New Square Chambers is sought after by ultra-high-net-worth individuals, as well as institutional and corporate clients, in cases involving complex trusts and high-value assets. The set is home to Nicholas Le Poidevin KC, who boasts a thriving contentious trusts, wills, and estates practice, with particular expertise in litigation surrounding breaches of trust and trustees’ exercises of power. Alexander Learmonth KC is another notable silk, with experience in the removal of trustees, breaches of trust, and disputed estates. Among its juniors, Lynton Tucker‘s offshore trust practices predominately focuses on the Channel Islands, the Cayman Islands, and the BVI, and Mark Hubbard is another active international trusts disputes barrister.
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Position
Appointed to silk in 2021, Alexander Learmonth KC has a busy practice and an enviable reputation as a leading figure at the Chancery Bar. Described as “intellectually and technically remarkable” (Legal 500), he is renowned for his “first-rate strategic acumen” (Chambers HNW), and his “great advocacy and cross-examination skills” (Legal 500). Besides being “an excellent trial lawyer, cerebral but assertive”, “a commanding advocate”, “stellar on paper and on his feet”, and “a true team player who rolls up his sleeves,” he is also noted for being “charming” and “affable” with clients at what is often a stressful time.
His principal areas of practice are succession and trusts, both at home and abroad, having appeared in many major cases, at every level of court, including the first probate case ever to reach the Supreme Court, Marley v Rawlings. He is editor of leading Sweet & Maxwell textbooks: ‘Theobald on Wills’ and ‘Williams, Mortimer & Sunnucks on Executors, Administrators and Probate’.
He has particular expertise in relation to the law of mental capacity, both domestically in the Court of Protection and in the High Court, and abroad.
Alexander is also a recognised expert in the law of property, ranked by the Legal 500 for ‘Property Litigation’ and ’Agriculture’, with several Court of Appeal decisions to his name.
He also regularly handles professional negligence claims (for claimants, professionals and insurers) arising in related fields, and has experience in dealing with the trust, property and succession issues arising in the context of Family proceedings.
Alexander won ‘Advocate of the Year’ at the prestigious STEP Private Client Awards 2020, having previously been named ’Contentious Barrister of the Year by ACTAPS in 2015, and shortlisted for Chancery Junior of the Year at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2019. He then served as one of the Presiding Judges for the STEP Private Client Awards 2021 and 2022.
He is a certified mediator (IMI), having completed a CMC-accredited course in 2020. He is a great believer in mediation and other forms of ADR as a tool for resolving of succession disputes and brings his expertise to bear both when acting as mediator and when representing a party to a mediation to encourage mutually acceptable solutions.
Alexander is also the Deputy Chancellor for the Diocese of Derby.
He also appeared as an expert commentator on ‘Inheritance Wars: Who gets the money?’ on Channel 5.
Career
Qualified 2000; Lincoln’s Inn. Publications of note: editor ‘Theobald on Wills’ (18th, 2016); contributor ’Williams, Mortimer & Sunnucks on Executors, Administrators and Probate’ (20th ed and supplement) and ‘Probate Practitioners Handbook’ (6th ed). Public access trained.
Memberships
STEP; ACTAPS; Chancery Bar Association Committee; Barrister’s Benevolent Association Committee.
Education
New College, Oxford (1999 BA jurisprudence, college exhibitioner).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Charlie Sherwood has always been easy to deal with.'
- 'I’ve always found the clerks to be eminently helpful and polite.'
- 'The clerks are friendly and responsive.'
- 'For trusts and succession, this set has everything you want.'
- 'New Square Chambers has a fantastic collection of experienced private client practitioners. The Chambers also provides training and CPD seminars on a range of topics.'