“I have found her to be extremely efficient, She is very fair in her dealings with all parties and she navigates the conflicting demands imposed on her by opposing parties in a supremely fair fashion.”
“Jan Atkinson is a top-class contentious probate lawyer. Always on top of the detail and pleasant with opponents and peers alike, she is much sought-after for referrals work.”
Top Recommended 2023, Contentious Tax & Trust Lawyers
Jan is Head of Private Client and Senior Partner at Osbornes Law
Jan is Head of the 20 strong Private Client Team at Osbornes Law and has over 25 years of experience advising clients in wills, estates and trusts work. Her main focus is on high-value estate administrations, international estates and disputed probate and trusts cases. She is also Senior Partner of the firm.
Jan has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the private client field, in both the contentious and non-contentious spheres. She is well known both in the UK and internationally for her strong international practice and regular appointments both by the Court and privately as an independent administrator (IA) to resolve long-running contentious estates. She is known as the ‘go to’ IA. Her most rewarding cases involve sorting out intricate estate administrations, international probate work and resolving disputed Estates.
Jan is a registered Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) and a registered Contentious Trust and Probate Specialist (CTAPS). She is a regular commentator on Wills and Inheritance issues and speaks on these and related subjects.
Jan is recognised as a leader in her field by Chambers HNW and The Legal 500 and ranked as a ‘Top Recommended’ lawyer in the Contentious Tax and Trusts field in Spears 500.
Jan is also listed as an approved lawyer in the Tatler ‘Address Book’, which features private client advisers who specialise in acting for HNW clients. Jan is one of only three lawyers in London, recommended for their expertise in contentious trusts and estates.
Outside of work she is a keen tennis player and loves to travel.
Jan Atkinson is a well established and respected partner in the field. Knowledgeable and sensible
Jan Atkinson has huge experience in this area. She knows the law thoroughly and is an excellent tactician always looking for a good outcome for her clients which she generally achieves’.
"Jan Atkinson handled a difficult situation with great aplomb and tact. A wealth of experience which means clients are very well advised in these circumstances."
Jan Atkinson is always a delight to work with
Jan Atkinson – Rolls Royce advice
Jan Atkinson is fierce and dedicated to her clients.
Jan Atkinson has a wealth of knowledge and experience combined with a terrier-like ability to investigate the relevant facts, which make her an excellent choice in a contentious probate or trust dispute. She has outstanding commitment and always delivers for her clients.
Well-established, busy practice. Jan Atkinson has a long-standing solid reputation in the field. Knowledgeable and formidable.
“Jan is an impressive lawyer who knows her way around private wealth dispute matters.”
Jan Atkinson has extensive experience in private client matters, which underpins her excellent skills in the contentious probate area. Plus she is strong on international matters.
Jan Atkinson is a stand out partner who combines a non-contentious and contentious practice. She is calm, persuasive and persistent. Clients would undoubtedly trust her and she is able to call on a super nice rock solid team around her.
"Jan Atkinson, with her steely, steady, calming presence, instils confidence in the most highly-strung of us clients. With her masterful knowledge of the law, old and new, and its application, Jan can navigate through the most complex of cases to a successful end."
"Jan Atkinson is a formidable litigator in succession disputes – you want her on your team in any such case"
"A very capable team headed by the wonderful Jan Atkinson. She is both able and charming, which is a winning combination"
"Jan Atkinson stands out for her wide-ranging knowledge and experience of estates; whatever problem you throw at her, she has seen it all before and is able to find a creative and sustainable solution. She has exceptional commitment to her clients and explores every avenue to find the best solution for them"
"Osbornes does high-quality work. Jan Atkinson is the go-to partner for independent administrations"
"Jan Atkinson is extremely experienced and an expert in this area of law. She is utterly pragmatic, always looking at what the client wants to achieve. She can be extremely tough when she needs to be but always knows when to compromise"
"Jan Atkinson stands out for her wide-ranging knowledge and experience of estates; whatever problem you throw at her, she has seen it all before and is able to find a creative and sustainable solution. She has exceptional commitment to her clients and explores every avenue to find the best solution for them"
Jan Atkinson has extensive experience in private client matters, which underpins her excellent skills in the contentious probate area. Plus she is strong on international matters
A small but formidable team, punching above its weight. Jan Atkinson is a seasoned pro. Approachable but no push-over
Jan's Latest Directory Quotes
Jan Atkinson is a well established...
