Melody Munro
Senior Associate
Melody is a litigator experienced in advising clients across a broad range of situations, particularly those involving trusts, estates and private wealth disputes. Clients appreciate Melody’s focus on achieving resolutions that are tailored to their individual circumstances and needs.
Melody approaches all matters with a focus on understanding a client’s key goals and works thoughtfully to find a pragmatic solution based on each client’s individual circumstances. She has experience of advising on all stages of litigation from pre-action to appeal.
Melody is experienced in advising on contentious claims for the removal of trustees or executors, breach of trust or duty, negligence, 1975 Act claims and validity issues. She often resolves these via mediation or other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to avoid the costs and toll litigation can take on clients and families. When settlement is not an option, she takes a proactive and practical approach to advocating for her clients. Melody is also regularly involved in highly charged family situations where the restructuring of trusts and wealth holding structures are needed and the court is asked to assist in that process.
Melody is also often asked by clients to assist in less contentious circumstances and is experienced in making applications such as Variation of Trusts Act applications, rectifications and construction claims. These often involve assisting trustee clients to navigate historic mismanagement and errors, or fraught family situations. Frequently, this involves acting for the children or the future children of other parties to the litigation to protect their best interests.
Melody also helps clients plan for a time where they, or loved ones, may lose the capacity to make decisions for themselves. She resolves disputes when mental capacity is in question and represents clients in the Court of Protection to determine disputes concerning the care and financial arrangements of those lacking mental capacity. As issues of capacity are increasingly becoming a focus in contested litigation and trust claims, Melody advises trustee clients on their duties when faced with settlors, protectors and beneficiaries who lack, or may lack, capacity to make decisions, express wishes or exercise powers. In these circumstances, her focus on the sensitive and tailored resolution of disputes is particularly valued.
Melody trained at a large law firm in London, qualifying into their litigation department in 2015, and joined Farrer & Co in April 2020.
