Chancery: Traditional | UK Bar

5 Stone Buildings is one of the pre-eminent traditional chancery sets in London and is notable for its strength and depth. According to instructing solicitors, the set "continues to be top of its field in terms of estates and trusts for both contentious and non-contentious matters. The quality of its juniors and KCs is very, very impressive." 5 Stone's barristers are highly sought after in the higher courts and are instructed in high-profile and complex disputes. Bond v Webster is one recent example of its members leading work. “5 Stone Buildings is probably the leading organisation for complex probate work,” concludes a source, who continues: “They are our go to for complex matters.”

Serle Court has an impressive reputation in the market for its handling of high-value chancery work. In addition to the involvement of a number of members in the largest ever Bermudian trust dispute, Wong v Grand View PTC & Ors, other recent major cases include Hirachand v Hirachand, heard in the Supreme Court. “Serle Court is the go-to set for heavyweight trust litigation. Its barristers are at the top of the tree in this area, and are supported by standout juniors,” remarks an interviewee. Another source agrees: “If you have a big offshore trust dispute, counsel has to be from Serle Court. They do so much of it and have a real insight into all the different jurisdictions.”

Practice directors Nicholas Hockney and Daniel Wheeler lead the clerking team.

Ten Old Square remains a premier set for handling trusts, probate and estates matters. The bench strength at the set is highlighted as a particular asset, with one interviewee commenting: “Ten Old Square is definitely the go-to for us for traditional chancery: both international and domestic trust and probate disputes. It has particularly excellent juniors who are up-and-coming.” An impressed source echoes this, adding: “Ten Old Square have shown themselves to be strong across every aspect. They are unfazed by complex legal points and provide first-class advice whatever the topic.” Barristers at the set have been involved in several high-profile matters recently, including Dawson-Damer v Grampian Trust Co Ltd regarding a large breach of trust claim in the Bahamas and the legal test for setting aside the exercise of a fiduciary power.

Wilberforce Chambers has an impressive group of barristers who handle complex disputes surrounding trusts and estates, and demonstrate multi-jurisdictional knowledge of the law. The set is known among instructing solicitors for its "extremely knowledgeable and experienced counsel, with a commercial outlook". Other sources highlight the set's bench, one noting that "their range of silks and juniors is unmatched". Members of the set have appeared in a number of significant trust matters of late, including Byers v Saudi National Bank, heard in the Supreme Court, and Grosskopf v Grosskopf.

XXIV Old Buildings is an established and highly respected traditional chancery chambers seen to be "certainly up there in the top echelons of the market", according to instructing solicitors. Chambers is noted for its "depth and breadth of knowledge at all levels", particularly in offshore matters, and its ability to tackle complex commercial cases. Recently, in addition to ongoing work on Wong v Grandview, members have led on significant trust cases such as Grosskopf v Grosskopf, the first reported English case on the arbitrability of trust disputes.

New Square Chambers' strong team of silks and juniors regularly handles a wide array of traditional chancery matters, including trusts, wills, estates and probate cases. Examples of members' work include proprietary estoppel cases, such as Heyes v Holt, and multifaceted estate administration matters, including Heart of England Forest v Leggett and Others, concerning the estate of publisher and poet Felix Dennis. “The set has a broad offering of experienced chancery barristers, all of whom are very knowledgeable in contested probate disputes,” comments one interviewee, who adds: “They also have some great junior barristers.”

Michelle Green is the senior clerk.

Radcliffe Chambers has a large group of respected traditional chancery practitioners. “Radcliffe Chambers is well equipped to advise on all private wealth disputes matters and is one of the go-to chambers for it. The barristers are responsive and detail-conscious, in both large and smaller claims”, says an interviewee. Individuals here are notable for their work on wills and probate matters, particularly those relating to charitable donations. Dryden v Young & Others, concerning willed gifts to an animal charity, is one recent example.

John Clark is the senior clerk.