She has been involved in numerous international cases where the laws on succession differ from one country or system of law to another, including conflicts between Koranic or Civil law and Common Law. Such disputes often arise over trusts, sometimes created with the intention of defeating entrenched inheritance rights under the law of the settlor's nationality, residence or faith. 

She also advises and litigates for beneficiaries, trustees, protectors, Family Offices and adverse claimants in connection with a wide range of problems/ claims affecting trusts. Examples include claims relating to the interpretation and/or management of trusts, allegations of breach of trust and fiduciary duty, fraud, insolvency or removal of trustees and protectors. 

Dawn is a CEDR accredited mediator (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) and is on the ACTAPS (Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists) panel of mediators. She has represented trustees, executors, beneficiaries and heirs in mediations to resolve probate and estate administration disputes, international succession claims and a wide variety of English and international trust disputes. Dawn has also experienced being a party to a mediation herself.

Dawn's career in trust and succession disputes, trusts and divorce (she used to be a divorce lawyer), acting as a fiduciary and advising family offices and UHNW families has given her insight into the practical as well as legal issues which can arise when she is acting as mediator. Most importantly, she has had considerable experience of working alongside clients in their grief, anger and the hurt that often accompanies such disputes. Her aim is to bring two essential qualities to a mediation: empathy and support for all the parties at a particularly difficult time and an ability to inspire ideas outside the box. Combined, they can unlock these highly- charged disputes and enable the parties to move on with their lives.

One of her specialisms is helping create more robust structures to better withstand attack, whether on family breakdown or – increasingly– from states or governmental bodies in an environment where political risk concerns have rarely run so high. Having attacked or defended many asset holding structures she is able to advise on creating or reconfiguring into structures better able to withstand attack. She also advises how best to manage such structures to reduce risk and preserve family assets.

Dawn, who is admitted and practising in England & Wales, is also admitted to the Paris Bar as Consultante Juridique Etrangere and admitted (but not practising) in the British Virgin Islands and in Eire.

She is recognised across legal directories for her expertise, ranked as a senior statesperson for private wealth disputes in Chambers HNW and listed in the Hall of Fame for contentious trust and successions disputes in Legal 500.