Year of Call: 1997 Year of Silk: 2022
Giles took silk in 2022. He specialises in trusts, probate, company and fiduciary obligations litigation, both in London and offshore, as well as associated professional negligence and fraud work. He also acts in high value financial remedy actions in the Family Division.
Giles is ranked in Chambers and Partners for all of Traditional Chancery, Commercial Chancery, Offshore, Trusts and Family/Matrimonial: Trusts/Tax Experts being described as “Personable and supremely intelligent, he has a great way with clients”; "Giles' advice is very helpful, very user-friendly, and very commercial. It has rigorous analysis behind it. He's really bright and a real team player”; Calm, measured and assured as an advocate, he adopts a clinical approach that is devastatingly effective”.
He is also recommended in Legal 500 for Private Client: Trusts and Probate, Family: Divorce and Financial Remedy, Company law and Offshore work.
Davidson v Seelig [2016] EWHC 549: instructed to advise and act in High Court proceedings, one of the first after the Supreme Court decision in Pitt v Holt / Futter v Futter, to invoke the “Re Hastings-Bass” jurisdiction to set aside defective exercises of power by trustees, in this instance in relation to exercise of powers of appointment in 2003 under complex family trusts first settled in 1967.
High Commissioner for Pakistan v Prince Mukkaram Jah, his exalted Highness the Nizam VIII of Hyderabad: instructed to represent and advise the estate of the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad in relation to a c. £20m bank account deposited in London by the 7th Nizam in 1947 to which Pakistan, India and his grandsons also lay claim, the case concerning alleged informal trust arrangements and successive testamentary dispositions by the 7th Nizam.
DIA v Pugachev: acted for New Zealand trustees of trust structures established to benefit the family of a Russian banker, whose assets were pursued by various Russian entities.
Re EAIC [2014] WTLR57: instructed on behalf of joint adminstrators from KPMG of schemes of arrangement dealing with an insolvent insurance company who were also the trustees of a c.£20m trust fund held for the benefit of its policy holders. The trustees faced a real issue with their ability under the trust instrument to make payments to entitled policy holders in a commercially sensible and efficient manner. A claim was therefore made in the High Court for, effectively, a variation of the trust under s.57 of the Trustee Act 1925 to permit payments to be made, relying on a novel approach to s.57 and dependent on actuarial advice. The claim succeeded.
A Ltd v B and others [2013] JRC075: instructed to advise and provide an Opinion for production before the Royal Court by the Qualified Member of a Jersey foundation in the first (reported) decision on the ambit of appropriate directions obtainable by a council member or foundation. The Court noted ([16]) that his Opinion was a "very clear and helpful opinion from which we have drawn extensively for the purposes of this judgment".
Barclays Wealth Trustees (Jersey) Ltd v Equity Trust (Jersey) Limited: acting in proceedings against the former trustee of unit trusts investing in Eastern European property developments for alleged breaches of trust and significant losses arising therefrom.
Emerald Bay Worldwide Limited v Barclays Wealth (Guernsey Judgment 16/2013): instructed on the trial in Guernsey of a US$8m by a BVI company held within a Jersey law trust against its Guernsey incorporated former directors for breach of duties of care and skill in relation to the acquisition of a jet airplane, raising a number of significant BVI company law issues, including its regime as to the indemnification of directors.
Walker v Egerton-Vernon and others: instructed on behalf of a personal trustee of the family trust of late Jack Walker (former Blackburn Rovers' chairman) in proceedings commenced against him and other trustees by beneficiaries in Jersey, following Jack Walker's death, involving breach of trust allegations concerning investment in Flybe and distributions to Blackburn Rovers football club.
Pearson v Lehman Brothers Finance SA and others [2010] EWHC 2914 (Ch.): advising and appearing at trial arising from the collapse of Lehman Brothers, acting for principal US Lehman entities in relation to funds held within the Lehman estate in London, in claims giving rise to important issues as to the trust principles applicable to intermediated securities.
Protec International Ltd v Stout: instructed in English proceedings following Guernsey proceedings which determined the shareholdings and directorships of a Guernsey company to claim diverted intellectual property assets against an English company held by former joint venture partners.
