Oliver Auld > Charles Russell Speechlys LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Highlighted by clients for its ‘tremendous amount of expertise’, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP handles a broad array of both international and domestic disputes, with the team’s specialism spanning matters involving landed estates, family businesses, pensions, art, and luxuries. The group routinely acts in disputes concerning offshore trusts, which practice heads Oliver Auld and Duncan Elson have a great deal of expertise in. Acting for both trustees and beneficiaries, Edward Birell focuses on trust disputes involving corporate assets, and breach of trust claims. Rebecca Piper is noted for her expertise in claims arising under the Inheritance Act 1975, challenges to wills, and applications to remove executors and trustees. Auld divides his time between Guildford and London, all other lawyers are based in Guildford.

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP continues to prove itself as a leading firm in the sector. The team regularly advises clients with landed estates on various matters, including tax structuring, heritage property issues, and complex trusts. The team in Guildford is co-headed by Duncan Elson and Oliver Auld, who are both recommended for litigation relating to trusts. William Marriott is noted for his experience in handling high-value transactions for country houses. Tom Denham-Smith is a further standout lawyer, who is a member of the Agricultural Law Association; he regularly assists clients with succession disputes.

The ‘superb team’ at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP is ‘absolutely at the top of the tree’. It is praised by clients for its ‘enormous expertise and experience, and there are few big, high-profile cases it is not involved with’. Graeme Kleiner sits at the helm of the group and has been described as an ‘excellent litigator’ who is ‘great on the big-ticket cases’. The group has a stellar reputation in the UK and internationally. The team also works in tandem on some of the largest international divorce cases involving attacks on trusts, asset tracing, and fraud matters. There is a particular focus on attracting high-value cross-border disputes work, often involving multiple jurisdictions. Ziva Robertson is a solicitor-advocate who advises clients on cross-jurisdictional litigation, while Tamasin Perkins is a known name for her work with elderly clients, international Court of Protection cases, and capacity work. Oliver Auld, Duncan Elson, and Tom Watts are all highly regarded. Edward Birell was promoted to the partnership in May 2024.