Anderson Strathern strengthens disputes team as demand for contentious estate advice grows in Scotland

We have appointed trusts and private wealth disputes specialist Sarah-Jane Macdonald as a partner within our Dispute Resolution team.

Driven by financial pressures, changing attitudes within families and greater public awareness of the options available when concerns arise over a will or estate, Sarah-Jane joins the firm as we expand our contentious trusts and estates practice in response to increasing demand for this advice in Scotland.

Sarah-Jane brings significant experience in private client law to Anderson Strathern, including a decade working in contentious trusts and estates. She was recently ranked Band 2 for Private Wealth Disputes in the Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide and has been recognised as a Next Generation Partner in the Legal 500 for three consecutive years.

Sarah-Jane is also a Law Society of Scotland Accredited Specialist in Trust Law, Deputy Chair of STEP Scotland and a member of the steering committee for STEP’s Global Contentious Trusts and Estates Special Interest Group.

Sarah-Jane said: “Contentious trusts and estates work has been a more established area of practice in England for some time, but Scotland is now seeing a similar increase in disputes.

“People may previously have been reluctant to challenge a will or question how an estate had been administered, particularly where close family members were involved. That reluctance is beginning to fall away as financial pressures increase, and people have greater access to information about their rights.

“Anderson Strathern already has an established track record in this area, and I look forward to working with the team to build on that experience and further develop the firm’s offering.”

Sarah-Jane will work alongside the firm’s existing disputes team, advising family members, beneficiaries, executors and trustees on complex trusts and estates matters. Her appointment will also support the firm’s work involving cross-border estates.

Carole Tomlinson, chair, said: “Sarah-Jane has an excellent reputation in contentious trusts and estates and brings considerable technical knowledge and experience to the firm.

“Her appointment builds on the strong work already being carried out by our dispute resolution team and will help us respond to the increasing number and complexity of disputes arising in this area.”

Published in The Herald in August 2026.