Dakis Hagen KC

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Dakis Hagen KC specialises in chancery litigation, both commercial and traditional. His cases usually involve international structures, most often trusts and estates, allegations of fraud or professional negligence and asset tracing.

Dakis is ranked in Chambers & Partners for Chancery: Commercial and Chancery: Traditional (Band 1) as well as for Trusts (Band 1), Offshore (Band 1) and Family/Matrimonial: Trusts/Tax Experts (Star Individual). The Legal 500 ranks him for Private Wealth and Probate (Band 1) and Offshore: Trusts and Private Wealth (Band 1), Offshore: Commercial (Band 1) as well as for Civil Fraud.

The international nature of Dakis’ practice has meant that he is instructed both by London solicitors and also directly by lawyers overseas (including from the USA, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Bermuda, Luxembourg, Switzerland, France, Gibraltar and the Channel Islands). He has appeared as leading counsel in a number of overseas courts as well as frequently in London. He is co-chairman of the Trusts & Estates Litigation Forum and in 2022 was Citywealth Barrister of the Year.

Areas of Expertise

Trusts & Probate

Recent Cases

De la Sala v Copinger-Symes & Ors [2026] EWCA Civ 282 – Appeal regarding whether intra-family gifts of $34 million made in the context of a divorce could be set aside under equitable principles.
DUK v UGX BVIHPB 2024/0170 (10 July 2025) – Appeared for the successful parties in applications to have proceedings in the BVI brought on behalf of an estate declared a nullity on grounds that the grant of administration was defective and the appointment of an administrator ad colligenda bona should be set aside.
ES v SS (No. 2) [2024] EWFC 59 – Appeared as leading chancery counsel in proceedings regarding the winding up of an offshore trust in the context of divorce proceedings.
Volpi v Volpi – Substantial international arbitration regarding alleged misapplications of trust property
Re Alpha, Beta and Delta Trusts [2023] JRC 138 – Advised the applicant in complex Jersey trust proceedings regarding the administration of a company in which the trustees owned a minority interest
Wong & Anr v Grand View Private Trust Company & Ors [2022] Bda LR 59 – Appeared in the 80-day trial of claims impugning the validity of five very valuable Bermudian purpose trusts (whose appeals were heard in 2025), and successfully in the Privy Council (22 ITELR 190) in connected proceedings.
Morina & Ors v Scherbakova & Ors [2022] EWHC 609 (Ch) – Leading counsel for certain beneficiaries in complex high- value international probate litigation in London (appeared in BVI in earlier related proceedings).
White Willow (Trustees) Limited v Trilogy Management Limited & Anr [2022] JRC 120 (Jersey) – Advised a corporate trustee in connection with Jersey legal proceedings regarding the winding up of a substantial charitable trust.
Re XYZ Trusts [2022] SC (Bda) 10 Civ (16 February 2022) – Appeared as leading counsel for a group of beneficiaries of a suite of Bermuda settlements holding a substantial trading business in proceedings regarding their proposed reorganisation.
Re Trafalgar Trust [2021] JRC 327 – Advised a corporate trustee in Jersey-based litigation involving (among other things) the scope of a power of appointment.
Re Stingray Trust; Geneva Trust Company (GTC) SA v IDF & Anr [2021] 1 CILR 186 (Cayman Islands) – Appeared as leading counsel for the successful applicant in obtaining a stay of Cayman proceedings to enable the trial of a challenge to a Cayman trust in Milan. The court construed the Cayman Islands’ “firewall” legislation and gave guidance on the scope of jurisdiction clauses.
Re B Trust (Cayman Islands) – Appeared as leading counsel for a protector committee in connection with a proposed distribution and reorganisation of a very substantial trust holding significant positions in a valuable European enterprise.
HSBC v Tan Poh Lee & Ors (Cayman Islands) – Advised the trustee in complex proceedings concerning jurisdiction challenges and conflict of laws issues arising in litigation straddling Cayman and Singapore.
Crociani (appeals) – Leading English counsel for one of the main appellants in large-scale breach of trust litigation in Jersey.
Barker v Baxendale Walker [2018] 1 W.L.R. 1905 – Appeared for appellant in successful appeal (English Court of Appeal) regarding professional negligence claims in relation to a defective employee benefit trust tax scheme.
Hagen v Hagen – Appeared as leading Chancery counsel for the respondent in this substantial and much- publicized divorce involving the family behind Viking River Cruises (settled confidentially).
AAZ v BBZ [2017] W.T.L.R. 765 (Akhmedova v Akhmedov) – Appeared as Chancery counsel for applicant. Largest financial remedy award on divorce in English history (£453m). The case involved Bermuda trust, Manx and Panamanian companies.
Wooldridge v Wooldridge (2016) [2021] WTLR 755 – Among the largest Inheritance Act cases to come to trial in England. Represented a successful defendant at trial. In a separate reported judgment ([2016] 3 Costs LO 531; [2021] WTLR 777) client awarded costs on the indemnity basis.
High Commissioner for Pakistan v National Westminster Bank & Ors [2015] EWHC 3052 (Ch) – Case concerning ownership of disputed fund frozen in a London bank since 1948.