Jan Atkinson is a well established and respected partner in the field. Knowledgeable and sensible
Jan Atkinson has huge experience in...
Jan Atkinson has huge experience in this area. She knows the law thoroughly and is an excellent tactician always looking for a good outcome for her clients which she generally achieves’.
"Jan Atkinson handled a difficult situation...
"Jan Atkinson handled a difficult situation with great aplomb and tact. A wealth of experience which means clients are very well advised in these circumstances."
"She's very able, she can do...
"She's very able, she can do both the non-contentious and contentious sides very, very well."
"Incredibly dedicated and committed to her...
"Incredibly dedicated and committed to her clients."
Jan Atkinson is an impressive lawyer...
Jan Atkinson is an impressive lawyer who knows her way around private wealth dispute matters. She is very experienced in lengthy and fraught disputes and knows how to achieve good solutions for all parties involved. She is very on the ball and works very efficiently.
She brings a depth of experience...
She brings a depth of experience in estate administration to her respected disputes practice.
Jan Atkinson is "terrific," "extremely professional"...
Jan Atkinson is "terrific," "extremely professional" and "enormously experienced."
Jan Atkinson's "in-depth knowledge of the...
Jan Atkinson's "in-depth knowledge of the non-contentious work gives her an advantage when she's dealing with very difficult contentious issues, because she really understands what has gone wrong and how to get it right"
Jan's Accreditations
Jan’s Cases:
Testator’s heirs can make agreement to waive forfeiture rule, finds EWHC
On 16 June 2025, Master Bowles (sitting in retirement) made an order confirming that an agreement by all possible beneficiaries could direct an executor to make a distribution to a recipient without regard to the forfeiture rule, even if the rule was potentially engaged by the actions of the intended recipient. Read the summary on STEP.
Lorenz v Caruana [2025] EWCA Civ 606 (09 May 2025)
The Court of Appeal allowed a second appeal on a summary judgment relating to a secret trust, thereby allowing the claim to a secret trust to go to trial. Read the full judgment on BAILII.
Lyons v Kerr-Robinson [2016] EWHC 2137 (Ch)
Jan was the Independent Administrator in claims concerning transfers of money from the deceased’s estate by the former personal representative.
Fischer v Diffley [2013] EWHC 4567 (Ch); [2014] COPLR 212; [2014] WTLR 757
Jan was the Independent Administrator in claims regarding the testamentary capacity of a testatrix suffering with dementia. The estate involved cross-border issues as well as dealing with various properties and tenants.
Jan's client testimonials
"Many, many thanks for your extreme...
"Many, many thanks for your extreme patience, professionalism and understanding Jan. I’m not sure we would have got there without you."
Thank you also for all your...
Thank you also for all your hard work over the last two years. I would like to commend your patience and diligence, your understanding and communication.
I can't thank you enough for...
I can't thank you enough for all you have done to help me through this ordeal. I really appreciate your time, effort and good humour. I shall absolutely know who to recommend if anyone needs a top lawyer in London.
"I wish to thank you for...
"I wish to thank you for your advice, efficiency and professionalism throughout which has been greatly appreciated."
“You have truly shone out from...
“You have truly shone out from anyone I have known with your experience and knowledge in these types of situations”
“You have completely amazed me and...
“You have completely amazed me and I have such heart-felt gratitude for your dedication and perseverance”
“Thank you all very much for...
“Thank you all very much for your professional service, it has been reassuring throughout.”
“I should note that it is...
“I should note that it is refreshing to deal with an efficient, professional, and well written lawyer such as yourself.”
“I wanted to say that I...
“I wanted to say that I am grateful beyond words at the effort Jan Atkinson has been putting in towards fixing our situation.”
“Jan Atkinson is a very proficient...
“Jan Atkinson is a very proficient lady whom I would highly recommend to anyone involved in probates.”
“I would highly recommend you in...
“I would highly recommend you in any probate matter and your firm in any other legal matters.”
“I can’t tell you how...
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you and your integrity. You are one in a million! I trusted you all along the way.”
“Once more this year your professionalism,...
“Once more this year your professionalism, hard work, perseverance, dedication and expertise with my case has truly humbled me. You kept me going when I had lost all strength… your action and your ability to power through is remarkable and outstanding.”
“I feel so humbled at your...
“I feel so humbled at your dedication from start to end when I was 100% lost. Also, I am in awe of your skills and knowledge with how to handle all the steps in this case and also how you helped throughout this whole thing. Your kindness and understanding to me is overwhelming… honestly, in each part of this, you’ve amazed me more than the last time.”
