Lauren Day

My Approach

I advise businesses, property developers, trustees, executors, beneficiaries and private individuals involved in complex and often high-value disputes. Many of the matters I deal with have significant financial, personal or commercial consequences, so my focus is always on providing clear, strategic advice that helps clients make informed decisions from the outset.

I take pride in delivering concise, robust and commercially focused advice. Whilst every dispute has its own legal issues, understanding a client's wider objectives is equally important. Whether acting for a business seeking to protect a commercial position, a developer involved in a property-related dispute, or an individual facing a contested inheritance claim, my aim is to identify the most effective route to resolution.

I am a strong advocate of alternative dispute resolution and regularly assist clients in resolving disputes through negotiation and mediation. In many cases, an early commercial settlement represents the best outcome, saving both time and cost while allowing clients to move forward. However, where proceedings are necessary, I have extensive experience of High Court litigation and trial preparation.

As Managing Partner of Ellis Jones and Head of Dispute Resolution, I combine the strategic oversight of one of the firm's largest departments with an active practice handling significant disputes across a range of sectors.

Area of Expertise

I specialise in high-value and complex disputes, with particular expertise in contentious trusts and probate, commercial litigation and property-related disputes. My practice spans a broad range of matters for both businesses and private individuals, often involving substantial assets, competing interests and complex legal issues.

My expertise includes:

Commercial & Property Litigation

• Complex contractual disputes, including claims arising from property development projects and commercial agreements
• Property development disputes involving landowners, developers, contractors and professional advisers
• Residential and commercial property disputes
• Boundary disputes, rights of way disputes and Party Wall Act matters
• Restrictive covenant disputes
• Planning and development disputes, including Judicial Review proceedings
• Professional negligence claims involving solicitors, surveyors and other professional advisers
• Construction-related disputes, including adjudication and arbitration proceedings
• Proprietary estoppel claims involving land, farms and family businesses

Contentious Trusts & Probate

• Challenges to the validity of wills, including allegations of lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence and fraud
• Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 claims
• Executor and trustee disputes
• Applications for the removal of executors and trustees
• Probate and estate administration disputes
• Claims involving lifetime gifts and unauthorised transactions
• Court of Protection-related disputes and applications
• Trust disputes involving significant family wealth and commercial assets

Recent Work

• Acting for a property developer in a complex contractual dispute valued at more than £12 million.
• Advising a beneficiary in relation to a prospective equitable contract claim with an estimated value of £1 million.
• Successfully pursuing a proprietary estoppel claim concerning a farming business and land valued at approximately £6 million.
• Successfully defending a Judicial Review application relating to a significant residential development on Bournemouth's Overcliff.
• Recovering substantial damages on behalf of a client arising from negligent legal advice concerning a residential development opportunity.
• Acting for spouses and family members in claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
• Successfully challenging the validity of a will on the grounds of lack of testamentary capacity.
• Defending claims brought under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 on behalf of estates and beneficiaries.
• Advising executors involved in disputes concerning estate administration, alleged gifts and unauthorised transactions.
• Acting in planning-related litigation and Judicial Review proceedings concerning significant development projects.

