Rachel Leech is a Senior Associate Solicitor specialising in private wealth disputes. She advises individuals, executors, trustees and beneficiaries on contentious probate and trust disputes, with a focus on practical, outcome-led advice.
Her work includes will validity disputes, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, disputes concerning the administration of estates and trusts, and professional negligence claims relating to wills, estates and trusts.
Rachel has experience resolving matters through negotiation and mediation, as well as acting in disputes that proceed to trial and appeal. Reported case experience includes acting for the successful defendant in Clitheroe v Bond [2020] EWHC 1185 (Ch) and acting for the defendants in Wrangle v Brunt [2020] EWHC 1784 (Ch), concerning a fraudulent will.
She has been recognised by Legal 500 and praised as “a most impressive solicitor … certainly one to watch” and “talented, meticulous, very bright, caring”. She qualified as a Solicitor in March 2018.
Recent work highlights
Trial success in an inherited property and joint bank account dispute
Acted for a beneficiary in an inheritance dispute between siblings concerning an inherited property and a joint bank account passing by survivorship. We secured a trial judgment entirely in our client’s favour, including an order allowing him to buy his brother’s share and confirmation that the joint account belonged to him. Our strategy also delivered strong recovery of legal costs.
Will challenge and professional negligence claim for executors
Following a successful mediation that settled a will dispute, we are acting for executors in a professional negligence claim against the solicitors who prepared the will. The claim concerns alleged failures in the will-making process and the resulting loss to the estate, including sums paid to settle the dispute. We are advising on evidence, risk and a proportionate strategy to maximise recovery.
Will dispute and financial abuse allegations – settlement of c£3m estate claim
Acted in a high-value contentious probate matter where we challenged the validity of a will changed shortly before death, leaving the estate to the deceased’s alleged partner. We also challenged significant lifetime gifts and transactions on grounds including financial abuse, lack of capacity and undue influence. We negotiated a successful outcome for our client, who was a beneficiary under the previous will.
Experience & education
2021 – present Birketts LLP
2015 – 2021 Birkett Long LLP
2018 – 2020 ACTAPS Course, University of Law
2018 Qualified as a Solicitor
2015 – 2016 Legal Practice Course (Distinction), Anglia Ruskin University
2012 – 2015 LLB (Hons) Law (First Class), Anglia Ruskin University
