Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide 2022 – “They are a first-class set, particularly in offshore trust and commercial chancery work”

We are delighted to announce that Serle Court has received a Band 1 ranking in Chancery: Traditional in the Chambers High Net Worth guide 2022. The directory ranks the top barristers and solicitors specialising in international private wealth. The guide also recommends leading accountancy firms, private banks, wealth managers, trust companies and other professional advisers to HNW and UHNW clients around the world.

We congratulate William Henderson who, once again, is highlighted as a Star Individual. He has an outstanding reputation in this field, with sources commenting that he is “a master of complex problem solving for charities, with a lifetime of experience to call on."

Stephanie Wickenden is congratulated for her ranking in the Art and Cultural Property Law, being described as "She is very good. She has a real understanding of the sector and it comes across in the advice she gives. She's been incredibly user-friendly and it's been a pleasure working with her."

Up and Coming Stephanie Thompson is, "one of the most impressive and pleasant barristers that I have ever worked with." "Her commitment and dedication is of the highest degree and her intellect is unparalleled." A similarly impressed barrister remarks: "Stephanie is absolutely fantastic, no two ways about it. She is a complete superstar, worth so much more than her years call. She is very hard-working, bright and can break down complicated situations."

Serle Court maintains an impressive reputation in the market for its members' high-value chancery work. "They are a first-class set, particularly in offshore trust and commercial chancery work," "They tend to have the best barristers." Another source appreciates the dynamic approach taken by barristers throughout the set, saying: "Whenever I have worked with barristers from Serle Court, they have always been exceptionally proactive in taking responsibility for moving the matter along and finding solutions. They are fantastically responsive."

To read Serle Court's Chambers Review and ranked barrister recommendations, please click here.

Related Barristers

Elizabeth Jones KC

Call: 1984
Silk: 2000

John Machell KC has a broad commercial chancery practice, with particular experience in large-scale litigation involving trusts, fiduciary/director duties, and fraud, particularly with an international dimension.

John is regarded as one of the leading partnership and LLP silks and has experience of a wide range of both contentious and non-contentious matters across the whole range of business sectors. A large part of his work involves issues arising from the use of partnerships and LLPs in hedge fund and private equity structures; in international commercial group structures; and as part of wealth planning strategies.

A substantial part of John’s practice is offshore, and he has appeared in the courts of Grand Cayman, the British Virgin Islands, and Bermuda on several occasions in recent years.

John Machell KC

Call: 1993
Silk: 2012

Described by The Legal 500 as “one of the stars of his generation”, Richard Wilson KC specialises in litigation, drafting and advisory work across traditional and commercial chancery. His practice focuses on trusts and probate, both contentious and non-contentious, related company and partnership law, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, tax, professional negligence and civil fraud.

Richard has acted in many of the most significant and high-value cases in these areas in recent years. He is currently involved in several disputes concerning the estates of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) in England and overseas.

His practice frequently involves offshore matters and private international law. He has appeared before the Privy Council, the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal of Gibraltar, the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal of Bermuda, the Supreme Court of The Bahamas, the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. He has also provided expert evidence on English law before the Royal Courts of Jersey and Guernsey.

Richard regularly acts in disputes across all the principal offshore jurisdictions. A significant proportion of his practice involves international clients, particularly those based in Asia, including Hong Kong.

Richard Wilson KC

Call: 1996
Silk: 2016

Dakis Hagen KC

Call: 2002
Silk: 2017

Constance McDonnell KC

Call: 2000
Silk: 2019

Giles Richardson KC

Call: 1997
Silk: 2022

James Weale KC has a very busy commercial chancery practice with a focus on domestic and international commercial and trusts disputes.

He is recognised as a leading practitioner in those fields by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, Chambers Global, Chambers High Net Worth, and Who’s Who Legal, where they describe him as a “brilliant lawyer” and a “Superstar”. He was Chambers & Partners’ Chancery Junior of the Year in 2023.

He regularly appears (both as sole and junior counsel) in the English High Court and has appeared several times in the Court of Appeal. He also has considerable experience in overseas jurisdictions (including as sole counsel), including Bermuda, the DIFC, the BVI, Cayman, Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar and Panama.

James Weale KC

Call: 2007
Silk: 2026

Beverly-Ann Rogers

Call: 1978

Andrew Bruce

Call: 1992

Emma Hargreaves

Call: 2012

Zahler Bryan has a broad commercial chancery practice, with a particular emphasis on contentious trusts, civil fraud and financial disputes.

She regularly advises on a wide range of matters, with considerable experience in large-scale commercial and trust disputes spanning an extensive range of jurisdictions.

Zahler also has a particular interest in appellate work and has appeared in the Supreme Court and the Privy Council.

Described as “razor smart and a great asset to any team“, Zahler was awarded ‘Chancery Junior of the Year’ at the Legal 500 UK Bar Awards 2023.

Zahler Bryan

Call: 2012

Oliver Jones is a senior junior with a broad commercial and chancery practice, and particular expertise in private wealth and civil fraud disputes. He is recognised by the directories as a leading junior in these areas.

In addition to his busy practice in England, he regularly works in major offshore jurisdictions, including the Channel Islands, BVI and Bermuda. Ollie was called to the BVI bar in 2019.

In addition to noting his “incredible intellect” and “engaging and persuasive” advocacy, the directories note Ollie’s ability to “roll up his sleeves”, “get on top of huge volumes of work and detail quickly” and build a “great rapport with clients”. In addition to acting unled, Ollie also enjoys working as part of larger teams on large-scale litigation, in which he “consistently delivers impressive results”. Ollie takes pride in his reputation for being “user-friendly” and “great to work with”.

Before coming to the Bar, Ollie spent several years as a management consultant in the financial services, energy, and public sectors. He brings this commercial experience and perspective to bear in his cases.

Oliver Jones

Call: 2014

Stephanie Wickenden specialises in intellectual property, art and media law.

She has experience in commercial chancery cases in the creative and technology sectors, including contractual and tortious IT disputes, contentious trusts and estates matters involving creative assets, and shareholder and directors’ disputes involving IP breaches. A significant proportion of her practice has an international element, including cases involving disputed jurisdiction, foreign law, and service and enforcement out of the jurisdiction.

With a background in art and theatre, combined with expertise in IP, commercial and private international law, Stephanie is uniquely placed to advise on contentious and non-contentious matters relating to art and cultural property. Having spent three years at a top international law firm, she also advises on IP transactions and licensing.

Stephanie enjoys working as part of a team and is confident acting as sole counsel. She is regularly instructed in significant Intellectual Property cases before the UK courts, often unled and against KCs, including Thatchers v Aldi [2025] EWCA Civ 5 and EasyGroup v Nuclei and others [2023] EWCA Civ 1247. She has appeared before the CJEU (General Court), Court of Appeal, High Court and IPEC, and in registry proceedings before the UK IPO and EUIPO.

Stephanie Wickenden