Barny Croft

Barny Croft joined as a Partner in Birketts’ private wealth disputes team in June 2025 working primarily out of our Bristol office. 

He advises clients across England and Wales on complex will disputes, estate litigation and trust disputes, acting for individuals, executors, trustees and beneficiaries involved in high value and sensitive inheritance claims.

Barny has particular expertise in charity legacy disputes and regularly acts for national and regional charities in contested estates. His work includes disputes over the validity and construction of wills, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, proprietary estoppel claims, fiduciary disputes and complex trust and estates litigation. He is well known for managing multi party disputes and cases involving substantial estates.

As an experienced inheritance dispute lawyer, Barny advises clients at all stages of a dispute, from early stage risk assessment, to alternative dispute resolution (such as mediation) and throughout litigation if necessary. He is valued for his clear, strategic advice and his ability to deal sensitively with the personal, emotional and reputational issues that frequently arise in contentious probate cases.

Barny regularly contributes to national publications with insights on developments in inheritance disputes. He is nationally recognised for combining technical expertise with a practical, solution focused approach to resolving inheritance disputes.

Experience & education

Bachelor of Science and Economics (BscEcon) – Aberystwyth University

Certificate of Political Science – Science Po Strasbourg

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) – University of Law

Before going into the law, Barny took a degree in international politics at Aberystwyth University, studied political science in Strasbourg in France, helped set up a business and worked with a humanitarian NGO in London and in Malawi.