F G Hemisphere v Gecamines [2012] UKPC 27: instructed to act in the Privy Council appeal of a Congolese state owned mining company seeking to resist enforcement by a U.S. distressed debt fund of state debts against c.US$120m of its assets arising from a Jersey joint venture vehicle.
Raffiesenlandesbank v Maxfold LLP and others: instructed on behalf of the corporate directors of English LLPs and of the foreign directors of those corporate directors in a fraud action brought against them by an Austrian Bank alleging their complicity in that fraud, in which the LLPs were allegedly used as conduits to facilitate the extraction of €1.4m from the bank. The claim raised complex and interesting issues of company law and the effects of incorporation as to the extent to which an (allegedly) defrauded party can proceed directly against the officers of such alleged conduits in a fraud (and indeed against the officers of such officers) rather than having to collapse the structure through liquidations.
Emerald Bay Worldwide Limited v Barclays Wealth (Guernsey Judgment 16/2013) : instructed on the trial on appeal in Guernsey of a US$8m by a BVI company held within a Jersey law trust against its Guernsey incorporated former directors for breach of duties of care and skill in relation to the acquisition of a jet airplane, raising a number of significant BVI company law issues, including its regime as to the indemnification of directors.
Walker v Egerton-Vernon and others: instructed on behalf of a personal trustee of the family trust of late Jack Walker (former Blackburn Rovers' chairman) in proceedings commenced against him and other trustees by beneficiaries in Jersey, following Jack Walker's death, involving breach of trust allegations concerning investment in Flybe and distributions to Blackburn Rovers football club.
Belgravia Financial Services Group v First Vanguard: instructed on behalf of Hong Kong based directors and investors in a complex international company law dispute involving allegation of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.
First Peninsula Trustees Limited v Picard & others: instructed to act for the trustees of B.V.I. settlements which received substantial sums from Madoff feeder funds in relation to claims brought by the principal Madoff office holder in New York and in London.
F G Hemisphere v Gecamines [2012] UKPC 27: instructed to act in the Privy Council appeal of a Congolese state owned mining company seeking to resist enforcement by a U.S. distressed debt fund of state debts against c.US$120m of its assets arising from a Jersey joint venture vehicle.
Pearson v Lehman Brothers Finance SA and others [2010] EWHC 2914 (Ch.): advising and appearing at trial arising from the collapse of Lehman Brothers, acting for principal US Lehman entities in relation to funds held within the Lehman estate in London, in claims giving rise to important issues as to the trust principles applicable to intermediated securities.
Lexingville Investments Ltd v BNP Paribas Securities Services SA: proceedings against BNP Paribas for alleged breaches of custodianship duties owed to it in dealing with client securities.
First Peninsula Trustees Limited v Picard & others: instructed to act for the trustees of B.V.I. settlements which received substantial sums from Madoff feeder funds in relation to claims brought by the principal Madoff office holder in New York and in London.
Raffiesenlandesbank v Maxfold LLP and others: instructed on behalf of the corporate directors of English LLPs and of the foreign directors of those corporate directors in a fraud action brought against them by an Austrian Bank alleging their complicity in that fraud, in which the LLPs were allegedly used as conduits to facilitate the extraction of €1.4m from the bank. The claim raised complex and interesting issues of company law and the effects of incorporation as to the extent to which an (allegedly) defrauded party can proceed directly against the officers of such alleged conduits in a fraud (and indeed against the officers of such officers) rather than having to collapse the structure through liquidations.
