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Abel Lyall

Abel Lyall

More information
Mourant

Mourant

Guernsey

1

Dispute resolution

The disputes team at Mourant is ‘capable of handling the most complex matters,’ with a practice that takes on matters ranging from trust to commercial litigation, insolvency-related issues and a variety of regulatory proceedings. Team lead Abel Lyall is noted for his expertise in both trust and commercial disputes, frequently appearing for trustees and other fiduciaries. Jeremy Wessels is a contentious trusts specialist, sought after by HNW beneficiaries in litigation against trustees or other family branches, while Gordon Dawes’ practice spans commercial and regulatory disputes. Chantal Barrett maintains a broad practice, with a particular niche in D&O and other insurance coverage litigation. Benjamin Manchak, who is admitted in the US, England & Wales and Guernsey, represents trustees and beneficiaries in multi-jurisdictional proceedings. John Greenfield joined the team in late 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Phone
01481 739364
Email
[email protected]
Profile
mourant.com

Profile

Work Department
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Position

Abel's practice covers all areas of commercial and financial disputes, with a focus on financial institutions, investment funds and trusts. He specialises in insolvency matters, and has extensive experience acting for creditors, directors, shareholders and insolvency practitioners on all aspects of contentious insolvency and asset recovery.

Abel also advises on regulatory issues, and has acted for financial institutions in a number of significant regulatory investigations and proceedings.

Career

Abel studied law at the University of Queensland and was admitted to practice as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland (currently non-practising) in 2002. He has also qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales (currently non-practising).

Abel obtained his Certificat d'Etudes Juridiques Françaises et Normandes from the Université de Caen Basse-Normandie in France in December 2010 and was called to the Guernsey Bar in February 2011.

Memberships
  • Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP)
  • The Insolvency Lawyers' Association
  • Association of Business Recovery Professionals (R3)
  • Director and Executive Committee member of ARIES (the Channel Islands member association of INSOL International)
Education
  • Advocate of the Royal Court of Guernsey, February 2011
  • Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland, 2002 (currently non-practising)

Content supplied by Mourant

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Highly intelligent, perceptive, thorough and incisive advice.’

    ‘Mourant is a full service firm capable of handling the most complex matters.’

    ‘Gordon Dawes is excellent. He is very responsive, has an in-depth understanding of the legal and tactical issues involved in a case and gives thoughtful, well-rounded and extremely sound advice. He is also a very able trial advocate, he understands what issues will play well with the court and he deploys his tactical and legal knowledge effectively and skilfully. He inspires confidence!’

    ‘The team are all fabulous. Chris Edwards leads the matter very well, and Benjamin Manchak has been really excellent day-to-day. He gives good advice and has been really responsive and helpful in driving forward the Guernsey advice we need to assist us in acting for our mutual client in English litigation.’

    ‘Mourant is my go-to dispute resolution team on the island - they have highly practical lawyers who make complex matters seem straight-forward.’

    ‘Abel Lyall and Ben Manchak are both leading litigators in Guernsey.’

    ‘Chantal Barrett has been an invaluable member of our extended team over the last 12 months and her availability and valued advice has been a huge asset to our firm. Gordon Dawes has provided his experience and wide reaching knowledge in a timely and proactive manner.’

    ‘Jeremy Wessels is a superstar of the offshore trusts litigation world. I love working with him because he is just streets ahead on strategy as well as on the law. Ben Manchak is an up-and-coming star in his team.’

Key clients

  • Orbitus Saffery Champness EFG Private Bank Butterfield Bank and Trust PraxisIFM Group/Nerine Group Grant Thornton GFSC Apex Intertrust Teneo Leonard Curtis

Work highlights

Represented Grant Thornton as liquidators of JJW Limited.
Advised the trustee of the EBT of the Stobart Group (now Esken) in relation to a High Court claim issued by a former Esken director for unlawful means conspiracy.
Acted for a former non-executive director in an appeal of regulatory proceedings brought by the GFSC in connection with the collapse of the Providence Fund in 2016.