In this chapter 44 silks and 29 juniors are recognised for their excellent work in a range of private client disputes including wills, succession planning, trusts and estates.
Most Highly Regarded
Silks
Juniors
Silks
Wilberforce Chambers performs well here with seven listings.
Gilead Cooper QC is highlighted by sources for “the impressive breadth of his legal knowledge and collaboration skills”, along with his “great intellectual powers”. One peer effuses: “Simply put, Gilead is brilliant.”
Jonathan Hilliard QC is a distinguished name in private client advocacy, described as “a very, very good barrister” and “a standout figure in the market”.
Michael Furness QC is hailed “a vastly knowledgeable practitioner” who “provides ingenious solutions to problems”.
Robert Ham QC is “an outstanding lawyer” whose deep expertise lies in trust law, as well as tax and pensions.
John Martin QC is highly respected among sources who applaud his 40 years of experience in domestic and international contentious trust, insolvency and tax proceedings.
Clare Stanley QC is “a highly intelligent practitioner” who “can build rapport with clients”. She is well versed in trust and probate matters.
Serle Court sees eight silks recognised here.
Dakis Hagen QC is an eminent name when it comes to Chancery litigation and offshore proceedings. His expertise spans high-value probate suits, breach of trust and inheritance disputes.
Alan Boyle QC is singled out for his considerable experience with trust, probate and insolvency proceedings.
Frank Hinks QC is “a great litigator in the field” with over 40 years of experience in domestic and offshore trusts, and property and charities.
Richard Wilson QC is “an incredibly well-known figure” who “does big work in the space”. He comes “highly recommended” by peers for his knowledge of offshore tax, probate and trust matters.
XXIV Old Buildings receives five listings in this chapter.
The “amazing” Elspeth Talbot Rice QC is “a phenomenal private client lawyer”, and one of the bar’s preeminent names in this practice area.
Edward Cumming QC is “a truly impressive young silk”, with a practice encompassing the full range of trust, probate and estate disputes.
Alan Steinfeld QC is “a legendary figure at the bar”. He has extensive experience in domestic courts and offshore jurisdictions when it comes to international trust disputes.
5 Stone Buildings sees seven silks listed this year.
Christopher Tidmarsh QC is a stalwart of the private client market, with over 30 years of experience in a range of matters including trusts and estate law, as well as tax and pension issues.
The “brilliant” Tracey Angus QC is applauded for her first-rate practice spanning contentious trust, inheritance and property matters.
Penelope Reed QC is “a really fantastic barrister”. She is respected as both a litigator and a mediator who focuses on trust, probate and inheritance disputes.
Shân Warnock-Smith QC is an “outstanding” silk known for her first-class advocacy on trust and succession disputes.
Eason Rajah QC of Ten Old Square is distinguished for his superb work advising ultra-high-net-worth clients on domestic and offshore trust and will disputes, as well as tax and professional negligence.
Simon Taube QC is renowned for his deep expertise in capital tax planning, and trust and estate matters.
Francis Barlow QC ranks highly among peers thanks to his vast experience providing top-tier advocacy to client on offshore trusts and taxation matters.
Nicholas Le Poidevin QC at New Square Chambers is celebrated as “a leading trusts silk” who has “done a great deal in this area”, including representing domestic and offshore clients in trust and estate matters.
At Maitland Chambers, Christopher McCall QC is looked upon with enormous favour by sources thanks to his “excellent” work on trusts and tax-related disputes.
Juniors
Serle Court receives five listings for its juniors.
William Henderson is “a superstar junior” who “writes the leading charities textbook” according to impressed sources.
The “excellent” James Brightwell is a prominent junior at the bar, considered a top name for international trust matters and probate issues.
James Weale is “a hard-working barrister, a good team player and an outstanding practitioner”. He is regularly engaged on trust and equity, probate and inheritance disputes.
Giles Richardson is praised as “a go-to trust junior at the bar” who “is treated as a silk”. He is applauded for his diverse practice spanning domestic and offshore trusts, company and financial remedy matters.
5 Stone Buildings receives six listings in this chapter.
Ruth Hughes is “a fabulously clever and technical barrister”, distinguished for her “very persuasive arguments in court”.
Sarah Haren is “an extremely good practitioner”, widely appreciated for her “dedication when fighting for clients” on trust, taxation and estate matters, especially proprietary estoppel and beneficial ownership disputes.
The “outstanding” Alexander Learmonth of New Square Chambers is considered “a star junior at the bar” who is “fantastic in cross-examination in particular”.
Wilberforce Chambers’ Emily Campbell distinguishes herself in the market as “an extremely precise and intelligent practitioner” who is “very good on variation of trust issues”.
Judith Bryant is “a really impressive practitioner”, recommended for her “very clear and considered approach to cases”.
Andrew Child is well thought of among sources who highlight his top-tier work on trust and estate disputes including fraud claims.
Andrew Holden at XXIV Old Buildings impresses peers as “a formidably bright and tenacious junior” with strong experience in litigation and arbitration pertaining to trust and probate disputes.
Adam Cloherty is singled out by sources as a respected junior with impressive experience in trust and estate, insolvency issues and breach of trust disputes.
Emma Chamberlain OBE of Pump Court Tax Chambers is “in huge demand” as he is “one of the superstars on inheritance tax and trust issues in the UK”.
Andrew Cosedge with 3 Stone Buildings is “a great senior junior on tax matters” whose practice also covers on and offshore trust and estate cases.
Richard Dew at Ten Old Square is highly acclaimed as “one of the best probate juniors around”.