Joanna Poole

Partner

Contact

Practice areas

Trust, Will and Estate Disputes

Joanna advises trustees, beneficiaries and charities on the full range of onshore and offshore contentious trusts and estates matters.

Clients come to Joanna for assistance with probate claims, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975, constructive trust claims, proprietary estoppel claims and breach of trust claims. She has particular experience of defending the validity of trusts against third party attacks on grounds such as sham. She also advises on professional negligence claims against trustees, lawyers and accountants where there is a trust or estates angle.

Her offshore work has seen her advise in relation to proceedings in Jersey, Switzerland, Nevis, the Cayman Islands, BVI, Cyprus, Italy and Denmark.

Memberships & Accolades

Prior to joining Farrer & Co, Joanna was a barrister practising in chancery and commercial litigation at Ten Old Square chambers.

Joanna is a member of the Chancery Bar Association, the Institute of Legacy Management (ILM) and the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).

Joanna is listed in the Private Client Global Elite 2021 directory, and was also listed in ALM’s Private Client Global Elite 2019.

Testimonials

"Joanna has a disarming combination of real steeliness and charm who fights for the right result for her clients." (Legal 500 2025)

"She is fabulous and a really nice person who clients enjoy instructing. She is really good and does some valuable, complex litigation." (Chambers HNW 2024)

"She's charming, smart and gives practical advice." (Chambers HNW 2024)

"I always find her extremely impressive and she really gets on top of issues." (Chambers HNW 2024)

"They are extremely personable and able to communicate and empathise with clients. Joanne Poole has been exceptional in all her work and is assisted by an extremely able team." (Legal 500 2024)

"Joanna Poole has a remarkable ability to visualise a problem and direct her advice accordingly. She is capable of great intellectual force and delivers that in a fashion that shows her understanding of the situation and that is simple to understand." (Chambers HNW 2023 - Private Wealth Disputes)

"Jo Poole is a great lawyer who always shows exceptional judgement and sensitivity in the cases she handles." (Chambers HNW 2023 - Private Wealth Disputes)

"Joanna Poole – effortlessly brilliant." (Legal 500 2023)

"[Joanna] provides a Rolls-Royce service, she is brilliant...Joanna handles litigation brilliantly and is a class act." (Chambers HNW 2022 - Private Wealth Disputes)

Joanna is recognised as a Leading Individual for Contentious Trusts and Estates in Legal 500 2022 Guide.

"Jo Poole has an eminently sensible approach to litigation and real expertise." (Legal 500 2022)

Joanna Poole is key lawyers in a group that is ‘a benchmark for quality in this sector, with the right mix of experience and fresh talent to ensure that any contentious matter is dealt with assuredly and with commitment’. "Jo Poole is a brilliant lawyer with real expertise in the law." (Legal 500 2021)

"Joanna Poole is very bright and takes no nonsense." (Legal 500 2021)

Joanna is ranked Band 3 for Private Wealth Disputes in the Chambers High Net Worth 2021 Guide.

"She is fantastic, extremely intelligent. She's a barrister so she brings her background to litigating." (Chambers High Net Worth 2021)

"Really, really fun to work with and absolutely on the money with her legal analysis." (Chambers High Net Worth 2021)

Joanna Poole is well regarded for her advice to high net worth clients in relation to private wealth disputes. "She always finds an economical and practical result," states one source. "She has a very impressive authority and is very much on top of the case law," comments another. Joanna Poole is well regarded for her advice to high net worth clients in relation to private wealth disputes. "She always finds an economical and practical result," states one source. "She has a very impressive authority and is very much on top of the case law," comments another. (Chambers High Net Worth 2020)

Chambers High Net Worth guide 2019 recommends Joanna in Private Wealth Disputes. She is also described in Legal 500 2019 as "quickly emerging as one of the ‘go to’ partners for contentious trusts" in Contentious Trusts and Probate.

"Industry insiders see Joanna as "a real up-and-comer," a "class act" and "an emerging force" in this market […] One peer says: "She knew what she was doing and was provided good assistance in the case. She was a sensible and calming presence on the team."