Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
UK Bar
Chancery: Traditional - London (Bar)
Individual Editorial
Michael Furness KC has expertise in complex trust and estate matters, both domestically and offshore.
Strengths
Michael really stands out in having that integrated view on trust-driven matters with complex UK tax questions. He has a very attractive way of dealing with matters.
Michael Furness cuts through issues well and can identify client needs and find short pathways to them.
Michael Furness is brilliant on trusts and pensions crossovers, which is really unique. Clients are delighted by his solutions as he thinks creatively. He is also brilliant in court; judges like him.
Michael Furness has gravitas, pragmatism and a willingness to get 'stuck in' at all levels of matters.
Trusts - London (Bar)
Individual Editorial
Michael Furness is a renowned expert in onshore and offshore trust litigation and related professional negligence claims. He has appeared in cases in Bermuda, Hong Kong, Cayman and Jersey, amongst other jurisdictions.
Strengths
Very technical and super clever. You can give him the hardest structures in trusts and he'll find a way through. He distils the most complex problem into a commercial and client friendly document.
A very experienced advocate, who cuts through cases effectively to get to the key issues. He is excellent at identifying pathways to success.
One of the few KCs you can go to both for both tax and trust issues. He has a very attractive way of dealing with matters, and offers no-nonsense, down to earth advice.
A supremely clever man, who is brilliant on the trusts and pensions crossover. He thinks creatively and is loved by clients as they are delighted by his solutions.
Pensions - London (Bar)
Individual Editorial
Michael Furness KC enjoys broad expertise in occupational pensions and other relevant areas, including tax law and trust litigation. He is well known for engaging in international litigation in offshore jurisdictions. Trustee boards and large household-name employers seek out his counsel.
Strengths
Michael is technically absolutely brilliant - he can turn his mind to tax, property, trust, as well as pensions. One of the things I really rate about him is that judges really listen to him.
Michael is ultra-reliable.
He can cut through the complexities of pensions law to deliver a pragmatic and legally robust answer.
Offshore - All Circuits
Individual Editorial
Michael Furness KC is an impressive silk who is especially knowledgeable in trusts and tax disputes. His practice regularly leads him to appear in Bermudian trust cases, and he has experience acting in Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal. He also provides counsel on professional negligence claims.
Strengths
He is a very experienced advocate and knows Bermuda-related issues very well.
He always strives to do the best for the client and has the ability to simplify complex legal issues for advocacy and client management purposes.
He is a delight to work with, intellectually very able and asks penetrating questions that find the pivoting point in a matter.
Charities - London (Bar)
Individual Editorial
Michael Furness KC is an accomplished silk with long experience, most notably in trust-related matters. He is particularly active in advising in relation to onshore and offshore tax issues and on matters involving the international transfer of charitable assets and the international structuring of charitable organisations. He is well versed in contentious trust litigation in a variety of jurisdictions.
Strengths
Michael's collaborative and thoughtful approach allowed for active engagement with his opinion.