Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Private Wealth: Trusts - UK
What the Team is Known For
XXIV Old Buildings is well known for its trusts expertise and is regarded as an "excellent set of chambers." Instructing solicitors praise it for its "clear cut and decisive advice delivered in a personable, non-legalese manner." Members act on behalf of, and against, an array of clients including private individuals, corporations, charities, trust structures and UHNW families. They frequently receive instructions in matters concerning complex trust and investment structures. Recent highlights include Ambra & others v Fiman Limited and others, which involved a number of novel issues relating to contractual, directors’ and agents’ duties in the context of the provision of offshore corporate services.
Paul Horsfield is the senior clerk.
Strengths
The clerks have gone over and above to get us what we need.
The set offers a Rolls-Royce service in this area and has an excellent clerking team.
The clerks are responsive and helpful.
The clerks have a nice friendliness about them and are people you can really get on really well with. You can have an honest conversation with Paul Horsfield and Perry Brown, deputy senior clerk.
Notable practitioners
Andrew Holden appears in a wide variety of both domestic and international trusts matters, acting both as a litigator and in an advisory capacity. He is an expert in trust structuring and trust protectors. Holden is particularly adept at handling large offshore disputes and often acts in high profile, multibillion-dollar disputes in key jurisdictions.
Andrew's someone you want in the trenches with you as he's a great sounding board, has excellent judgement and is possessed of great tactical nous. Clients love him.
Andrew is clear and concise in his analysis.
Andrew Holden knows everything there is to know about protectors. He's extremely clever but that is a given. He likes a fight, he;s very funny and he works extremely hard for his clients.
Andrew Holden got us a great result in an incredibly difficult case.
David Brownbill KC is noted for his strong track record in private client litigation and has specific expertise in trust law. He is the editor of leading textbook 'International Trust Laws' and is often instructed in high profile offshore disputes. His expertise also extends to trust issues in the context of investment funds.
David is very thoughtful, learned and great for cases that need carefully thought out strategy across multiple jurisdictions.
David has excellent technical knowledge.
David's knowledge is literally encyclopaedic; he has so much experience and understanding of offshore jurisdictions. He's also very nice to work with.
Elspeth Talbot Rice KC is a widely admired barrister with a very strong track record in trusts litigation. She is frequently instructed by many leading solicitors in this field and often acts in very significant and high value disputes, both onshore and offshore. Peers recognise her as a leading silk who deals with the most high-profile cases in the trusts world.
Elspeth has a brilliant mind; she's strategic and analytical. She has a lot of cross-border experience and is also academically extraordinary.
Elspeth is punchy, doesn't take any prisoners and is extremely good. She holds the room in mediations and carries huge authority.
Elspeth is an absolutely outstanding advocate.
Elspeth is the queen of trust and estates litigation. She's the one you want to go to and the one you don't want on the other side. She's absolutely fantastic to work with.
Helen Galley is an experienced trusts and private client senior junior, with a wide-ranging caseload including contentious and non-contentious work, both onshore and offshore. She is a member of the Property and Chancery Bar Associations.
Helen Galley is really on top of the law and her drafting is excellent. She is unflappable and gets documents turned around quickly, even in fraught situations.
Tim Sherwin has a strong chancery practice which includes taking instructions in contentious trusts and estates matters, as well as handling company and insolvency disputes. He also advises in respect of non-contentious trust matters.
Timothy comes over as having gravitas and also wisdom beyond his years. He's very good with clients, very open and incredibly easy to work with. He has the full gamut of what you want.
Tim is an exceptional barrister, who has a very reassuring and pleasant manner with clients. He has a way of distilling complex legal matters and getting straight to the commercial route forward.
Timothy is very bright and quick to master complex issues. He always gives clear direction in his advice.