Geoff Thomas - Head of Group

Geoff is a Partner and Head of the Private Client Group.

He also leads the contentious trust and probate team dealing with all aspects of contentious trust and probate work. In particular, he deals with the more complex cases involving Will validity, claims brought forward or defended under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and cases involving proprietary estoppel. He acts for individuals, and both regional and national charities.

• Geoff sat as a Deputy District Judge on the Western circuit until September 2001 when he resigned in order to develop his private practice
• Member of the Charity Law Association and the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists
• Listed in the "Citywealth” Leaders List 2011, for Contentious Trusts
• Ranked as a Leading Individual for Private Client (The South) and Charities (The South) in Chambers UK 2012.
• Listed in the Legal Experts Directory 2012 for South West: Private Client

Recent work

• Charity clients include British Heart Foundation and Stroke Association
• One recent case involved an estate worth £2m, where Geoff acted for the widow and her minor daughter. The issues involved the construction of a home-made Will, competing claims brought under the 1975 Act (including one on behalf of a severely handicapped child from a previous marriage), aspects of Shariah law and claims brought by the father of the deceased.

Geoff Thomas, a "litigator to his fingertips," handles much of the team's complex contentious work.
Chambers UK 2012

Lester Aldridge LLP's "first-class" group is led by the "exemplary" Geoff Thomas, a contentious trust and probate expert.
The Legal 500 UK 2011

""Hopefully now I can begin to look forward and would like to offer my sincere thanks for all your help in what has been a very difficult period in my life. It has been comforting to know that I have received excellent advice from you and your team who have treated me with the utmost respect, empathy and professionalism at all times”.
Mrs S Hortop