Alice Tomlin

Alice and Paul Hewitt acted for Sightsavers under its formal name in the decision on appeal of Sir Anthony Mann Beasant v Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind [2022]. The charity, acting as representative for twenty other charities, was defending its success in Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind v Beasant and others [2021], an application to determine that a legacy expressed to be equal to the maximum passing free of tax has a nil value where there are already gifts to non-exempt beneficiaries exceeding the tax free element. Click here to read our briefing note on the case and click here to read the Appeal and here to read the original Judgment.

Alice, Paul Hewitt and Alexandra Dix acted for Mrs Bhusate in her claim for financial provision from her late husband’s estate more than 25 years after her husband passed away. Despite the lengthy delay (the previous record of just under six years was set in 1993) Chief Master Marsh ordered that Mrs Bhusate’s claim should be allowed to proceed. Click here to see his judgment. In January 2020 the High Court upheld Chief Master Marsh’s decision (the appeal judgment here) meaning Mrs Bhusate’s claim could proceed. Shortly after the defendant stepchildren conceded the claim. Click here to read our briefing note.