Martin Oliver

Short bio:

I am a partner and head of the Contentious Trusts and Probate team at Lodders.

I joined Lodders in December 2025 following almost 2 decades at a regional law firm, where I built, according to the Legal 500 directory (2025), the best contentious trusts and probate team in the West Midlands.

I specialise in all forms of inheritance disputes including contested wills, issues involving mental capacity, undue influence, executor/trustee removals, proprietary estoppel and negligence relating to will drafting/estate matters.  I have acted in numerous reported cases, several of which are leading authorities. I have been involved in 3 Supreme Court cases being i) Ilott -v- Mitson, ii) Barton -v- Wright Hassall and iii) Hirachand -v- Hirachand.

I am named in the legal directories as being a leading individual in this area of the law. Both in the 2025 and 2026 editions of the Legal 500 I am named in the Hall of Fame which highlights solicitors at the pinnacle of their profession, with a focus on “longstanding involvement in market leading work”. The Chambers & Partners directory (2025) describes me as follows “Martin Oliver should be called a magician. He can pull rabbits out of a hat in the most difficult and complex cases.  No stone is unturned and no possibility unexplored”.

I am a full member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Solicitors, which recognises specialists in Contentious probate work.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. For the last 11 years I have boarded 20 plus guide dogs in training, the majority of which have gone on to become guide dogs. I also enjoy travelling and have visited 70 plus countries.

I am based in our Stratford upon Avon office but also work across Birmingham and Cheltenham