Department profile
5 Stone Buildings

Trusts

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


5 Stone Buildings

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Trusts - London (Bar)

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

5 Stone Buildings is appreciated for the "the breadth of experience, approachability and no-nonsense approach to very complicated matters" exhibited by its members. The set advises on complex contentious and non-contentious trust matters, and has significant expertise in the handling of will trusts and deeds of variation, as well as specialist areas including strict settlements, entailed interests and perpetuities. Its team is active in several offshore jurisdictions such as the Channel Islands, the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands. Recent work highlights include R v Mone and Barrowman, a case concerning £75m worth of Proceeds of Crime Act Final Restraint Orders.

Paul Jennings is the senior clerk.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The clerks are always responsive, helpful and accessible. There's a great team led by Paul Jennings and his wingman Dan Coote, who is Chambers Director.

    Trusts respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are always helpful and happy to assist in placing the case with the appropriate counsel.

    Trusts respondentUK Bar
  • The clerking is very professional and slick. There is a high service level at the set.

    Trusts respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks worked diligently to ensure I got the assistance I required. There was no issue too big for the clerks to deal with. Other sets could learn a lot from them in terms of responsiveness.

    Trusts respondentUK Bar
  • They're great on-hand clerks, who are flexible in their approach.

    Trusts respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Alexander Drapkin
    Band 1Alexander Drapkin

    Alexander Drapkin

    Alexander Drapkin has a broad contentious and non-contentious trusts practice. His experience includes handling applications for variations of trusts, claims for breach of trust and inheritance disputes. He also has a specialist practice advising on regulated funeral protection plan trusts.

    • Superb to work with, Alex understands the client's perspective and the commercial elements of a case. He is always quick to pick up the key technical points in a case.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Alexander is very responsive and very approachable. He had a willingness to go into an area which others weren't prepared to work in.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Alex has good attention to detail and an excellent client demeanour. He is able to quickly put clients at ease, which is particularly valuable in emotive trust disputes.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Alex is brilliant. He's sharp-witted, responsive and easy to work with. Level-headed and calm, he has an excellent feel for how matters will play out in court.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • He is both technically brilliant and astute at seeing the big picture. Alexander's expertise in securing sensible and commercial outcomes for clients is highly sought after.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Francis Ng
    Band 1Francis Ng

    Francis Ng

    Francis Ng is a highly regarded chancery barrister with a focus on trusts and estates. He has a broad private client practice with proven experience in probate disputes, validity of trusts and interpretation of deeds. He is appointed to the Attorney General’s B Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown.

    • Francis is very good at the technical detail. His opinions are good and he goes into issues in a clear way, fully explaining the background.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Francis' strength is his advocacy and presentation in court which is top notch. His preparation is excellent, even in a fast-paced area.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Francis is easy to work with in terms of strategy. I've seen his advocacy and he's very quick on his feet. He is responsive, reactive and someone who takes the right points.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Francis is very, very meticulous in his preparation and a fine advocate. He knows the points to press and the ones to concede, which is key when its a high stakes costs scenario.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Francis has great client skills and is very articulate both in oral and written presentation. He's very bright and on the money, and his negotiation skills are excellent.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Henry Legge
    Band 1Henry Legge

    Henry Legge

    Henry Legge KC is instructed in large trust disputes, both onshore and offshore. He has also advised extensively on non-contentious matters, including those concerning the interpretation and variation of trust structures. Legge is an expert in commercial trusts, securitisation structures and private trusts. His expertise also encompasses complex tax issues which arise in trust matters.

    • Everyone regards Henry as a superlative barrister. He's an absolute all-rounder, who's a fierce advocate and a superb client handler.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • A smooth, clear and crisp advocate, who's just a real joy to work with.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Henry is always very creative with his arguments, and very user-friendly. He gets on with juniors, as well as partners and all kinds of clients, and is just superb.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Henry is incredibly smart. He has a quite brilliant brain and is very creative.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Henry is a fantastic person to deal with. He's very approachable, responsive and good when it comes to availability.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Jordan Holland
    Band 1Jordan Holland

    Jordan Holland

    Jordan Holland has in-depth expertise in both onshore and offshore trust matters. He often acts for professional trustees as well as beneficiaries and protectors in a range of high-value disputes. His experience includes disputes concerning the validity of trusts, breach of trusts and ancillary applications.

    • Jordan is a formidable and really quick expert barrister. He is technically excellent and a pleasure to work with.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Jordan is very approachable and always eager to assist. He's very quick to grasp complex factual and legal matters, and also has excellent drafting skills.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Matthew Paton
    Band 1Matthew Paton

    Matthew Paton

    Matthew Paton is instructed in onshore and offshore jurisdictions and acts in both contentious and non-contentious trust and probate matters. He has significant expertise in matters involving validity of deeds, removal of trustees and liability issues.

    • Matthew is very responsive and bright. He's an excellent barrister, who is very pragmatic.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Matthew is the go-to person for Bahamian trust disputes.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • I find Matthew to be thorough, incisive and a very classy litigator. He's eloquent and an all-round five star barrister.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Penelope Reed
    Band 1Penelope Reed

    Penelope Reed

    Penelope Reed KC is an exceptionally eminent silk with a formidable depth of experience in trusts and inheritance matters. She is noted for her work on high-profile cases and particularly for her trial advocacy. Her practice also includes acting as a mediator in major trust disputes.

    • She has that authority and gravitas needed for offshore cases, and is someone who can explain things to clients in such a good way.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Penelope is highly regarded and top of the tree. Its her knowledge of the law and usability which really make her a standout. She is very good at ensuring she gets everything done.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Penelope is someone I always want in my corner; you instinctively lean into her in tough moments. Quietly authoritative, she's so calm and wise, and respected across the profession.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Penelope is absolutely at the top of her game and such a class act. It is a pleasure to see her perform in court. She's charming, yet exceptionally robust.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Penelope is just superb. She is one of those rare barristers who knows everything, yet is really nice. She is very responsive, very clever and highly commercial.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Shân Warnock-Smith
    Band 1Shân Warnock-Smith

    Shân Warnock-Smith

    Shân Warnock-Smith KC is an expert in private client issues, including all aspects of trusts and succession work. She is exceptionally well known for her work offshore and overseas, and is an excellent choice for work in the Cayman Islands.

    • Shân has an amazing ability to interact with judges. She's knowledgeable on trusts and a very good advocate.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Shân is a fantastic advocate and a brilliant speaker.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Shân is a very safe pair of hands, who is very solid in her approach and easy to work with.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Shân is hugely experienced.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Tracey Angus
    Band 1Tracey Angus

    Tracey Angus

    Tracey Angus KC is a trusted and respected silk with an enviable trusts practice. She is a particularly fine choice of counsel for matrimonial trusts work and is frequently instructed both domestically and overseas.

    • She is knowledgeable, thorough and gives the client confidence whilst being approachable and offering practical advice.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Tracey is so amazing. She is at the top of her game, is really hands-on and doesn't miss a trick.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Tracey is brilliant. She's so dynamic and highly motivated to do her best for clients. She works well with solicitors.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Tracey is absolutely phenomenal. Her grasp of information is exceptional and she's a joy to work with. She has a nuanced look at things and cuts through to unique angles.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar
    • Tracey is the top person out there. She is really clear in her advice, very client friendly and has got an amazing ability to capture important detail and zoom out and understand the strategy.

      Trusts respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at 5 Stone Buildings (8)

London (Bar)

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