expert It’s not unheard of for an individual to forge...
Read more- 20.10.2021
Understanding Testamentary Capacity
What is testamentary capacity? Testamentary capacity refers to a person’s legal and mental ability to create a valid will....
Read more - 20.10.2021
Unsuccessful Inheritance Act Claim
The case of Shearer v Shearer The recent reported case of Shearer v Shearer highlights that adult children cannot expect...
Read more - 27.11.2020
How to prevent a loved one entrusting their...
Record numbers of us entrust our finances to loved ones, with over 800,000 Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) registered yearly, according...
Read more - 13.11.2017
Mutual Wills
The High Court’s decision in the recent case of Legg and Burton v Burton [2017] has highlighted the issues surrounding...
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