Irwin Mitchell has bolstered its Thames Valley team with a new partner.

Tara McInnes, a specialist in will, trust, and estate disputes, joins the legal firm as a partner.

She qualified in 2001 and has since worked in will dispute teams at firms including Shoosmiths, Gardner Leader, and The Burnside Partnership.

Ms McInnes advises high-net-worth and high-profile individuals, as well as trustees, not-for-profit organisations, and charities, on a range of contentious probate matters.

These include trust disputes, will challenges, and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

She is recommended by the Chambers High Net Worth guide and is a full member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).

She is also a qualified mediator.

Paula Myers, national head of will, trust, and estate disputes at Irwin Mitchell, said: "We have one of the strongest national teams of private client dispute experts across the country and Tara adds to that strength in depth in the Thames Valley region working out of our Reading office.

"With the changes to inheritance tax rules announced in the recent Budget, wills, trusts and estates are being more closely monitored by family, friends, and other people expecting to inherit, and we expect to see a significant increase in private client disputes over the coming year."

Ms McInnes's move follows the addition of partner Cara Hough in Bristol earlier this year.