“Jan is one of the most...
“Jan is one of the most client-friendly, ‘savvy’ solicitors I’ve ever met. A solicitor who knows exactly how to navigate a case to the best possible outcome. In my case, being able to contain my over- zealous demands, which, without her control, could have come to nothing. Jan has this great command of the law and knows exactly, how to execute it, in the interests of her client. I have her to thank for everything. My family members and I are all with her excellent firm, Osbornes Solicitors LLP, ‘a chain, solicitors and right-hands, with no weak link.”
“Thank-you Jan from the bottom of...
“Thank-you Jan from the bottom of my heart for all your care and for standing up for me this whole time in addition to constantly pushing this along, sharing your help and advice with everyone and for having such clear focus with direction. Each step of the way you have amazed me more than the last time. I am so grateful and appreciative of all that you have done. This chapter of my life will close, thank-you to you. My words are so small for all that you have done. You have given me more than you know”
Jan Atkinson is an impressive lawyer...
Jan Atkinson is an impressive lawyer who knows her way around private wealth dispute matters. She is very experienced in lengthy and fraught disputes and knows how to achieve good solutions for all parties involved. She is very on the ball and works very efficiently.
She brings a depth of experience...
She brings a depth of experience in estate administration to her respected disputes practice.
"Jan Atkinson, with her steely, steady,...
"Jan Atkinson, with her steely, steady, calming presence, instils confidence in the most highly-strung of us clients. With her masterful knowledge of the law, old and new, and its application, Jan can navigate through the most complex of cases to a successful end."
"Jan Atkinson is a formidable litigator...
"Jan Atkinson is a formidable litigator in succession disputes – you want her on your team in any such case"
"A very capable team headed by...
"A very capable team headed by the wonderful Jan Atkinson. She is both able and charming, which is a winning combination"
"Jan Atkinson stands out for her...
"Jan Atkinson stands out for her wide-ranging knowledge and experience of estates; whatever problem you throw at her, she has seen it all before and is able to find a creative and sustainable solution. She has exceptional commitment to her clients and explores every avenue to find the best solution for them"
"Osbornes does high-quality work. Jan Atkinson...
"Osbornes does high-quality work. Jan Atkinson is the go-to partner for independent administrations"
"Jan Atkinson is extremely experienced and...
"Jan Atkinson is extremely experienced and an expert in this area of law. She is utterly pragmatic, always looking at what the client wants to achieve. She can be extremely tough when she needs to be but always knows when to compromise"
My family had the pleasure of...
My family had the pleasure of Jan Atkinson working with us on the will and probate issues of [my mother's] estate in Camden and Ireland after she passed on last year. Jan and her assistant(s) offered us a fantastic service at a sad time.
"Jan Atkinson stands out for her...
"Jan Atkinson stands out for her wide-ranging knowledge and experience of estates; whatever problem you throw at her, she has seen it all before and is able to find a creative and sustainable solution. She has exceptional commitment to her clients and explores every avenue to find the best solution for them"
Jan Atkinson has extensive experience in...
Jan Atkinson has extensive experience in private client matters, which underpins her excellent skills in the contentious probate area. Plus she is strong on international matters
A small but formidable team, punching...
A small but formidable team, punching above its weight. Jan Atkinson is a seasoned pro. Approachable but no push-over
Jan Atkinson is "terrific," "extremely professional"...
Jan Atkinson is "terrific," "extremely professional" and "enormously experienced."
Jan Atkinson's "in-depth knowledge of the...
Jan Atkinson's "in-depth knowledge of the non-contentious work gives her an advantage when she's dealing with very difficult contentious issues, because she really understands what has gone wrong and how to get it right"
I would highly recommend Jan Atkinson...
I would highly recommend Jan Atkinson in any probate matter and Osbornes Solicitors in any other legal matters.
Jan Atkinson is a very proficient...
Jan Atkinson is a very proficient lady whom I would highly recommend to anyone involved in probates.
Jan Atkinson is confident with a...
Jan Atkinson is confident with a straightforward approach. Her practice covers both contentious and non-contentious matters, including wealth planning and estate administration.
I wanted to say that I...
I wanted to say that I am grateful beyond words at the effort Jan Atkinson has been putting in towards fixing our situation.
Jan Atkinson has helped me so...
Jan Atkinson has helped me so very much! Thank you!