Trust Disputes
We are experts in high-value, complex multi-jurisdictional trust disputes in the UK and in all major offshore jurisdictions.
We act for trustees, beneficiaries, protectors and trust-related institutions. We advise on contentious trust litigation and applications to court for directions in relation to the administration of trusts.
As trusted advisers who understand the sensitive dynamics in trust and family disputes, we act intelligently for our clients – maximising the chance of securing desired outcomes and preserving family wealth for future generations.
Our range of services includes:
- breach of trust claims;
- removal of trustees;
- preliminary applications for disclosure and confidentiality;
- trustee indemnities and costs protection;
- fraud and asset tracing, constructive trust claims, freezing orders, knowing receipt and accessory liability;
- trust disputes in the context of English matrimonial proceedings;
- regulatory and criminal investigations;
- litigating rights of beneficiaries/creditors;
- rectification, mistake and construction applications;
- applications for court approval (blessing applications) and other directions for the administration of trusts;
- variation of trust applications; and
- stress-testing complex structures to mitigate the risk of future litigation.
We work closely with our market-leading private client team (and the best local lawyers on cross-border matters) to provide a seamless service and to ensure that tax and structuring issues are fully integrated into the strategy for resolving a dispute.
We also advise clients who find themselves caught up in cross-border investigations by regulatory authorities into trust assets or beneficiaries. We assist in navigating the increased complexity caused by such investigations. We understand that such investigations mean that trustees are required to adjust how they operate – with a focus not only on the internal management of trusts but on the needs and requirements of external authorities.