Private Client Global Elite Directory (2023)
Chancery: Commercial, Chancery: Traditional, Offshore, Trusts, Family and Matriomonial (Chambers & Partners)
Dispute Resolution: Commercial Chancery, Offshore, Private Wealth: Trusts (Chambers Global, 2022)
Chancery: Traditional (Chambers High Net Worth, 2017-2023)
Private Client: Trusts and Probate, Offshore, Company and Partnership (The Legal 500)
Private Client (Who's Who Legal: UK Bar, 2019 & 2022)
"Personable and supremely intelligent. he has a great way with clients and his written advice is considered and reasoned." "Giles' advice is very helpful, very user-friendly, and very commercial. It has rigorous analysis behind it. He's really bright and a real team player." (Chambers & Partners, 2022)
"He is plainly exceptionally bright and extraordinarily able." (Chambers & Partners, 2022)
"He doesn't beat around the bush, and his answers are always spot on. He gets to the meat of the case within seconds and he acts quickly." "Giles is incredibly knowledgeable and experienced in offshore contentious trust work, with none of the stuffiness." (Chambers & Partners, 2022)
"His technical understanding of trusts is second to none. If you are in a difficult complex dispute he's the man you want as he's good on the strategy." (Chambers & Partners, 2022)
"Has an innate ability to explain difficult technical points in a user-friendly way." "He is incredibly knowledgeable and experienced in handling contentious offshore trust work." "Calm, measured and assured as an advocate, he adopts a clinical approach that is devastatingly effective." (Chambers & Partners, 2022)
"Is incredibly knowledgeable and experienced in the field of contentious trust and private client work, which he combines to great effect with charm, hard work and approachability." (The Legal 500, 2022)
"Giles provides sharp. timely and fearless advice, whilst being extremely user friendly." (The Legal 500, 2022)
"Personable, professional and a joy to deal with." (The Legal 500, 2022)
"Outstanding" he has "excellent judgement on how the court will deal with issues, and is a fearless advocate." "His goal is to find the solution together and he is fantastic at guiding both clients and instructing solicitors towards a strategy everyone is on board with." (Chambers High Net Worth 2021)
"An outstanding barrister, easy to work with, solid and technically very gifted." "His pragmatic advice is world class." "He provides quick and thorough advice and inspires confidence with clients." (Chambers Global, 2021)
"He's just brilliant - exceptionally clever, hard-working and responsive." "He's very user-friendly and is a measured advocate." (Chambers Global, 2021)
"Clever and a delight to work with, he can more than hold his own against the more established silks in the area." "For offshore trusts work, he's truly a top choice - unflappable, very very responsive, and someone for whom nothing is too much trouble." (Chambers Global, 2021)
"Clever and a delight to work with, he can more than hold his own against the more established silks in the area." "For offshore trusts work, he's truly a top choice - unflappable, very very responsive, and someone for whom nothing is too much trouble." (Chambers & Partners, 2021)
"Bridges the gap between matrimonial and complex trust issues. He is approachable, gets stuck in, works well in a team and has a detailed, technical knowledge of trusts law." "Brilliant with clients, witty and extremely hard-working, he is able to explain complicated trust issues in a clear and understandable way." (Chambers & Partners, 2021)
"An outstanding barrister, easy to work with, solid and technically very gifted." "His pragmatic advice is world class." "He provides quick and thorough advice and inspires confidence with clients." (Chambers & Partners, 2021)
"Has a very good sense of humour, and is utterly unflappable. He's incredibly diligent and bright, and is always on top of the most recent law." (Chambers & Partners, 2021)
"He's just brilliant - exceptionally clever, hard-working and responsive." "He's very user-friendly and is a measured advocate." (Chambers & Partners, 2021)
"Quick and incisive, good with clients and fun to work with." (The Legal 500, 2021)
"He is so clever and his tactics are fantastic. He is exceptionally knowledgeable in all aspects of trusts and estates disputes particularly in the matrimonial context." (The Legal 500, 2021)
"He balances different jurisdictions with aplomb and is particularly skilled at distilling complex advice into digestible form." (The Legal 500, 2021)
He is frequently trusted with complex multi-jurisdictional matters, and is also noted for his experience in matrimonial finance. “He’s fantastic. What he's really conspicuously good at is identifying a story you can tell a judge or to the other side; he spots weak points which he shapes into a narrative. He is tremendously effective at working out what will be effective,”comments one market insider. Another comments that he “always stays calm, and communicates brilliantly with clients.” (Chambers High Net Worth, 2019)
