Richard Manyon heads up the team at Payne Hicks Beach LLP, whose roots lie in traditional chancery work, where the firm advises on disputes affecting large landed estates and domestic trusts. Additionally, it regularly advises on significant trusts in the context of divorce proceedings while in recent years, the team’s reputation has grown in the international sphere, and it frequently handles challenging multi-jurisdictional and domestic trust and estates cases. Jessica Henson has a busy practice covering the full spectrum of private wealth disputes; Ane Vernon is an experienced litigator with a solid case load of contentious trust and probate matters; and Rosamond McDowell is currently advising on several substantial pieces of trusts and estates litigation. Clementine Dowley and Charlotte Henshall are both well-regarded members of the practice.  
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Work Department
Dispute Resolution
Position

Richard has a Chancery practice encompassing trusts, property and civil disputes before all levels of the judiciary including the Supreme Court.

Richard focusses on contentious trusts and estates work. He has a wealth of experience in a wide spectrum of disputes, acting for trustees, beneficiaries and protectors. His work has an international element and, amongst other jurisdictions, he has recently been involved in high value cases involving England & Wales, Gibraltar, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the BVI, the United States, Jersey and Guernsey. Richard is well placed to advise in relation to matters concerning inheritance, contentious probate, capacity, undue influence and related matters.

Recently he has been engaged in:

    • Acting in applications for the removal of trustees, protectors and executors;
    • Cross-border litigation concerning allegations of breach of trust or fiduciary duty by trustees or protectors;
    • Representing high net worth beneficiaries in high value estate litigation concerning challenges to the validity of wills, mental capacity, lifetime gifts and claims under the Inheritance Act;
    • Acting for some of the UK’s oldest and largest estates and handling applications concerning long standing family trusts.

Richard also deals with many high value commercial disputes, including actions for breach of contract, misrepresentation and professional negligence by solicitors and other professionals.

Finally, Richard has expertise in real estate law. These skills provide a sought-after synergy with Richard’s command of the area of contentious trusts, making him particularly able to handle all aspects of disputes where the areas of trust law and property law collide – for example in relation to cohabitee ownership disputes or where property holdings form an important part of a trust’s assets.

Career

Qualified 2006; Payne Hicks Beach 2004, promoted to senior associate 2013 and partner 2015.

Education

Richard studied Modern History at Oxford University.

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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘PHB has a first-rate contentious trust and probate team: they are knowledgeable, fast to react and have very good litigation instincts. They also have excellent resources within the firm to call on when needed, where issues of tax, family law or company issues arise.’

    ‘Richard Manyon is superb - he is very clever but always has a practical solution in mind and works tirelessly to achieve it. Jessica Henson is equally determined, pragmatic and knowledgeable.'

    'The team also has some excellent associates: Rosie Sells is fantastic: she has an amazing eye for the crucial detail and is bright and very responsive. Charlotte Henshall is also a stand-out member of the team; she manages complex dynamic situations with calm and expertise.’

    ‘Jessica Henson is a star in the making. She is just excellent. Richard Manyon is a slick operator.’

    ‘A very strong technical team, that are available and easy to work with. Richard Manyon - one of the top trust litigators, with an exceptional eye for detail and very commercial.’

    ‘Richard Manyon along with Dominic are consummate tactical masters in this field. Sean Knight is a rising young star.’

    ‘Jessica Henson is one of the best in the business. She is extremely bright and unflappable.'

    'Rosie Sells is making a name for herself and is one to watch for the future. She is super bright and a pleasure to work with. Clementine Dowley is a partner in the making. She is charming and extremely clever.’