The ILM Conference 2026 is hailed a huge success
May 26, 2026
The ILM Conference 2026 was certainly one to remember. From Abba costumes and futuristic avatars to a live auction and The Price is Right gameshow, all sprinkled with thought-provoking and actionable insights from some of the countries leading experts from across the sector, delegates have hailed it one of the best ILM conferences to date.
More than 350 attendees packed the venue to enjoy a day of learning and networking. Alongside members were Corporate Partners and sponsors, together with sector partners.
ILM CEO Matthew Lagden and ILM Chair James Stebbings opened the Conference with a look back at some of the ILM’s highlights from the past year, including the launch of the new ILM member portal, the launch of our new qualification, Legacy Management Accreditation Programme (LMAP), and successful lobbying with Remember A Charity and the Law Society on pensions and IHT. Matthew highlighted the importance of our collaborative relationships with our sector partners and thanked them for their ongoing support.
A look to the future
Matthew and James continued with a look at how the ILM is adapting to meet the future and announced some exciting things to come in the next year.
Matthew announced the development of a new Legacy Management Apprenticeship, pointing out this will be the first officially recognised qualification route into Legacy Management. The development and roll-out will be supported by the newly appointed Head of Professional Development, he told delegates.
Another big announcement, Matthew shared that the ILM will be launching a completely rebuilt website by the end of 2026, and told delegates that they could help shape this by sharing their thoughts with the web development company who were in attendance on the day.
Matthew and James concluded that none of this would be possible without the continued support of ILM members, corporate partners, the ILM Board and ILM staff. They highlighted that the ILM is an organisation with big ambitions, but run by a very small team who work very hard to make things happen, which was met with a round of applause from delegates.
For those who couldn’t attend, or who would like a quick recap, here’s an overview of the presentations.
The Changing Landscape of Estate Administration
The first presentation of the day came from Ian Bond, Head of Legal at Farewill who provided a whistle stop tour around The Changing Landscape of Estate Administration. The subject was a hugely popular one, providing delegates with a wealth of useful takeaways.
Ian talked delegates through numerous recent changes which are impacting the day-day activities of Legacy Professionals including a new Estate Administration Banking Protocol from UK Finance; changes to IHT, including digitisation, pensions and APR/BPR changes; and NCPR / Probate Procedure reforms.
Given the tight 30 minute session slot, it was no mean feat to cover all of the topics so succinctly. Speaking afterwards, many delegates highlighted the session as one of the most informative of the day.
The State of the Nation
The second session of the day was the ever popular State of the Nation, which saw conference newbies Dan Walton and Jo Masini, analysts from Legacy Futures take to the stage to look at the future of Legacy Income.
Dan and Jo took delegates through data from the previous 12 months, highlighting that total legacy income in 2025 was £4.4bn. Although the number of estates which had been granted probate was down by 6.6%, the average gift value at probate was up by 1.8%.
Dan cited previous years where uncertainty caused by various world events has impacted forecasting, promising that we are now entering a phase of ‘Absolute Certainty’, with the slight caveat that the upcoming changes to IHT do pose something of a cloud on the horizon.
Jo showed that both the short term and long term forecasts for legacy growth are positive and talked through preparing for Gen X as the incumbent legators in the coming years, also pointing out the importance of silent legators now and into the future.
Mediation Masterclass with Bates Wells
After the morning coffee break, it was the turn of Leticia Jennings and Lucinda Ellen of Bates Wells to take to the stage with their Mediation Masterclass, where they were joined by ILM members Megan Paul of Cancer Research UK and Kate Vowden of British Heart Foundation.
In a session that was both insightful and engaging, the Bates Wells team and their guests provided delegates with a practical insight into how mediation works through a Q & A session, which provided perspectives on the mediation process from both a lawyer and legacy professional point of view.
With plenty of hints and tips on when and how to get the most out of mediation, many delegates highlighted the session as a highlight of the day for its accessible format and useful insights.
With the last of the morning presentations completed, it was time for the Awards Ceremony and the announcement by Ashley Rowthorn, Executive Director, Legacy Futures and Smee & Ford, of the winners of the ILM and Legacy Futures Awards. See separate article on the winners of this year’s awards.
Making Sense of the Buzzwords – What Do They Mean and How Can They Add Value
The first session of the afternoon was delivered by Andrew Tompson and Freya Carroll of Berrys, who provided delegates who took to the stage to shed light on the buzzwords used in property planning.
In this jargon-busting session, Andrew and Freya took delegates through example properties where planning permission was being sought and broke down some of the buzzwords used during the planning application process to demystify the jargon.
In this insightful session delegates were enlightened on asking the right questions and commissioning surveys at the right time, to ultimately empower decision makers when deciding when to sell land with or without planning permission.
Legacies, Litigation & Lasting Impact: The Lawyer’s Role in Legacy Conversations
Next to take to the stage for session five, was Stephanie Kerr of Irwin Mitchell who gave delegates an insight into the the Lawyer’s role in Legacy Conversations.
Stephanie gave delegates an insight into the evolving role of solicitors in legacy conversations, particularly in relation to charitable giving, highlighting the lawyer’s role as stewards.
Discussing the fact that as charitable giving is on the rise, so are the number of disputes, Stephanie talked through some resolution options which can be considered if a dispute arises, highlighting some cases of note involving charities.
Closing the session, Stephanie highlighted some of the changes within the legal landscape which legacy professionals will need to navigate now and into the future, giving delegates plenty of food for thought.
Legacy Voyage
A highlight of the day for many, the Foot Anstey team, Anna Phillips, Fiona Campbell-White, Gavin Holt and Legacy Consultant Andy Salmons transported delegates to the future with their Legacy Voyage for session six.
Complete with animated avatars of some of the sector’s familiar faces, full ABBA costumes and singalong, the Foot Anstey team certainly brought some fun and laughter to the day’s events.
Taking a look at four key themes which could significantly impact the future of legacy income, the team enlisted the help of Avatar Legacy Time travellers, Helen Hoare, James Stebbings, Meenaxi Patel and Richard Pragnell to deliver messages from the future about collaboration, standardisation vs adaptation, cost effectiveness and shared costs and some quick wins Legacy Managers can use to achieve results.
With a singalong finale closing the session, delegates were up on their feet to join in the fun.
Choosing the Right Method of Sale for a Property
Hosting the final session of the day was Dave Marlow from Hammer Price Homes, who also kindly sponsored this year’s post-conference Drinks Session and received a huge round of applause as a thank you.
Dave took delegates through a series of case studies highlighting when and how auction can achieve the best results. Highlighting the importance of finding the right partner to work with in such scenarios, Dave gave delegates food for thought by highlighting instances where more traditional selling routes have ended poorly.
With a brief farewell and thank you from James Stebbings and Matthew Lagden, it was time for the bar to open.