Coodes shortlisted for national Contentious Probate Provider of the Year award

Coodes Solicitors has been shortlisted in the Probate Industry Awards for 2026 in the category of Contentious Probate Provider of the Year.

This national recognition reflects more than a decade of sustained growth and an unwavering commitment to achieving the right outcomes for clients who are navigating some of the most emotionally challenging legal disputes they will ever face.

The award recognises law firms and dispute resolution specialists who have demonstrated genuine excellence in contentious probate work.

For Coodes, this shortlisting is the culmination of a remarkable transformation of the firm’s offering, that has seen the Inheritance and Will Disputes team grow from two part-time lawyers a decade ago into a five-strong team.

There are only six accredited ACTAPS (Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists) practitioners in the whole of Cornwall and three are in the team here at Coodes, Mel Grose, Ben Sidgwick and Hayley Gaffney handling complex, high-value cases across the region and beyond. But it is the nature of the work and how the team approaches it that sets Coodes apart.

Led by Mel Grose, the team, which includes Ben Sidgwick, Hayley Gaffney, Jodie Walmsley and Nicola Cracknell, has handled multi-million pound estates, cross-jurisdictional disputes spanning France, Jersey and Barbados, along with cases with enough complexity and public interest to attract national media coverage.

Throughout, the emphasis remains on resolution over conflict, with an exceptional mediation success rate and a willingness to take on clients overlooked by others, including those requiring conditional fee agreements when legal aid is not available.

Elise Alma, Chair of Coodes Solicitors, commented: “This shortlisting is a tremendous acknowledgement of what Mel and her team have built. This is not just in terms of the quality and scale of their caseload, but in the way they go about their work.

“They combine real legal rigour with genuine empathy for clients who are often in very difficult circumstances. To be recognised nationally is something the whole team thoroughly deserves and something the wider firm can be equally proud of too.

“It is immensely gratifying that as a leading regional law firm, we are being recognised nationally based on the quality of service we provide and the ability to deliver the outcomes clients are seeking.

“Hayley Gaffney deserves a special mention, given her personal success. She joined Coodes as a PA and with mentorship and support of the firm, has progressed through CILEx to become an associate solicitor, recently achieving ACTAPS membership shortly after qualifying which is a real accolade.”

The Probate Industry Awards ceremony will take place later this year, at a ceremony in London.

In the meantime, if you have a probate matter you would like to discuss with the Coodes’ Inheritance and Will Disputes team, contact us here or by calling 0800 328 3282.