Sharon joined Birketts in August 2023 as a Legal Director in our Private Wealth Disputes Team and is based in our Sevenoaks office.
Sharon specialises in complex contested probate matters including disputed wills, invalidity challenges, cross-border disputes, Inheritance Act claims, Promissory/Proprietary Estoppel claims, Trust disputes, Non-Contentious Probate issues including rectification applications and contentious Court of Protection matters.
Sharon is a key advocate for Alternative Dispute Resolution and has 100% success rate for settling cases at mediation. Sharon has experience of Judge led Chancery Financial Dispute Resolution and Early Neutral Evaluation hearings.
Sharon is praised by clients for sensitively and compassionately guiding them through the stresses and strains of this difficult area of law whilst successfully achieving impressive results.
Recent work highlights
Sharon is responsible for internal training and projects such as red flags for non-contentious practitioners, CFA funding, and Larke v Nugus requests.
McLean v McLean 2023 EWHC 1863 Ch
Doctrine of mutual wills. The court held that an agreement based on trust between a Husband and Wife is merely a moral obligation not a legal one.
Experience & education
2023 joined Birketts
2018 – 2023 Partner at McMillan Williams – Taylor Rose MW Head of Contested Probate Department.
2015 – 2018 Associate at McMillan William – instrumental in establishing and growing the Contested Probate Team working alongside the very successful Hayley Bundey now at Slee Blackwell.
2015 Full member of ACTAPS.
2010 Associate member of ACTAPS.
2006 – 2015 Batchelors solicitors – Social Housing Solicitor in tier 1 Legal 500 Team and Contested Probate solicitor. Responsible for the initial start up of the Contested Probate department.
2006 Qualified as a Solicitor.
Sharon studied to be a solicitor whilst working full time.
Areas of Expertise
I have worked with Sharon Bell for many years and remain impressed by her dedication to her clients and cases. She has one of the highest client satisfaction rates I have seen, mostly because of her ability to empathise and connect with her clients – which is especially important in private client matters.
Legal 500 [UK 2026]
