Private Wealth Disputes

TRUST AND Estate DISPUTES

We act in disputes for high net worth individuals, families, family offices and trustees in seeking to protect personal wealth. We have specialist expertise in relation to both onshore and offshore trust litigation and domestic and multi-jurisdictional probate disputes. Such disputes might include a challenge to the validity of a Will, breach of trust matters, a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, dealing with court applications by trustees or a Will construction or proprietary estoppel claim. We are ranked in both Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 as experts in this field.

Family and Divorce

Recognised nationally and internationally as one of the best family law teams in the UK, our team of family and divorce lawyers regularly advise clients (or their partners) who are entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals, City professionals and those in the public eye. We understand how international wealth, trusts and inherited wealth impact upon divorce settlement and have strong relationships with matrimonial lawyers and other professional advisors across the world. We have many years’ trusted experience of supporting our clients through complex financial disputes, putting our clients’ interests first and working hard to secure the best outcome. Our legal advice will be given hand in hand with the tax expertise of our Private Client team and, where relevant, we will call upon the services of trusted accountants, financial and pensions advisers.

Media and Reputation Management

Our reputation management and media team has a long and established history of acting in high profile matters where the media spotlight has been shone at our clients. We advise our private clients on all aspects of reputation management and media law including assisting high profile individuals and public figures through a time of crisis, seeking to protect clients who are threatened with deeply private information being put in the public domain whether by news organisation, the internet or social media and dealing with harassment whether domestic or by the press. The team are available at all times and on an emergency basis.

Criminal Litigation

Our criminal litigation team has acted for senior, political and high net worth individuals in some of the most well-known global financial and corruption cases of recent years. We therefore understand the enhanced pressures involved in conducting work for such clients: not least the increased interest and scrutiny from the press, media and public but also the need to take into account and work around individuals’ demanding personal schedules. Our criminal lawyers are well known for this work and have successfully defended individuals and organisations in investigations led by the SFO, FCA and National Crime Agency, concerning allegations of serious fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption.

In respect of cross-jurisdictional matters, we have significant experience in acting for clients affected by extradition requests, INTERPOL red notices, sanctions and alleged breaches of global corporate obligations and responsibilities under internationally recognised human rights norms. We are also experienced in advising on the deployment of Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs) and are frequently called on to advise on new asset freezing and forfeiture powers introduced under the Criminal Finances Act to target illicit finance and unexplained wealth. Our lawyers are highly sophisticated, astute, supportive and are particularly well known for their skill in providing strategic advice and ability to keep high profile cases out of the public eye.

Senior Executive Employment Advice

Our employment team advises and represents senior executives and board directors, partners, entrepreneurs, and high profile public figures throughout their employment journey, from negotiating the terms of a new contract through to exiting a role, and everything in between.

We maximise our clients’ financial position by explaining and enforcing their legal rights and duties. We communicate clearly and listen carefully to our clients to ensure that we protect their interests and reach their goals. Drawing on many years of experience, and our commercial and strategic expertise, we help clients to resolve sensitive disputes creatively, and deliver results in line with their objectives.

Court of Protection Disputes

We bring and defend applications in the Court of Protection including disputes over an appointment of a deputy or attorney, disputes around a vulnerable person’s mental capacity, challenging gifts made by a deputy or attorney, disagreements arising in relation to statutory wills, challenging personal welfare decisions and disputes arising in relation to whether the deputy or attorney is acting in the best interests of a vulnerable person. We are also regularly appointed to act as attorneys or deputies in context of disputes.

We also assist with related civil action as a consequence of a rogue deputy or abuse associated with making a Lasting Power of Attorney, such as claims for undue influence or a breach of trust and/or fiduciary duty claim.

Farms and landed Estate Disputes

We have considerable expertise in representing clients in disputes involving family farms and landed estates. We regularly act in proprietary estoppel claims as well as disputes involving claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 or for a constructive trust where a farm or landed estate is an asset in the estate subject to dispute.

These types of assets are also often held in trust and we are also able to advise in relation to breach of trust allegations as well as other court applications by trustees and other trust related disputes. Our top ranked team of family lawyers also has considerable experience of farming divorces and the difficulties these cases can present.

Tax Law and HMRC

Our tax law experts provide practical advice on any dispute with HMRC and have extensive experience supporting, among others, ultra high net worth individuals. Our expertise includes:

• VAT disputes including single/multiple supplies, scope of exemptions, and zero-rating.
• Employment related taxes/HMRC issues
• Residence and domicile enquiries
• Other tax disputes including income tax and NICs, Corporation tax, Capital Gains Tax, image rights disputes for sportspersons, customs and excise duty appeals, all areas of direct and indirect tax litigation, disclosures and judicial reviews
• HMRC criminal investigations and fraud.