Working group members
Below is the list of group members of the Non-Contentious Probate Rules working group members, and their biographies.
| Title | Role |
|---|---|
| Sir Alastair Norris | Chair |
| Chief Master Shuman | Supporting the Chair |
| Genine Evans | District Probate Registrar |
| Peter Farr | Secretariat support, MOJ |
| Ashleigh Bryant-Fower | CiLEX |
| Tricia Hatherley | Chancery Lawyer |
| Stephen Lawson | Solicitor Chair of the Law Society Wills & Equity Committee |
| Alexander Learmonth KC | Barrister |
| Henrietta Mason | Solicitor |
| David Rees KC | Barrister |
| Plus support from Jack Swords | PA to Chief Master Shuman |
Biographies
Sir Alastair Norris
After reading law at St John’s College, Cambridge, Sir Alastair was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn.
He practised in the Chancery Division at 5 Stone Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn, both as a barrister and later as Queen’s Counsel, until 2001. He was then appointed as the Chancery Judge in Birmingham, where he dealt with numerous probate and trust disputes.
Upon his appointment to the High Court (Chancery Division) in 2007, Mr Justice Norris returned to London, continuing to preside over trust, probate, and Court of Protection matters.
He retired in 2019 but continues to sit in retirement.
Chief Master Shuman
Karen Shuman is Chief Master of the Chancery Division of the High Court.
Before appointment she practised at the Chancery Bar with a focus on solicitor professional negligence claims including will disputes.
In 2014 she was appointed a Chancery Master and in 2017 appointed Chief Master, the first woman to hold this position.
Since 2015 the Chancery Masters have exercised unfettered trial jurisdiction. Much of the probate and trust work in the Chancery Division is heard by the Chancery Masters.
Karen was elected a bencher of Lincoln’s Inn in 2015 and is chair of the Inn’s Equality Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She is also one of the Diversity and Inclusion Lead Judges in the High Court.
Karen is an editor of Theobald on Wills and the White Book.
Peter Farr
Peter Farr is Head of Civil Law Policy at the Ministry of Justice and his remit includes policy work on wills and probate.
He has worked in different roles in the MoJ for 27 years.
Genine Evans
I am a District Probate Registrar and have been permanently in this role since July 2024. Before that I was Deputy District Probate Registrar for four years.
I have worked in the Probate Registry for 34 years and currently lead the Registrar Team which consists of two Deputy Registrars and three Registrar support under Legal Operations. My current day to day role requires me to make Orders and deal with Summons applications, subpoenas, and citations in line with the Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987.
Ashleigh Bryant-Fower
I am a Chartered Legal Executive and a Director of Kiteleys Solicitors.
I began my legal career as a receptionist, working my way through the roles, which has allowed me to experience both the technical and practical elements of the Private Client field, at all levels.
I am very excited to be a part of the NCPR review!
Tricia Hatherley
Tricia Hatherley qualified as a solicitor in 1992. Prior to joining the Chancery Division, she was a lawyer in the Administrative Court in London.
Stephen Lawson
Partner – IDR Law – LLB (Hons) CTAPS TEP
Stephen Lawson is a specialist Contentious Probate Solicitor, and partner, at Harrogate firm Idr Law.
Stephen is a member of both ACTAPS (The Association of Contentious Trusts & Probate Specialists) and STEP (the Society of Trusts & Estate Practitioners). Stephen was formerly the Chair of STEP Cheshire, a member of the STEP England & Wales Committee and a member of the STEP Worldwide Council (Stephen stepped down after a mandatory limit of three terms was reached). Stephen is currently the Chair of the Law Society Wills & Equity Committee.
Stephen is a joint author of the publication Testamentary Capacity with Martyn Frost and Professor Robin Jacoby.
Stephen was responsible for the chapter on Testamentary Capacity in the joint Law Society / BMA publication “Assessment of Mental Capacity – 5th Edition”.
Alexander Learmonth KC
Alexander Learmonth KC is a barrister at New Square Chambers, practising in the law of succession and trusts.
He is editor of leading textbooks ‘Williams, Mortimer & Sunnucks on Executors, Administrators and Probate’ and ‘Theobald on Wills’.
Henrietta Mason
Henrietta specialises in disputes about trusts and estates and has been praised in legal directories for her technical and strategic excellence.
She joined Farrer & Co in 2021 as to lead on the Contentious Trusts and Estates team’s internal technical development needs and its external marketing strategy.
She is a member of STEP and ACTAPS and co-author of practitioner textbook ‘Probate Disputes and Remedies’.
David Rees KC
David Rees KC is a barrister at 5 Stone Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn.
He has a traditional Chancery practice with a focus on wills, probate and administration of estates alongside Court of Protection work.
He was appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2018 and sits in both the Chancery and Family Divisions of the High Court. David is also a member of the Court of Protection Rules Committee.
