As well as having particular expertise in drafting UK and offshore trusts and advising on their construction and effect and associated taxation issues, he has extensive experience in contested trust, probate and succession disputes.

He is the consultant editor of Williams on Wills, a joint editor of the "Wills" and "Executors" titles in the current edition of Halsbury's Laws of England and a contributor to the first and second editions of Thomas and Hudson's Law of Trusts. 

He was a member of the "Group of Experts" appointed by the EU Commission to consider proposals for the harmonisation of the laws of succession of Member States.

Described in The Legal 500 as "second to none", The Chambers & Partners Guide to the Legal Profession says that he is a "hit with clients", that he is "sound, wise and just the person you'd ring with a technically intricate problem" and that he has a "deep and thorough understanding of the flexibilities of trust law". Of his work in charity law it says that he is "thorough and knowledgeable, especially at drafting" and that "he always offers sound, robust advice".

Reported cases include:

• Wyndham v Egremont (variation of trusts; extension of trust period)

• Carvel Foundation v Carvel (mutual wills; removal of executrix; devastavit)

• Sieff v Fox (rule in Hastings-Bass and setting aside for mistake)

• Mitchell v Halliwell (removal of executors; liability for devastavit)

• Re DWS (murder, forfeiture and intestacy)

• Corbett v Newey (conditional wills)

• Re K (manslaughter, succession and relief from forfeiture)

• Chellaram v Chellaram (removal of trustees, conflict of laws, jurisdiction)

Francis Barlow is a member of the Chancery Bar Association, the Society of Trust Practitioners, the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists and the Charity Law Association.