James Lister

James specialises in private wealth disputes, dealing with trust, estate and succession matters within the UK and internationally. James also deals with disputes where trusts and private wealth issues are involved in wider commercial disputes, such as fraud and asset recovery.

James joined Stevens & Bolton in 2017, having trained and qualified at a Top 50 firm. He became a partner in 2019.

James acts predominately for private clients or for those who advise private clients, such as corporate trustees, private banks and other law firms.

James advises on claims by or involving estates and trusts, most commonly involving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. He acts for executors, trustees and beneficiaries, and also specialises in advising on claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

James also has a substantial practice advising on claims overlapping the trusts and family court jurisdictions, dealing with trustees and beneficiaries who have become involved in divorce proceedings and on issues arising from the enforcement and implementation of ancillary relief orders made in divorce proceedings.

James is recommended as a “Contentious Trusts Lawyer” in Spears 500 2025, is listed in Legal Week’s Private Client Excellence Directory 2024, and in the Citywealth “Top 100 International Private Client Litigation Lawyers 2023”.

James is a co-chair of ConTrA, the Contentious Trusts Association.