Molly is an Associate in Private Wealth Disputes in Mishcon Private. She advises private individuals, trustees, executors and beneficiaries across a broad range of specialist fields, but principally trust and succession disputes. Molly's matters often involve an international dimension.
Molly regularly advises on disputes concerning wills, estate administration issues, proprietary estoppel claims and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Molly has particular experience in dealing with complex succession disputes amongst family members and has an interest in assisting clients with landed estates.
Molly’s practice encompasses all aspects of trust disputes work. She also has experience in dealing with contentious charity matters concerning trustee duties, discrimination and reputation management.
Molly is a member of the firm's Mental Capacity group and regularly advises on mental capacity matters.
Molly is a full member of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), ACTAPS (The Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists) and ConTrA (the Contentious Trusts Association). She is also a member of the CLA (the Country Land and Business Association).
In 2020, Molly was a winner of a STEP Excellence Award which she received for achieving the highest score at distinction level for the STEP Advanced Certificate in Advising Vulnerable Clients.
Key Experience
- advised an executor of an estate worth c.£15 million over complex issues concerning the administration of the estate, the conduct of the co-executors and conflicts of interest;
- assisted a UHNW client with the investigation of misappropriation of funds from their private family office and the mismanagement of the family’s private affairs;
- advised a client in relation to the recovery of £80 million from a Jersey trust involving complex cross-border issues, political issues and agreements governed by Sharia law;
- part of a cross firm group who advised beneficiaries in an offshore trust dispute involving assets in excess of £4bn;
- advised an elderly couple in relation to a claim brought by their son of c.£10 million which centred around a disputed family partnership;
- advised a client in relation to a succession dispute with her brother in relation to their parents' estate involving agricultural land in trust;
- provided charity law, equality act and reputation advice to a high profile charity facing unwarranted challenges to its legitimate operational procedures;
- provided advice to a client facing claims of breach of their position as trustee in relation to a charity; and
- advised a client in relation to mental capacity matters including capacity to litigate.
Career History
Associate, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Trainee, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
BPP Law School, Legal Practice Course
BPP Law School, Graduate Diploma in Law
Trinity College, Cambridge: BA Hons, MA (Cantab) Theology & Religious Studies
Articles and Publications:
- 'Mental capacity issues and investments under discretionary management: a change in guidance from the Office of the Public Guardian' by Molly Hunter, Intelligent Partnership's quarterly update 'Business Relief', April 2022
- 'Friendly reminder' by Molly Hunter and Melissa Lesson, The Law Society Private Client Solicitors Section, February 2022
- 'Vulnerable vs incapacitous: introduction to mental capacity and supporting clients with fluctuating mental capacity' podcast by Molly Hunter and Bethan Byrne, October 2021
- The impact of Lehtimaki v Cooper: are you (now) a fiduciary?, November 2020
- Virtual witnessing of wills: a last resort, August 2020
- 'Up to Data' by Molly Hunter, Mark Tibbs and Jon Baines, STEP Journal, February 2019
- 'Cyber attack puts charity trustees' duties under the spotlight' by Molly Hunter, Mark Tibbs and Jon Baines, Privacy Laws & Business, September 2018