Michelle Hayter

Michelle is Head of the Dispute Resolution Department and has built a strong personal reputation in this practice area over the past 19 years. As partner, Michelle also heads up the firm’s operations in Ringwood.

Her growing team deal with all aspects of civil and commercial litigation. Both Michelle and her team are recognised in the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 Legal 500, the independent guide to law firms in the UK.

Work

Michelle Hayter qualified as a Solicitor in 2002 and became a Partner at Frettens in 2010. 

She is a fully-qualified ACTAPS (Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists) member. Her experience in Estate, Trust and Will disputes attracts clients from across the UK. She has worked on many high-value and high-profile cases, some of which have attracted national media coverage.

She further specialises in possession claims for residential landlords, conducting the claim through to advocacy at the court hearing and TOLATA work, acting for separating couples who are unmarried in dealing with the division of the property.

Michelle also deals with all aspects of civil and commercial litigation. Her experience ranges from breach of contract and contractual disputes, landlord and tenant disputes, land, boundary and property litigation, director/shareholder disputes, professional negligence and money claims.

Experience

• A number of ongoing claims for long running contentious probate disputes between relatives of the Deceased to include validity claims and claims pursuant to the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.  Both acting for Claimants and Defendants. 
• Claims against attorney for financial abuse and Order for Sale proceedings.
• Acting for a number of letting agents and landlords in dealing with all aspects of seeking possession of rental properties.
• Ongoing commercial disputes for a property developer, including, breach of contract, dispute with leaseholders over unauthorised works, continued advice on commercial rent arrears, forfeiture proceedings and general breach of contract.
• Acting for a number of co-habitees in establishing their rights to the family home.

Play

Michelle enjoys getting away at weekends in her much-loved motorhome, visiting new places and stepping out exploring in her walking boots, usually ending up in a nice restaurant or pub for a glass of red wine!  Or you can find her thundering her way through forest trails on her mountain bike.   

Michelle is very competitive in nature, readily accepting a new challenge. She is a good listener but never shy of expressing an opinion when necessary or sought, whilst remaining true to her beliefs. Michelle’s exuberance remains whether at work or play.