Shân Warnock-Smith KC, Global

Ranked in 2 Practice Areas

Band 1

Private Wealth: Trusts

10 Years Ranked

Band 1

Offshore (Bar)

9 Years Ranked

Ranked in Guides

UK Bar 2025

High Net Worth 2024

About

Provided by Shân Warnock-Smith KC

Global

Practice Areas

Advice and litigation in connection with all aspects of trusts, other asset-holding vehicles and succession, in the UK and internationally, particularly the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Hong Kong, Singapore, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Has a particular interest in wealth structuring (including charity and philanthropy) for international families from both the advisory and the litigation standpoints. Accredited mediator specialising in trust and estate disputes.

Career

Called to the English Bar 1971. Silk 2002. Admitted to practice in England and Wales, the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Trinidad and Tobago and has been admitted ad hoc in other jurisdictions including Hong Kong and Bermuda. Established International Chancery and Trusts Chambers in the Cayman Islands in 2010 and practises from there and from 5 Stone Buildings in London.

Professional Memberships

Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, Chancery Bar Association, Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists and The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law.

Publications

Lecturer, writer and broadcaster on trust and estate matters. Sits on the Editorial Board of 'The Wills and Trusts Law Reports'.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Global

Private Wealth: Trusts - UK

Band 1

Individual Editorial

Shân Warnock-Smith KC is an expert on 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.

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Offshore (Bar) - UK

Band 1

Individual Editorial

Shân Warnock-Smith KC of 5 Stone Buildings is a dominant presence in high-profile offshore litigation who has outstanding credentials in private client and wealth structuring work. She also practises at ICT Chambers in the Cayman Islands, and offers a wealth of experience of acting in Cayman cases and those in wider Caribbean jurisdictions including the BVI. She is especially active in trust disputes.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

"She is a legal titan at the top of her game and extremely knowledgeable."

Private Wealth: Trusts respondent
Global

"She blew me away with her ability to digest vast amounts of information."

Private Wealth: Trusts respondent
Global

"Incredibly successful and one of the top people for international trusts. She is always a huge pleasure to deal with and someone who gets things done. She is a bright and massively successful, collaborative lawyer."

Private Wealth: Trusts respondent
Global

"Shân is a legal titan; she's at the top of her game. She's extremely knowledgeable and acts like a judge."