The siblings of late British tycoon Alan Lorenz have won the right to challenge his partner in court over his £18 million fortune, paving the way for a dramatic High Court trial.
Lorenz, a former divorce lawyer who made his millions through the weight-loss company Herbalife, died in 2021 aged 78. Despite earlier wills promising shares to his siblings—Robert, 81; Anthony, 77; and Vanessa, 79—he left his entire estate to his younger Maltese partner, Sheila Caruana, after entering a civil partnership with her shortly before his death.
The siblings argue that Lorenz, aware of his advancing age and with a strong interest in tax planning, had created a “secret trust”, asking Sheila to later divide his wealth with his family. They claim he assured them she was “100 percent honourable” and would follow through. Sheila, now 59, denies any such promise or instructions.
Lorenz’s estate includes a £4 million townhouse in Mayfair, a £3.5 million villa in Malta, over £8.8 million in cash, and Herbalife-related assets worth £2.1 million.
Earlier legal efforts by the siblings to pursue the claim were dismissed by the High Court, which ruled their case lacked sufficient evidence.
However, the Court of Appeal has now overturned that decision. Lord Justice Zacaroli said there was a “real prospect” that evidence brought at trial could establish the existence of the trust, adding that inconsistencies between Sheila’s statement and contemporaneous documents warranted further scrutiny.
He also highlighted the lack of detailed disclosure from Sheila and suggested that future testimony or cross-examination could shed light on Lorenz’s true intentions. Fellow judges Mr Justice Cobb and Lord Justice Stuart-Smith concurred with the ruling.
Unless resolved beforehand, the case will now proceed to a full trial, where the siblings hope to reclaim a share of their brother’s estate.
