Abha has a broad common law practice with emphasis on chancery, financial remedy and private law family work.
She has successfully brought claims on behalf of partners, spouses and dependants under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 as well as advising on the merits of bringing and defending such claims, and acting for the defendant children and executors.
Abha has also acted on behalf of beneficiaries and executors named in a will/ administrators of estates in the full range of probate claims such as proceedings to remove a caveat, claims to prove a will in solemn form, for a declaration that a will is invalid due to incapacity, claims for breach of duty, and claims to remove executors.
In addition, Abha has acted and advised for both petitioners and respondents in contentious divorce cases. Abha has also advised on and drafted co-habitation agreements, advised on financial matters following the break up of co-habiting relationships, and claims under TOLATA. Abha has a particular interest in financial remedy cases where the significant assets are property. Abha also undertakes instructions in child arrangements disputes.
Before joining 1COR, Abha was in private practice at a highly regarded private client firm advising on contentious trusts and probate matters and as Head of Contentious Trusts and Probate and then Head of Private Client (including divorce, financial remedy and contact disputes) at a top 200 national law firm.
Probate & TrustsSelected Cases
- Acting for a trustee facing breach of duty allegations and allegations of self-dealing - value of the claim against the trustee £5 million.
- Advising a daughter of the deceased mother who was left significantly less under her mother’s will than her sisters; Estate value - £500k.
- Advising the long term co-habiting partner (25 years) of the deceased who died suddenly without updating his will achieving satisfactory settlement without trial - Estate value £1.5 million.
- Advising the daughter of the deceased on a claim against her late mother’s estate by her brother, who sought to set aside protective trusts which arose under a codicil. Estate value - £4.5 million.
- Advising the Executor of an Estate, a friend of the deceased who was also the remainderman beneficiary of a life interest trust in the deceased’s property in respect of a challenge against the validity of a will- negotiated a way to complete the administration of the Estate and secured a substantial sum in settlement. Estate value - £650k.
- Advising a legatee who was yet to receive her legacy (the reason being given that she had already received this in the deceased’s lifetime) and negotiating a satisfactory settlement between her and the beneficiaries of the the Estate. Estate value - £1.5 million.
- Advising and bringing a claim on behalf a son in similar circumstances to the claimant in Ilott v Mitson [2017] UKSC - Estate value - £1.5 million.
- Advising sisters who were not being given their share of their mother’s estate by their executor brother including bringing a claim for an account of the Estate and to remove him as an Executor; value of the Estate £250k.
- Acted for a minor in a claim against the Executors for rectification of a will whereby their interest would be reduced; value of the Estate- £5million.
- Advising on the prospects of bringing a claim of undue influence where the deceased’s hitherto unheard of girlfriend inherited his estate under the will; value of the Estate £1million.
- Advising on defending a claim of undue influence brought by siblings against the executor and sole beneficiary; value of the Estate £400k.
Selected Cases
- Advising on a claim against solicitors for failure to advise to place a restriction against the title;
- Advising on a claim against solicitors for a failure to follow the Golden Rule and seek an opinion on the capacity of an individual;
- Advising on a claim against will draftsmen who put in place an unnecessary and cumbersome trust arrangement;
- Advising on a claim against solicitors for failing to advise in respect of possession proceedings.
Abha deals with Court of Protection cases in the area of property and affairs, and has also advised on issues concerning P’s health and welfare.
Selected Cases
- Advising on claims against attorneys for breach of trust
- Advising on applications for a statutory will
- Advising on opposing an application for deputyship
Abha undertakes instructions in all levels of financial remedy cases ranging from limited assets such as the matrimonial home to extensive property portfolios.
She is particularly experienced in working with parties with differing cultural backgrounds and considerations. Abha also advises on potential and actual co-habitation disputes.
Abha has advised on contentious divorce cases (where divorce would have led to the deportation of one party, in another case would have brought an end a very long relationship).
Abha undertakes instructions in child arrangements disputes. She particularly attuned to the emotional sensitivities around break down of parental relationships, lending a sympathetic ear and trying to find a way forward.