"A very able advocate and clearly someone who has an excellent grasp of detail. Giles gets right to the bottom of the complex cases and is extremely capable." "He is very diligent and can just plough through the detail in a very effective way." (Chambers & Partners, 2019)
"Technically very strong, he is also very responsive and the sort of barrister you definitely want as part of your team. He is very good in high pressured situations and understands the pressure of modern ligation." "Particularly commercial and strategic in his thinking, he has good tactical nous and can see the big picture." (Chambers & Partners, 2019)
"Provides all-round excellent advice delivered with charm, confidence and clarity." "He's an exceptional talent who gives comprehensible commercial advice." (Chambers & Partners, 2019)
"He is incredibly quick, clever and reliable, he's a good man to have when you're in a tight corner." (Chambers & Partners, 2019)
"Giles is incredibly detailed, commercial and strategic in his thinking. He has good tactical nous and can really see the big picture." (Chambers & Partners, 2019)
"Super smart and highly commercial." (The Legal 500, 2019)
"He handles high-profile work concerning British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependancies." (The Legal 500, 2019)
"Incredibly user-friendly and hardworking." (The Legal 500, 2019)
"He is incredibly dedicated and not only is he very good at what he does, there is also a very easy working relationship with him which makes dealing with tricky offshore litigation much easier." (Chambers High Net Worth 2018)
"He is incredibly bright, responsive and commercial" (Chambers & Partners 2018)
“Has the ability to master a vast range of documents in a very short space of time and come up with some very effective arguments to strengthen claims." (Chambers & Partners 2018)
“A fantastic person to work with; his commerciality and tactical awareness are as strong as his exceptional intellect” (The Legal 500 2017)
“A fantastic person to work with; his commerciality and tactical awareness are as strong as his exceptional intellect” (The Legal 500 2017)
"Giles is technically excellent and superb on the detail, he is commercial and incisive, delivering clear and considered advice. He is also very user friendly and highly responsive" - (Citywealth Leaders List 2017)
"He has the ability to master a vast range of documents in a very short space of time and come up with some very effective arguments to strengthen our claim," states one source, while another lawyer notes: "He is very bright and very articulate; he is fast gaining some excellent experience." Another solicitor reveals that "he is particularly good at tricky litigation and the market rates him very highly." (Chambers High Net Worth 2017)
"Very clever, really great to deal with. He is commercial. We had a difficult meeting involving several silks and he brought everyone back on point. He is doing the bulk of the work", "He is just very good. His advice is clear. He is personable and good in a team. He is very commercially minded, and very clever." (Chambers High Net Worth 2016)
"He is incredibly user-friendly and hard-working." "He has excellent knowledge of the law and is good tactically. Clients love him." (Chambers Global 2015)
"He is very commercial and able to convert the esoteric into the everyday. You always feel like he has got it bang on right." (Chambers Global 2015)
Minority Shareholders - Law, Practice and Procedure (OUP 5th ed., 2015), co-author
Chambers Global Guide 2024
Serle Court is delighted to announce that chambers has been ranked as a set in the following practice areas... Read More
6 Serle Court barristers ranked in Private Client Global Elite Directory 2024
Richard Wilson KC, Dakis Hagen KC, Constance McDonnell KC, Giles Richardson KC, Adil Mohamedbhai and Stephanie Thompson... Read More
”He is incredibly quick, clever and reliable, he’s a good man to have when you’re in a tight corner.”
”Giles is incredibly detailed, commercial and strategic in his thinking. He has good tactical nous and can really see the big picture.”
“He’s fantastic. What he’s really conspicuously good at is identifying a story you can tell a judge or to the other side; he spots weak points which he shapes into a narrative. He is tremendously effective at working out what will be effective”
“Technically very strong, he is also very responsive and the sort of barrister you definitely want as part of your team. He is very good in high pressured situations and understands the pressure of modern ligation.” “Particularly commercial and strategic in his thinking, he has good tactical nous and can see the big picture.”
BA (First Class),BCL (First Class),Merton College Oxford
Commercial Bar Association
Chancery Bar Association
S.T.E.P.
The Family Law Bar Association
731116378
Called: 1997 (England & Wales); 2012 (British Virgin Islands)
Chambers Global Guide 2024
Serle Court is delighted to announce that chambers has been ranked as a set in the following practice areas... Read More
6 Serle Court barristers ranked in Private Client Global Elite Directory 2024
Richard Wilson KC, Dakis Hagen KC, Constance McDonnell KC, Giles Richardson KC, Adil Mohamedbhai and Stephanie Thompson... Read More