Joanna Poole

Partner

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.

Recognitions

The Legal 500 2026

Contentious Trusts and Probate

Leading Partner

Chambers HNW 2025

Private Wealth Disputes

Band 2

The Legal 500 2025

Contentious Trusts and Probate

Leading Partner

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 is very easy to work with. She takes the right points to get the right outcome for clients." (Chambers HNW 2025)

"Joanna Poole is an astute litigator and tough negotiator. She is very good at handling HNW and UHNW matters involving difficult legal issues and personalities." (Chambers HNW 2025)

"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)

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

"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)

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