Civil Fraud

Recent Cases

DUK v UGX BVIHPB 2024/0170 (10 July 2025) – Appeared for the successful parties in proceedings to have a BVI worldwide freezing order and proprietary injunction discharged and an application for permission to bring a derivative claim making various serious allegations struck out on grounds of lack of standing.
Volpi v Volpi – Substantial international arbitration regarding alleged misapplications of trust property.
St John’s Trust Company (Pvt) Ltd v Tamine [2018] EWHC 3629 (Ch) – Appeared as leading counsel for the corporate applicant in successful injunction proceedings in London against a former director which sought to freeze property subject to proprietary claims and the summary delivery up of documents.
Akhmedova v Akhmedov [2018] EWFC 23 – Appeared as leading counsel for judgment creditor on enforcement application regarding ownership of a superyacht allegedly worth $487m, where the court pierced the corporate veil of a Liechtenstein anstalt, set aside a number of dispositions under s. 423 of Insolvency Act 1986 and extended a worldwide freezing order.
Kerman v Akhmedova [2018] 4 W.L.R. 52 – Appeared in Court of Appeal with Hodge Malek KC in case a regarding witness summons of a solicitor ordered to give evidence on the whereabouts of client’s assets (following a failed assertion of privilege). The case considered fraud exception and scope of LPP.
Officeserve Technologies Ltd (In Liquidation) v Anthony-Mike [2017] B.C.C. 574 – Represented former Executive Chairman of a failed tech company accused of misapplying corporate funds for his own benefit.
UL v BK [2013] EWHC 1735 – Key case on freezing injunction principles and without notice applications.
CR v MZ & Ors [2013] EWHC 295 – Sham trust/forgery case relating to the ownership of a substantial London property and its holding company. Appeared for the successful claimant. Claimant won with indemnity costs.
Bagus Investments Limited v Kastening [2012] W.T.L.R. 1675 (Jersey) – Rejection of an attempt to introduce into asset tracing proceedings, arising from a criminal fraud, a claim in knowing receipt (rejected on grounds of limitation and a failure properly to plead the relevant cause of action). English counsel for successful respondent.

Professional Negligence

Recent Cases

Barker v Baxendale Walker [2018] 1 W.L.R. 1905 – Appeared for appellant in successful appeal (English Court of Appeal) regarding professional negligence claims in relation to a defective employee benefit trust tax scheme.
Liberation Management v Rothschild – Leading English counsel for corporate trustee in alleged investment management negligence claim in Guernsey (settled confidentially).
First Names v Zedra – Leading English counsel for a corporate trustee in an alleged investment management negligence claim in Jersey (settled confidentially).
Rothschild Trust Guernsey Limited v Novatrust Limited – Advised Rothschild in a substantial trustee investment negligence case in the Royal Court of Jersey (settled confidentially).

