Biography
I am the Head of the Will, Trust and Estate Disputes team at Irwin Mitchell and also a TEP. I am part of the senior leadership team for our Private Client Group. I am also a partner in Wright Johnson and Mackenzie (WJM) a registered foreign lawyer in Scotland and since was recently appointed as a Director on the management board for WJM.
In my practice I specialise in dealing with disputes that relate to Wills and Trusts and our team tends to cover any dispute that arises after a death. I handle Will validity claims associated with capacity and undue influence issues. I also enjoy working with clients who have financial provision claims against estates, I also defend those claims for executors or administrators so have experience with working for both sides of these disputes.
I have over 25 years of experience in handling disputes between executors, trustees and administrators covering a large range of breach of trust claims. I have handled a number of contested trials in many areas and in particular for proprietary estoppel claims involving farming families and those with large property portfolios. We also cover any professional negligence disputes and claims that arise from Wills and Trust issues.
I have been a qualified mediator since 2002 and have taken a number of cases to mediation for clients. I am heavily involved in STEP, having served previously on the Special Interest Committee as Deputy Chair and then Chair for many years. I was awarded the STEP Founders award in 2021; I am an examiner for the STEP Trust disputes diploma (having completed that course in 2009) and was instrumental in developing the STEP Contentious Estates course. This all highlights the experience and expertise that I hold in this specialist field.
For years I sat on the Panel of Experts for the annual STEP Awards and now act as one of the Presiding Judges. I have been a full member of ACTAPS since 2008
Key highlights
- Resolving a long running Trustee dispute that involved a proprietary estoppel claim involving a farming family. We attended a mediation and resolved the case shortly after that day which allowed my client to continue running the farm, which he had done since he was a teenager.
- I am involved in a difficult Will validity claim which involves capacity issues and undue influence, it was a case that involves international assets, had reached settlement terms which were subsequently breached by one party and we are working to resolve that.
- I have just resolved a dispute which involved a £100m estate where a claim for financial provision was brought by one party which instigated a forfeiture clause in a Will, the case also meant dealing with some challenges about the actions and conduct of the Executors.
Specialties
Disputes involving lack of mental capacity, and those which involve the issue of undue influence, want of knowledge and approval claims regarding Wills and trusts. Claims for financial provision for all family members for both Claimants and Defendants. Handling disputes against and for beneficiaries, trustees and executors. Claims which involve breach of trust and breach of fiduciary duty. Proprietary estoppel claims and claims that involve financial abuse. Professional Negligence claims in this area of law.
Awards & The Team
I've been named numerous times in leading legal guides and was recommended on the City Wealth Leaders List 2017. I've also been shortlisted for prestigious awards such as Partner of the Year in the Yorkshire Lawyers Awards and Woman of the Year at the Magic Circle Awards. My team was named Private Client Team of the Year for 2018/19 in the Legal Business Awards.
Testimonials
"Paula Myers is extremely knowledgeable and experienced, with a good nose for the best approach when dealing with her case." - Legal 500, 2025 (Hall of Fame)
"Paula Myers is experienced and effective." - Legal 500, 2024
"Paula Myers is unflappable under pressure and very efficient." - Legal 500, 2023
"Paula Myers is nationally renowned and respected. She is a real leader in the sector and exceptionally good at handling clients in very often highly emotionally-charged circumstances, fighting their corner to achieve excellent results." - Legal 500, 2023
Chambers HNW Band 1 'very thorough, diligent and very pragmatic' One of the national elite list of lawyers.
Chambers and Partners 'She is absolutely top class. She tackles probate and estate claims with charm and incredible ability' 'she is a formidable solicitor' 'she has limitless ability to handle the big cases'. 'Paula Myers is simply brilliant'
Legal 500 ' A serious player ... who is confident and knowledgeable and gets results' 'she is an impressive and energetic leader of the team and excellent at handling contentious private client matters' ' she is just amazing' 'her capacity for work and intuition for building a team are second to none'
Recognitions:
- Legal 500 Hall of Fame,
- Top Recommended in Spears 500,
- Top100 Trust Litigators worldwide Citywealth Leaders list,
- Top 10 Power women - Citywealth,
- Recommended in Tatler advisors list.
