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Trusts and Probate Overview

Chambers is leading set for both contentious and non-contentious trusts and probate work. Within the jurisdiction, the set has a very strong domestic profile, encompassing trusts and probate litigation and advice, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975 and charities work.

Chambers also has a pre-eminent reputation for offshore trusts litigation and allied work. Members of chambers act in significant cases across the Caribbean and in other jurisdictions including Bermuda, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Lichtenstein, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Our clients include a wide range of City, West End, national and provincial firms of solicitors on-shore and many leading offshore, domestic and foreign law firms in relation to our international work, as well as major institutional trustees. Members are well used, in consequence, to working within multi-national, multi-jurisdictional and indeed multi-disciplinary teams on large matters.

In 2011 Serle Court was awarded the Chambers of the Year award at the STEP Private Client Awards. The judges said “Serle Court has appeared, with honours, in probably the most significant private client cases not just of the last 12 months but of the last several years”.

Chambers & Partners 2018

SILKS

Alan Boyle QC
Distinguished silk who has worked on some of the most high-profile trust cases in recent years. He has specific expertise in complex and high-value divorce cases which involve trusts law.
Strengths: "He is among the very best trusts practitioners and is received very well in the market. He is hugely committed, has a great brain and is a pleasure to work with."

Dakis Hagen QC
Deals with a plethora of complex trusts cases, often international in nature, and is known for his expertise in large divorce cases which involve trusts. He also handles professional negligence cases involving defective trust structures.
Strengths: "Incredibly clever." "He is technically excellent and can deal with some very difficult fine points of law. He's also commercial and able to think strategically."

Frank Hinks QC
Regularly acts for very wealthy private clients and the trustees of large fortunes in complex trust disputes. He is capable in both domestic and offshore matters.
Strengths: "Has a terrific intellect and is very responsive. He has an incredibly quick turnaround time, he is very user-friendly, and he always gives practical advice. A good strategist and an effective advocate, he is meticulous in his preparation and doesn't miss a thing."

Elizabeth Jones QC
Has a wide-ranging chancery practice, which involves an increasing focus on complex trust and probate matters. She is particularly well known for her offshore expertise and is able to deal with high-value and multi-jurisdictional disputes.
Strengths: "Phenomenally clever and highly effective." "She is very direct, strong and really no-nonsense. Both impressive on her feet and in her mastery of documentation and paperwork."

Richard Wilson QC
Handles a large volume of domestic and offshore trusts litigation and has been involved in a number of significant breach of trust disputes. His caseload includes a number of substantial disputes in the Bahamas, Guernsey, Jersey, Cayman and Gibraltar.
Strengths: "He is highly intelligent, has good judgement and is good on the law."

JUNIORS

James Brightwell
Highly regarded for his expertise in trusts matters and particularly for his handling of offshore trusts work. He is renowned for his detailed knowledge of complex trusts law and has co-authored one of the leading texts in the area.
Strengths: "Technically excellent and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of trust law. He can think outside the box and you can rely on him totally." "Extremely user-friendly and flexible." "He is as knowledgeable as anyone on English trusts law, and has an instinctive feel for how trust cases will go."

William Henderson
Very experienced trusts practitioner who acts for a range of high net worth clients. He deals with both contentious and non-contentious issues, and is also an expert on trust-related professional negligence claims.
Strengths: "A wonderful lawyer who is really helpful, bright and personable."

Giles Richardson
Handles a wide range of trusts litigation and advisory work. He has been engaged in particularly significant trusts matters in a variety of courts both in the UK and overseas.
Strengths: "Hugely knowledgeable about trusts, and very reasonable and sensible. He knows how to deal with really tricky issues."