Commercial Litigation

Recent Cases

DUK v UGX BVIHPB 2024/0170 (10 July 2025) – Appeared for the successful parties in proceedings to have a BVI worldwide freezing order and proprietary injunction discharged and an application for permission to bring a derivative claim making various serious allegations struck out on grounds of lack of standing.
Volpi v Volpi – Substantial international arbitration regarding alleged misapplications of trust property
Wong & Anr v Grand View Private Trust Company & Ors [2022] Bda LR 59 – Appeared in the 80-day trial of claims impugning the validity of five very valuable Bermudian purpose trusts (whose appeals were heard in 2025), and successfully in the Privy Council (22 ITELR 190) in connected proceedings.
Akhemdova v Akhmedov [2018] EWFC 23 – Appeared as leading counsel for judgment creditor on enforcement application regarding ownership of a superyacht allegedly worth $487m, where the court pierced the corporate veil of a Liechtenstein anstalt, set aside a number of dispositions under s. 423 of Insolvency Act 1986 and extended a worldwide freezing order.
LWR Nominees v Aziz (24/11/2017 Gibraltar) – Successful application for a stay of a claim for a declaration of non-enforceability in Gibraltar of future judgments in English proceedings. Appeared as leading counsel alongside Prof Jonathan Harris KC (Hon.) (general editor of Dicey & Morris).
Officeserve Technologies Ltd (In Liquidation) v Anthony-Mike [2017] B.C.C. 574 – Represented former Executive Chairman of a failed tech company accused of misapplying corporate funds for his own benefit. Case turned in part on construction of a commercial settlement agreement.
Liberation Management v Rothschild – Leading English counsel for subsidiary of a major bank in alleged investment management negligence claim in Guernsey (settled confidentially).
First Names v Zedra – Leading English counsel for former subsidiary of major bank in alleged investment management negligence claim in Jersey (settled confidentially).
Rothschild Trust Guernsey Limited v Novatrust Limited – Advised subsidiary of a major bank in a substantial trustee investment negligence case in the Royal Court of Jersey (settled confidentially).

International

Dakis has experience in this field across a wide range of matters.

Matrimonial Finance: Trusts & Company Law

Dakis has experience in this field across a wide range of matters.

Testimonials

“Dakis has an encyclopedic knowledge of the law and works exceptionally well with offshore lawyers in London.”

Chambers & Partners 2026

“Dakis Hagen is just incredibly knowledgeable on the trusts side of things.”

Chambers & Partners 2026

“Dakis is excellent: he thoroughly understands the law, but is tactically flexible and pragmatic with it.”

Chambers & Partners 2026

“Dakis Hagen is a perfect combination of being a pleasure to deal with and strong both on his feet and on paper.”

Chambers & Partners 2026

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Latest

Recent News

Private Client Advisory & Litigation Forum: Paris – 3rd Annual

: Email Dakis
: +44 (0)20 7242 6105
: Contact Practice Managers
: vCard
: Download CV
: Shortlist

For general enquiries and instruction advice, please contact our Practice Management Team:

Call: +44 (0)20 7242 6105
or email: clerks@serlecourt.co.uk

Recommendations

Private Client Global Elite Directory
Top Recommended Contentious Trust Lawyers – Offshore & Trusts (Spears 500, 2025)
Chancery: Commercial; Chancery: Traditional; Trusts; Offshore; Family / Matrimonial: Trust Tax (Chambers UK)
Chancery: Traditional (Chambers HNW)
Private Wealth & Probate; Civil Fraud; Offshore: Private Wealth, Commercial (Legal 500)
Dispute Resolution: Commercial Chancery, Offshore, Private Wealth: Trusts (Chambers Global)

Publications

The arbitration of trust disputes in Hong Kong, Asian Dispute Review, July 2024, 12-18
Void vetoes and judicial discretions: recent developments in the law of disclosure in private trust administration (J.I.T.T.C.P. 2015, 22(1), 5-12)
What’s past is prologue or is it? Re the Representation of BB and its consequences (T.&T. 2013, 19(5), 469-474)
Judiciously encouraging: the advantages, disadvantages and scope of the Thomas principle (Trusts & Trustees, 17(9): 840-845)
The unruly rule in Re: Hastings-Bass: are the limits still unclear? (Trusts & Trustees 2007 13(7): 238-241)

Memberships

Chancery Bar Association
Commercial Bar AssociationMA (double first) – Peterhouse, Cambridge University GDL – City University
Lord Mansfield, Lord Bowen and Hardwicke Scholar – Lincoln’s Inn

Education & Qualifications

Lord Mansfield, Lord Bowen and Hardwicke Scholar, Lincoln’s Inn
GDL, City University
MA (double first), Cambridge University

BSB Registration

Dakis Steven Hagen KC

VAT Number

821059847

Areas of Expertise

Trusts & Probate

Recent Cases

Civil Fraud

Recent Cases

Professional Negligence

Recent Cases

Commercial Litigation

Recent Cases

International

Matrimonial Finance: Trusts & Company Law

Testimonials

Latest

Recent News

Private Client Advisory & Litigation Forum: Paris – 3rd Annual

Six Serle Court barristers ranked in Private Client Global Elite Directory

Trust & Estates Litigation Forum 2026

Serle Court Recognised in The Legal 500 Caribbean 2026: The English Bar Offshore

Recommendations

Publications

Memberships

Education & Qualifications

BSB Registration

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