Latest Legal 500 2021 ' PM is fast achieving legendary status as a hugely respected solicitor and feared opponent. She has the clout to take on the biggest and toughest and win her client a great result, generating extraordinarily high levels of client loyalty and satisfaction. She leads what is probably the largest team in the country doing this work, with a vast range of experience and huge ability
Listed in the top 10 Contentious Trust Lawyers by Spears 500, 2021.
"She fights really hard for her client and you can see the results"" - Chambers & Partners High Net Worth 2022 (Leading Individual - band 1)
“Paula is really good at team management. I would describe her as an accomplished lawyer... She really doesn't leave any stone unturned and really fights for her client… She cuts to the quick, she will look to what the case is really about and what the pressure points are. She will really focus on those and leave behind all of the faff. She knows her stuff, she is good technically and adopts a pragmatic approach to cases." - Chambers & Partners High Net Worth 2022 (Leading Individual - band 1)
Paula is "a market leader.” "Paula Myers leaves no stone unturned for her clients. She also heads up a brilliant team, who are very well trained to drill down into the detail. "An experienced lead in the form of the formidable Paula Myers" - Legal 500, 2021 (Leading Individual)
"I can honestly say that in working with Paula Myers who heads up ""Will, Trust and Estate Disputes Department"" has been an absolute breath of fresh air. It's not great having to go down such a route but the whole team involved have been an absolute delight to work with and believe me they know their stuff which is what we pay for." - 5* Trustpilot review
"Paula Myers from the Leeds office was recommended to us as the best in her field when we were put in the position of defending our inheritance and she navigated us through a difficult situation professionally and with compassion. Irwin Mitchell were not the most affordable but we always felt we were in good hands and were given all of the options available to us and that we could trust the individuals we were working with." - 5* Trustpilot review
"I want to express my deep gratitude to Paula Myers for her professionalism, perseverance, and patience... My case was international and so complex and unpredictable, sometimes it seemed to me an insoluble situation was facing us, but Paula always found a solution or a compromise to move forward. It was even surprising that she was in touch at any time of the day and even during the holidays, the answer was received within 1-5 minutes, it is worth a lot... You can trust Paula that she will win the case, no matter how difficult it may be." - 5* Trustpilot review
"One can rest assured she will strive for the best outcome for you while maintaining a friendly and approachable service. Meeting with and later instructing Paula and her team was the best decision I could have made at what was a stressful and devastating time in my life. I was able to fully trust all advice and guidance given by Paula and I never felt that I was taking up too much of her time or causing an issue. I have had the opportunity to know many solicitors in a professional capacity, and I have to say Paula is up there at the top with the best of them." - 5* Trustpilot review
"[Paula has] done a First Class Job in progressing our case and keeping us fully informed." - 5* Trustpilot review
"Paula Myers is 'a strategic and brilliant' litigator and a 'patient and focused' negotiator." – Legal 500, 2020
"I was extremely happy with the ultimate settlement that was achieved by the efforts of Paula and her team. Paula's expertise and approach is well worth paying for and I would not hesitate to recommend her services." – Graeme Hall, Client
Paula Myers heads Irwin Mitchell's contentious trust team and is described as "a very effective litigator and will always be very thorough and meticulous in her handling of cases." She often deals with will challenges, undue influence and financial provision claims on behalf of beneficiaries. A wealth expert explains: "She is a unique blend of ferocious litigation prowess and compassionate client care. In this field, that mix is important." – Chambers & Partners, 2018
"Brilliant" and a "good tactical lawyer" – Chambers & Partners 2017
"Remarkable levels of client loyalty and satisfaction; she is not just tactically astute, with an almost unerring instinct for the opposition’s weakness, but is a rock of confidence to her clients." – Legal 500, 2017
What do you like about working at Irwin Mitchell?
I love the fact that we work as a national team and I get the opportunity in my role to travel throughout the country to see the various teams in action. We are lucky to have such talented people in all sectors that support us every day in delivering for our clients.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?
Seeing people progress in my team and across the firm. Many of the team have started with us as paralegals or trainees and it great to see their talent and skills flourish as they develop into great lawyers and brilliant leaders.
What inspired you to get into law?
I like problem solving and have a tendency to want to fix things. Law allows me to do that and there are so many different clients and cases that two days are the same.
What do you do away from the office?
Travel is my favourite hobby, its great to spend that time away from the office to reset and to see different cultures. I also love to have time with my family and friends, a tonic for working hard and coping with the stresses of life.
