Chris Fielding

Chris focuses primarily on contentious trusts and probate work, provision claims arising under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 and complex Trusts of land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA) disputes. The work Chris undertakes routinely in this demanding sphere is complemented through full membership of the Association of Contentious Trusts & Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).

Besides his contentious trusts and probate practice, Chris also looks after clients facing disputes in other fields including professional negligence, issues relating to clients’ business interests, disputes about goods and services, insolvency, intellectual property rights and also complex real estate cases.

Clients both recommend and return to Chris, praising his sharp intellect, genuine no-nonsense approach, a knack for taking out the stress and his fundamental commitment when it counts, to prioritising realistic, commercial settlement strategy over litigation. Chris focuses on pragmatic, effective solutions to complex problems destined for trial. He listens to clients and understands they are invariably looking to avoid the eyewatering costs that modern litigation seems to generate routinely through other providers.

Chris has considerable experience in the commercial sector with many notable wins and repeated success at mediation.

The rise in contentious trusts and probate work has seen Chris specialise in this area over the last decade. Chris is recognised as an expert in this field and holds full membership of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS), the principal organisation dedicated to promoting expertise in this niche area. He also works alongside our Court of Protection & Vulnerable Persons team to undertake contested work in the Court of Protection, regularly supporting clients needing to bring or respond to applications.

Chris grew up in Buckinghamshire. He graduated from the University of Southampton in 1996 having read a heavily literature and arts-based degree in French, before embarking on a successful career in London working at a leading advertising research agency. In 2003, Chris relocated to Leeds to begin the process of converting to a career in law, before going on to train and qualify as a solicitor, specialising in litigation, at Fosters in 2008.

Chris has a great interest in travel having lived abroad for several years in Paris, then London, before settling in Norfolk. He is a keen opera goer and often to be found in his favourite seat at Covent Garden. Chris also sits as an independent Hospital Manager for the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust offering services in mental healthcare. In this role Chris sits on panels evaluating the basis for detaining patients admitted to hospital, or for those in the community, whether to extend treatment by order.