Professional Associations & Qualifications

• Recognised as a Leading Partner in The Legal 500 2027 Guide for Commercial Litigation
• Ranked in Band 2 for Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide 2026 for Private Wealth Disputes - "Lauren is a self-assured, confident litigator. She is tactical, astute and knows how to conduct a successful mediation."
• Recognised as a key contact for Litigation in Chambers & Partners UK Guide 2026 - "Ellis Jones's lawyers are really professional, reliable and trusted by big organisations."
• Ranked as Leading Partner in The Legal 500 2026 for Commercial Litigation
• Ranked in Band 2 for Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide 2025 for Private Wealth Disputes - "Lauren has an excellent skill set for the resolution of complex disputes. She manages the issues with a firm, fair and steady hand.", "Lauren provides accurate and clear advice." and "Lauren is extremely quick of thought, identifies key issues immediately and can run cases very effectively and economically for a client while keeping a sharp eye on the intended outcome."
• Appointed as Junior Vice President of the Bournemouth and District Law Society in 2025
• Recognised as a key contact for Litigation in Chambers & Partners UK Guide 2025 - "Ellis Jones is one of the only firms I know where you can guarantee their partner quality is excellent. They only seem to hire people who have that client care quality that is so important."
• Recommended Lawyer in The Legal 500 UK 2025 for Commercial Litigation - 'Extremely knowledgeable, client-friendly and experienced in commercial litigation’, Contentious Trusts & Probate - noted for her wide-reaching knowledge of property and inheritance disputes, and finally for Property Litigation - "Lauren Day is a very experienced solicitor that often deals with high value and complex property disputes. She is excellent with clients, personable, yet thorough in her work."
• Ranked in Band 2 for Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide 2024 for Private Wealth Disputes - "Lauren has a good way of dealing with people. She is clear and concise on what the law is and how it should be applied - being fair, firm and reasonable and bringing humanity to the situation." and "Lauren has a wealth of expertise and she makes me feel confident. She involves me in the process by keeping me up to date and she is prompt to respond to my enquiries. She provides excellent service."
• Leading Individual in The Legal 500 (UK 2024) for Commercial Litigation - noted to have “encyclopaedic knowledge of commercial litigation”
• Ranked as an Individual in Band 3 for Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide 2023 for Private Wealth Disputes - "Lauren clearly is outstanding, she has made me feel valued." "Lauren Day has been absolutely superb during a stressful situation. She has not only supported us during the legal process, she has always shown a real interest and understanding of the impact on her clients' lives.”
• Ranked in Chambers & Partners (UK 2023) for Litigation - "In multiparty cases against difficult opponents they have kept impressive control of where the case is going."
• Leading Individual in The Legal 500 (UK 2023) for Commercial Litigation - noted to have "an outstanding reputation for driving high value disputes" as well as "vast experience in commercial litigation, and is always calm and unflappable."
• Leading Individual in Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide 2022 for Private Wealth Disputes - described as “fiercely determined and a wonderful advocate for her clients. This strength and determination is almost hidden behind her friendly and humorous exterior, but she is definitely the person to have on your side in any dispute!"
• Recommended Lawyer by The Legal 500 (UK 2022) for Contentious Trusts & Probate and Commercial Litigation - highlighted as a leading individual as well as the litigation department being described as "one of the best litigation firms in Dorset, Hampshire and the south-west".
• Recommended Lawyer by The Legal 500 (UK 2020) for Contentious Trusts & Probate and Commercial Litigation - described as having 'excellent judgement and great interpersonal skills' .
• The Times Top 200 Law Firms (2020) - 'Lauren Day, head of dispute resolution, successfully defended a judicial review application about a significant residential development in Bournemouth Overcliff. She also acted for a property developer in a complex contractual dispute worth more than £12 million.'
• Recommended Lawyer by The Legal 500 (UK 2019) Contentious Trusts & Probate, Commercial Litigation and Wills, Trusts & Probate. Recognised for particular experience in dealing with high-value contractual disputes in high-net-worth.
• Recommended Lawyer by The Legal 500 (UK 2018) Contentious Trusts & Probate, Commercial Litigation and Wills, Trusts & Probate - being described as 'highly competent and pragmatic'
• Recommended Lawyer by The Legal 500 (UK 2017) for leading Commercial Litigation as well as Contentious Trusts & Probate - the team is recognised as being able to handle 'a broad range of commercial disputes'
• Recommended Lawyer by The Legal 500 (UK 2016) for Contentious Trusts & Probate law - described as being ‘excellent' and her department as 'streets ahead'
• Recommended Lawyer by The Legal 500 (UK 2016) for Commercial Litigation
• Member of the Charity Law Association
• Qualified as a solicitor in September 2009
• Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Commendation)
• LLB Law Degree (2:1)