Abha accepts work from lay clients via Direct Access. You can view her profile here.
ToLATA Claims : review of how the Courts determine an individual’s (beneficial) interest in land (part 1) - Jan 2021
Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (ToLATA) Claims: review of how the Courts determine an individual’s (beneficial) interest in land Where there is a dispute about the extent of...
Abha Pandya and Scott Storey gave a whirlwind tour of LPAs and probate disputes at Downs Law - Feb 2020
On 18th February, Abha Pandya and Scott Storey presented two complementary talks focusing on both Health & Welfare and Property in the Court of Protection to a team of professionals from Downs...
Insights from Paul Ashwell & Abha Pandya at Surrey Law Society Private Client & Conveyancing Conference 2020 - Feb 2020
On 25th February 2020, Paul Ashwell and Abha Pandya will be joining a host of speakers examining a range of topics at the Surrey Law Society (SLS) Private Client & Conveyancing Conference 2020....
1COR bring their expertise in Court of Protection and Financial Remedies for training seminars - Nov 2019
A team from 1 Crown Office Row are providing inhouse training on Court of Protection and Financial Remedies for Barlow Robbins. At 3pm Abha Pandya and Scott Storey will first provide a seminar on the...
Abha Pandya speaks about wills and probate claims with RHW Solicitors - Jul 2019
On Tuesday 9th July 2019, Abha Pandya provided a comprehensive training session on wills and probate claims to Daniel Crate, Stephen Bottomley from RHW Solicitors. The training will take them...
Abha Pandya is welcomed by EMD Law to provide a training session on Trusts and Probate claims - Mar 2019
On Thursday 28th March 2019 Abha Pandya provided a comprehensive training session on probate and trust claims to the EMD Law team, led by Liz Dumbleton. The training took EMD through the causes of...
Abha Pandya and Scott Storey speak at recent Court of Protection seminar - Mar 2019
On Wednesday 13th March 2019 Abha Pandya and Scott Storey were welcomed by Baker Law LLP to give training on welfare and property & affairs updates in the Court of Protection. They spoke on hot...
Abha Pandya and Natasha Isaac form part of panel discussion following preview of new film about Ruth Bader Ginsberg, ‘RBG’ - Dec 2018
Ahead of the film’s official release, this new documentary focuses on the unique personal journey of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and is directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen, and...
1COR & Orbis Law present ‘Mental Capacity Act 2005 Training for Local Government Lawyers’ - Nov 2018
Orbis Law and 1COR are presenting a seminar aimed at providing an update on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in relation to local government cases with talks on different topics from Martin Downs, Abha...
Review the latest news with Abha Pandya on Sky News Sunrise tomorrow - Sep 2018
Catch up on current affairs and get a legal perspective on today’s papers with Abha Pandya. A regular on Sky News, you can get her views on the latest news by tuning into Sky News on 29th September...
SLS Legal Awards and Annual Gala Dinner - Sep 2018
1COR members, were out in force to support the inaugural Surrey Law Society Awards which took place on Thursday 20th September at the Mandolay Hotel. 1COR proudly sponsored the client care award and...
Cheer on our team in the Brighton Legal Walk 2018! - Sep 2018
1COR are getting ready for the Brighton Legal Walk! Please help us support the London Legal Support Trust and all the fantastic work they do by visiting our 1COR 2018 Virgin Giving page here. 1COR...
Review the latest news with Abha Pandya on Sky News Sunrise tomorrow - Sep 2018
Catch up on current affairs and get a legal perspective on today's papers with Abha Pandya. A regular on Sky News, you can get her views on the latest news by tuning into Sky News at 06.40, 07.40 and...
‘Deputyship: A Scrutiny of Deputies’ by Abha Pandya - Aug 2018
In the case of GM, MJ and JM [2013] EWHC 2966, the Court heard an application to retrospectively approve gifts already made and expenses of Deputies out of the funds of the protected party (P). It...
Delighted Abha Pandya joins 1COR as a new tenant - Jul 2018