INDIVIDUAL PROFILE

Constance McDonnell KC

High Net Worth 2026

Serle Court

Ranked in 1 practice area

Chancery: Traditional

London (Bar)

11 years ranked

About

Provided by Serle Court

High Net Worth

Practice Areas

Constance McDonnell KC specialises in trusts and probate disputes.

She has appeared in a number of highly publicised cases, including Reeves v Drew (a probate dispute about the £100m estate of an illiterate testator). She has appeared twice in the UK Supreme Court: as Junior Counsel in the landmark case of Ilott v The Blue Cross and recently in Hirachand v Hirachand, concerning whether a CFA success fee can be recoverable as part of an award under the 1975 Act. Constance also has an international practice.

Prior to taking Silk in 2019, Constance won the ‘Chancery Junior of the Year’ award at the 2018 Chambers Bar Awards, and was recommended as a ‘Star Individual’ in Chambers UK Bar Guide 2019 and High Net Worth Guide 2018. Constance won the ‘Barrister of the Year’ Gold Award at the 2023 Citywealth Magic Circle Awards.

Career

Call: 2000

Silk: 2019

Professional Memberships

Chancery Bar Association, STEP, ACTAPS (Committee member).

Publications

‘MoJ changes to Will executions’ BBC Radio London, 21 July 2020

‘Derivative claims by beneficiaries and the interplay with Beddoe applications by personal representatives‘, The New Law Journal, 26 June 2020

‘Wills at a Distance‘, STEP Journal, 19 June 2020

‘DIY Danger in COVID’s costly battle of wills’, Daily Express, 17 June 2020

‘Remote mediation: Is it the future?‘ Litigation Futures, 29 April 2020

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers High Net Worth

Chancery: Traditional - London (Bar)

Band 1

Individual Editorial

Constance McDonnell KC is highly respected in the traditional chancery practice for her handling of the most high-profile matters. She focuses on probate and contentious trusts, and also handles the administration of estates.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Constance is a fabulous silk and is a particularly good trial barrister.
Chancery: TraditionalChambers High Net Worth
Constance McDonnell handles clients very well and quickly earns their trust and respect. She's plucky and brave, which is good; some barristers are very cautious. She is very commercial and on top of all of the law.
Chancery: TraditionalChambers High Net Worth