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  1. Private client: trusts and probate – Leading Sets
  2. Private client: trusts and probate – Leading Silks
  3. Private client: trusts and probate – New Silks
  4. Private client: trusts and probate – Leading Juniors

Private client: trusts and probate – New Silks

Wilberforce Chambers has an extremely strong bench of leaders ranging from QC to junior level. At the top, the ‘extremely impressive’ Michael Furness QC has a ‘first-class, incisive and tactical brain’ and is strong in all areas of trusts, and Brian Green QC is ‘unequalled amongst his peers, if indeed he has any’. Robert Ham QC is ‘a colossus of the trusts world’, who combines ‘intelligence with admirable pragmatism’. Edward Nugee QC is also recommended. The set also has a range of impressive juniors including Emily Campbell (‘extremely clever’ and ‘a feisty and formidable advocate’), and Mark Studer and Tiffany Scott (‘both of whom are top quality at their respective levels’). Also recommended are Daniel Hochberg, Judith Bryant, John Child and Clare Stanley.

The ‘fantastic and technically excellent’ XXIV Old Buildings has a large number of very high-quality tenants covering diverse areas. The ‘formidably bright’ Alan Steinfeld QC is ‘unquestionably a star of the Chancery Bar’, and David Brownbill QC is ‘in a class of his own’ when dealing with offshore work. Elspeth Talbot Rice QC is ‘absolutely formidable’ and gives ‘fantastic advice’, and at junior level Michael King is a ‘great advocate and tenacious in cross-examination’. Bajul Shah is ‘extremely bright and fantastically responsive’, with John Stephens and Michael Gadd also recommended.

At Ten Old Square, the ‘barristers are of a consistently high quality across the set’, and the clerks are ‘charming, helpful and responsive’. Francis Barlow QC is an ‘encyclopaedia of mainstream and obscure trust and probate law’ and a ‘brave and compelling advocate’, and Simon Taube QC is ‘magisterial’ and ‘phenomenally clever’. Others of note include Eason Rajah QC and Susannah Meadway.

Serle Court is an ‘outstanding Chancery set at the very top of its game’, with clerks that are ‘probably the best or certainly the equal best in London’. Frank Hinks QC is regarded as a leading silk in the traditional Chancery field, and is a ‘superb draftsman’ and ‘uniquely creative’. Elizabeth Jones QC is ‘highly intelligent, exceptionally thorough, and a formidable opponent’, and Philip Jones QC is a ‘recognised star of the Bar’. William Henderson is a senior junior ‘of the highest calibre’, who is ‘unparalleled’ for trusts and probate work and one who commands ‘enormous respect’. Other juniors include Dakis Hagen (‘hardworking, charming, clever and reliable’); Jonathan Adkin (‘an ideal all-rounder for large cases’); Andrew Francis (‘a restrictive covenants whizz’); and Beverly-Ann Rogers, who is recommended for her mediation skills.

5 Stone Buildings ‘remains at the forefront of private client issues’, and is recommended for its experience in international and domestic trusts and succession disputes. At senior level, Mark Herbert QC has a ‘first-class mind’ and has ‘invaluable experience’, and the ‘technically excellent’ Shân Warnock-Smith QC is ‘one of the best at the chancery bar’ and is a ‘super advocate’. Despite recently taking silk, Penelope Reed QC ‘remains accessible and one of the best’. The ‘very astute’ Henry Legge is particularly knowledgeable on tax and offshore trusts, and Barbara Rich is ‘very erudite’. Tracey Angus, Christopher Whitehouse and Leon Sartin are also recommended.

Maitland Chambers is ‘undoubtedly one of the leading sets for trusts disputes’ and offers efficient modern clerking and tremendous strength in depth. Chancery heavyweight Christopher McCall QC is ‘eloquent, learned and inventive with the gravitas of a leading Chancery QC’. Catherine Newman QC has ‘common sense and an ability to provide direct advice’, and Louise Hutton is ‘bright and capable’. Timothy Evans is also recommended.

New Square Chambers is ‘undoubtedly one of the best Chancery chambers when it comes to tactical approach and knowledge’. Nicholas Le Poidevin QC is ‘methodical and thoughtful’ with ‘superb knowledge of trusts law’. Lynton Tucker has ‘encyclopaedic knowledge’, and is ‘excellent on technical trust matters’. Other juniors include Mark Hubbard (‘his impressive powers of analysis are equalled by his people skills’), and James Brightwell (who ‘has a rare combination of intelligence and commerciality and is mature far beyond his years’).

Radcliffe Chambers is ‘easy to deal with, flexible and helpful’ and ‘always provides a good quality of service’. At silk level, Peter Crampin QC and Robert Pearce QC are recommended, and at junior level, Hedley Marten has an ‘excellent grasp of traditional Chancery work’. Thomas Dumont is ‘brilliant’, with ‘excellent knowledge of the law’, and Katherine McQuail is ‘highly experienced’ and ‘unfailingly incisive’.

Also recommended are the ‘exceptionally bright and equally thorough’ John Smart and David Rowell at 9 Stone Buildings, and the ‘superb, approachable and very thorough’ Richard Wilson at 3 Stone Buildings.

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