Private Wealth Disputes
We are a market leading Private Wealth Disputes team ranked in the top tier by both Chambers HNW and Legal 500.
We provide bespoke strategic advice alongside a comprehensive dispute resolution and litigation practice. Our expertise is trusted consistently by high net worth individuals, professional trustees and other fiduciaries as well as private banks to take robust steps to protect their legal rights and deliver practical solutions.
What we do:
International trust disputes
- Acting for professional trustees, protectors, beneficiaries, legal guardians in offshore litigation;
- Experience with key international trust jurisdictions including: Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, British Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and Liechtenstein.
- Advice to offshore trustees in connection with UK matrimonial proceedings.
International estate disputes
- Coordinating strategy across multiple jurisdictions and advising on succession and conflicts of laws.
Bespoke strategic advice
- Corporate governance for businesses held in trust.
- Decision making by trustees under pressure from hostile beneficiaries.
- Lobbying trustees on behalf of beneficiaries.
- Litigation risk advice for ownership structures and transactions.
- Crisis management and special situations.
Domestic litigation and dispute resolution
- Challenges to English wills.
- Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family Dependants) Act 1975.
- Court of Protection applications.
- Unfair prejudice claims.
- Professional negligence claims.
Where we work
From our base in London we work with best in class overseas counsel to deliver seamless international legal advice to our clients. Our team meet with clients and conduct negotiations with counterparties on their behalves both domestically and internationally. The team speak at leading international private wealth conferences around the world, including STEP, Legal Week, the Cambridge Forum, the Contentious Trusts Association and Fresh Perspectives.
Recent highlights
Public Trustee v Cooper applications: Applications to offshore courts concerning the restructuring of trusts holding significant trading businesses (+$1bn)
Unfair prejudice proceedings: Acting in High Court proceedings in relation to a UK business held by family trusts (settled confidentially)
African business dispute: A trust dispute concerning trading businesses in Africa working closely with the commercial management team and financiers (+$1.5bn)
Privy Council: Acting as Privy Council agent in a high profile trust dispute on appeal from the Jersey Court of Appeal
Matrimonial dispute: Advice to an offshore trustee in relation to disclosure in high profile financial remedy proceedings in the high court
(PQ and anor v RS and ors [2019] EWHC 1643 (Ch): Acting as litigation friend for two minor beneficiaries in connection with the blessing of the trustees’ decision to include their sibling as a beneficiary of substantial trusts
Cowan v Foreman & Ors [2019] EWHC 349 (Fam): Advising in a number of claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
Recommended reading
As the UK approaches a £5.5 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer, what does this really mean for families beyond financial planning? In Mayfair Times, Partners Hayden Bailey and Nicola Bushby reflect on the long-term nature of this shift and why, in practice, “the challenge is never just legal” when managing succession and disputes.
Read more 04 Jun 2026 Clare Stirzaker, Emily Brand and Nicola Bushby to speak at TL4 HNW Private Client Advisory and Litigation ForumNext week in Versailles, Partners, Clare Stirzaker, Emily Brand and Nicola Bushby will be speaking at the TL4 HNW Private Client Advisory and Litigation Forum on 10–12 June. For its 3rd annual conference, Clare will join a panel discussion titled ‘The Global Race for Philanthropic Capital’ alongside Ed Powles and Joe Crome. Emily and Nicola will be joined by fellow speaker and host Rupert Ticehurst to discuss the panel ‘Stepmoms – Why do they have a bad reputation, and is conflict with children from a first marriage inevitable?’
Read more 03 Jun 2026 A shift in land investment: growing interest in English vineyardsIn a recent Telegraph article exploring alternatives to buy-to-let investment, buy-to-let returns face are increasing pressure, with investors turning to English vineyards as an alternative. In this article, Partner and Head of Residential Property, Saskia Arthur comments on how improving UK climate conditions and rising demand for English wine are driving interest, though success requires a long-term, hands-on approach and diversified income streams.
Read more 15 May 2026 Wait and LLC? Why UK residents are still taxed twice on US incomeDouble taxation remains an unresolved issue for UK residents holding investments through US LLCs. Private Wealth Partners, Laurence Morgan and Dom Rothbarth, and Senior Associate, Marie McCallum outline how conflicting UK and US tax treatments can lead to unfair outcomes and the grounds for optimism.
Read more