Trust & Estates Litigation Forum 2026

Serle Court is pleased to sponsor the Private Client Global Elite's Trust & Estates Litigation Forum 2026, which will take place from 4 to 6 February 2026 in Auchterarder, Scotland.

Spanning keynote addresses, panel debates, and interactive sessions, this year’s programme brings together leading litigators to examine the most pressing issues in trust and estate litigation. From global case developments to strategic client challenges, explore what’s shaping the field's future.

Dakis Hagen KC will co-chair the conference with Charles Lloyd from Harbottle & Lewis and Tina Wüstemann from Bär & Karrer, and will also deliver the opening remarks. 

In addition to his role as co-chair, Dakis will also participate in a fireside chat with Lord Briggs of Westbourne, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. 

Richard Wilson KC will also be in attendance and speaking on a panel on Wednesday, 4th February from 3:10 – 3: 50 PM. Richard will be joined by Jenny McKeown (Stephenson Harwood), Keith Robinson (Carey Olsen) and Martyn Carré (Julius Baer). The panel wil be discussing "Trustee Decision-Making: Navigating Uncertainty After Dawson-Damer". This session explores the implications of the Privy Council’s decision in Dawson-Damer, which introduces new uncertainty around what constitutes adequate deliberation by trustees. The session will also examine how the decision intersects with blessing applications, judicial oversight, and the legal status of non-decisions in trust law, as seen in cases like W Trust. We will address the growing pressure on trustees to reach the “right” decision rather than exercising independent discretion, and the emerging tax implications of using variation applications to reverse previously irrevocable exclusions of beneficiaries.

Tim Collingwood KC and James Weale will also be in attendance.

For further information, and to read the agenda in full, please click here. 

Related Barristers


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

Timothy Collingwood KC has a broad commercial and chancery practice, with a particular emphasis on litigation concerning commercial agreements, company, insolvency, and international trust matters. 

Described in Legal 500 (2025) as “a truly gifted advocate who is totally committed to the case”. The directories recognise him as a leading practitioner in these fields. He has extensive experience of claims concerning breaches of duty, in particular in respect of directors or trustees and frequently involving allegations of fraud, and of shareholder disputes. 

Prior to commencing practice in this jurisdiction, Tim was called to the bar in the Cayman Islands and practised as an attorney-at-law. He continues to undertake work in respect of a number of offshore jurisdictions. He is called to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands. 

Timothy Collingwood KC

Call: 1996
Silk: 2020

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

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LEADING SET:
UK Bar 2026

WINNER:
MENA Awards 2026 - English Bar in the Middle East: Commercial Set of the Year

WINNER:
Best Chambers for Work / Life Balance 2026

SHORTLISTED:
UK Bar Awards 2025 - Chancery Set of the Year

SHORTLISTED:
Bar Awards 2025 - Chancery Set of the Year

SHORTLISTED:
Chambers of the Year Award 2025

WINNER:
Bar Awards 2024 - Chancery Set of the Year

WINNER:
Middle East Awards 2024 - Middle East-Wide Dispute Resolution: Leading UK Barristers' Set

SHORTLISTED:
Bar Awards 2024 - Intellectual Property Set of the Year

SHORTLISTED:
Bar Awards 2024 - Commercial Litigation Set of the Year

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