Blog
Dealing with costs in trusts and probate proceedings – Part 2: exceptions to the general rule in probate claims
Ryan Mowat
"He is really good when there is a commercial element to a trust or probate dispute...a master strategist and really knows his law”.
Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide, 2020
Ryan joined Kingsley Napley’s Dispute Resolution Team in July 2010 and became a Partner in May 2012. He acts for private individuals and businesses in a wide range of disputes.
Ryan leads our highly rated Contentious Trusts and Probate team and he also frequently acts for a number of clients in the media, sport and entertainment industry.
Ryan has a vast amount of experience acting in high value and complex litigation. He recently acted for Genting Casinos in the landmark Supreme Court win against Phil Ivey, in what was described as the biggest case ever involving the gambling industry and in which the longstanding criminal legal test for dishonesty was overturned. Ryan also acted for Rangers Football Club in the widely reported High Court dispute with Sports Direct. He is currently acting in a number of complex disputes relating to trusts and estates and civil fraud, often multi-jurisdictional.
Ryan is consistently recognised in the legal directories, including Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, for his expertise as a litigator. He also received the prestigious accolade of being named The Times Lawyer of the Week in November 2017.
Ryan has a broad litigation practice including:
- Contentious Trusts and Probate
- Civil Fraud
- Commercial and Contract disputes
- Shareholder and Boardroom disputes
- Professional Negligence claims
- Reputation and Media
Ryan is also an accredited mediator and member of the ADR Group’s panel.
Recent work
- Acting for beneficiaries and personal representatives in a wide range of inheritance and probate claims, including cases where wills have been challenged on the grounds of forgery, incapacity or undue influence or because they have not been validly executed.
- Acting for trustees, beneficiaries and others in connection with disputes over trusts including making associated applications to court.
- Bringing and defending unfair prejudice claims and breach of duty claims for and against directors and dealing with/acting in disputes involving fall outs between partners, directors and shareholders.
- Acting in a wide variety of contractual disputes relating to the supply of goods and services, implied terms, enforceability of standard terms and conditions, exclusion clauses and unfair terms, restrictive convenants, risk and retention of title clauses and delivery and rejection of goods.
- Acting in a substantial number of successful professional negligence claims against solicitors, accountants, architects, surveyors, fund managers, IFA’s and insurance brokers.
- Acting for clients in disputes over ownership of land or property, particularly beneficial interest and trusts of land disputes
- Acting for high profile clients in the media, sport and entertainment industry, including advising on defamation, internet libel, harassment and privacy law.
- Acting for individuals and businesses in disputes with financial institutions in relation to the mis-selling of complex financial products and for investors against hedge fund managers in respect of the mis-management of funds and breaching investment mandates.
- Acting for clients bringing and defending claims for negligent and fraudulent misrepresentation.
- Acting for a group of Saudi Arabian companies in multi-million pound litigation concerning allegations of fraud, bribery and breach of fiduciary duties.
- Acting for clients obtaining or opposing freezing injunctions.
- Acting for companies defending allegations of fraud, conspiracy, deceit, knowing receipt, dishonest assistance and unjust enrichment and assisting with civil aspects of any resulting company investigation.
What clients and directories have said
"the most valuable thing he did was to be able to see the big picture. He made sure the client got what he wanted to achieve. He has great commercial awareness"
Chambers UK High Net Worth, 2017
"easy to deal with, efficient and knows his stuff."
Chambers UK, 2016
"tactically astute"
Chambers UK, 2016
"very savvy"
Legal 500, 2016
"throws his heart and soul into his clients’ cases and knows when to fight and when to settle"
Legal 500, 2016
"gets results"
Legal 500, 2016
"He is very good at the strategy of running litigation - almost the psychology behind litigation."
Chambers UK, 2015
...fantastic for strategy...
Legal 500 UK, 2015
Clients of Kingsley Napley LLP can draw on the expertise of the 'flawless' Ryan Mowat"
Legal 500 UK, 2014
savvy litigator, with good commercial awareness
Legal 500 UK, 2014
''Someone you want on your side''
Legal 500 UK, 2014
"Very good with clients" and has "a lot of common sense." His practice covers disputes in the sport, media and entertainment arenas.'
Chambers UK, 2014
"responsible for coming in and really growing this area at the firm"
Legal 500 UK, 2014
"Mowat gives robust advice and is not afraid of the fight'.
Legal 500 UK, 2014
"He is hailed by sources as "dynamic," "good with clients" and "highly tenacious - he won't let the other side off the hook."'
Chambers UK, 2013
Professional societies and memberships
- Law Society
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Group (ADR) - Accredited Mediator and member of the ADR Group panel
- Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS)
- Professional Negligence Lawyers Association (PNLA)
- London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA)
Ryan Mowat has become a leading light in this area, attracting some high profile cases. He is always practical and keen to secure the best result for his client. He does not get bogged down with squabbles with the other side."
Legal 500, 2020
He is really tenacious and committed. He is exceptionally bright and resourceful."
Legal 500, 2020
He had a very clear approach to our case and ensured that the best outcome would be achieved, always taking into account costs. We felt we had true professionalism behind us at all times and a very strong mind for looking at things strategically whilst keeping clear the risks of each approach. He was extremely personable and I think his dealings with the other party in his approach, persona and respect got us the outcome we wanted."
Legal 500, 2020
Ryan Mowat is a highly capable partner with strong tactical instincts and a thorough legal grounding."
Legal 500, 2020
Ryan Mowat has star quality. His attention to detail is exceptional, and he provides fantastic quality of service to his clients. He is unflappable, wise and utterly reliable."
Legal 500, 2020
Ryan Mowat has a huge amount of litigation experience and therefore great technical and tactical acumen."
Legal 500, 2020
What always strikes me is his ability with clients; he just oozes confidence and clients just adore him. He will give stark advice in such a way that they just lap it up."
Chambers and Partners UK High Net Worth, 2017
tenacious and shrewd when dealing with other parties."
Chambers and Partners UK Guide, 2018
"Practice head Ryan Mowat continues to attract complex and varied work including an increasing proportion of work involving fraud or with offshore elements."
Legal 500 UK, 2019
"loves nothing better than turning a difficult case into a winner"
Legal 500 UK, 2019
"one of the best all-round litigators currently in practice"
Legal 500 UK, 2019
Mowat’s "commercial background brings some really fresh perspectives to the way he approaches cases in this field"
Chambers UK High Net Worth, 2018
"a cracking litigator" who has been "massively successful in recent cases."
Chambers UK High Net Worth, 2018
"a particularly skilled negotiator."
Chambers UK High Net Worth, 2018
"He can see the wood for the trees and the best way forward for clients."
Chambers UK, 2017
"a big hitter in this area who really knows his stuff."
Chambers UK High Net Worth, 2017
"Clients have a lot of faith in him."
Chambers UK, 2017
"He is very good at managing case costs, and is very focused and very diligent."
Chambers UK, 2017
"stays one step ahead of the other side"
Legal 500, 2017
a huge amount of litigation experience and therefore great technical and tactical acumen"
Legal 500, 2017
"tactically astute"
Chambers UK, 2016
"He is very good at the strategy of running litigation - almost the psychology behind litigation."
Chambers UK, 2015
"very good with clients and has a lot of common sense." His practice covers disputes in the sport, media and entertainment arenas.
Chambers UK, 2014
