Areas of Practice
Track Record
Acting for the successful claimant in a conspiracy claim against various defendants in the New Zealand High Court. The judgment was upheld on appeal (Kea Investments Ltd v Wikeley [2024] NZCA 609 and [2025] NZSC 75)
Acting for two beneficiaries of an Isle of Man discretionary trust in their successful appeal against the Isle of Man High Court’s dismissal of a blessing application made by the Trustee of the Trust and opposed by another of the beneficiaries (A and B v C and D – 2DS 2023/25)
Acting for the applicant in a novel application before the Royal Court of Jersey seeking to enforce a judgment by attaching (by arrêt entre mains) a beneficiary’s interest under a discretionary trust (Kea Investments Limited v Watson [2021] JRC 009)
Acting for the successful applicant in its application to have the defendant committed to prison for contempt of court (Kea Investments v Eric Watson [2020] EWHC 2599 (Ch); [2020] EWHC 2796 (Ch))
Acting for the successful respondent in a precedent-setting decision by the Court of Appeal in England regarding the appropriate proxy for an award of equitable interest based on lost investment return in trust cases (Watson v Kea Investments Limited [2019] 4 WLR 145)
Acting for the successful claimants in a substantial fraud claim involving joint venture vehicles held in trust (Sir Owen Glenn & Kea Investments Ltd v Eric Watson & Ors [2018] EWHC 2016 (Ch))
Acting for the plaintiffs in a successful claim against the trustee of a Bermuda trust concerning a commitment to apply trust funds towards the construction of an opera house in the Swiss canton of Lucerne (Stiftung Salle Modulable (2) Rutli Stiftung v Butterfield Trust (Bermuda) Limited [2014] SC (Bda) 14 Com)
Awards & Rankings
Chambers High Net Worth awards, Star Associate, 2025
Chambers HNW, Associates to Watch, 2025
Legal 500, Leading Associate, 2025
Legal 500, Rising Star, 2022 – 2024
Best Lawyers, ‘One to Watch’, Trusts and Personal Tax Law, 2023 – 2025
Private Client Global Elite, Excellence, 2024
Top 35 under 35, eprivateclient, 2022
Conference Speaking
Offshore Disputes Week, 2025: ‘Exploring Capacity Issues in Trusts’ and ‘Correcting Trustee Mistakes’
Memberships
ConTrA (Contentious Trusts Association)
LSLA (London Solicitors Litigation Association)
Education & Qualification
University of St Andrews
Qualified as a solicitor in 2014
Recommended by Tom
This Friday, Private Wealth Disputes Senior Associate, James Woods-Davison will be speaking at the TL4 & ConTrA Private Client Summer School in Cambridge. James will join Joanne Morse of Summit Trust International to lead a session on “Value-Driven Investing”. With its mix of expert-led sessions, practical workshops and informal networking, the event offers an invaluable opportunity for junior practitioners to develop their technical expertise and broaden their practice.
Read more 5 min read 01 Jul 2025 Modernising wills – A significant step, but work is still to be doneIn eprivateclient, Partner, Nicola Bushby explores the Law Commission’s Modernising Wills report, highlighting key proposals for reforming the law of wills, such as recognising electronic wills and adopting the test for capacity in lieu of the common law test. While progress is clear, concerns remain, especially around the rule revoking wills upon marriage.
Read more 2 min read 10 Jun 2025 Clare Stirzaker speaks at Private Client Advisory and Litigation Forum in ParisThis Friday at the Private Client Advisory and Litigation Forum in Paris, Partner, Clare Stirzaker joins retired tax lawyer, Matthew Hutton to speak on the topic of “Getting your Affairs in Order”, focusing on relationships and records.
Read more 2 min read 11 Feb 2025 Nicola Bushby speaks at the ThoughtLeaders4 Trusts in Divorce conferenceNicola’s panel will look at ‘Insights into Wealth and Trust Protection’, where she will be joined by Joanna Grandfield from Mills & Reeve, Richard Kershaw from Hunters Law and Nicholas Yates KC from 1 Hare Court. Together, they will look at what to consider when drafting pre- and post-nuptial agreements, what constitutes undue pressure and family charters.
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