Praised as ‘one of the leading chambers for international trust matters, especially high-value and complex trusts’, Serle Court features members that are notably active across the Caribbean, Bermuda, Gibraltar, and the Channel Islands. Its barristers are well-equipped to act for trustees, personal representatives, and beneficiaries, especially in cases surrounding trust and estate administration disputes. Elizabeth Jones KC has an overlapping commercial and private client practice, while Jonathan Adkin KC is particularly active in high-profile disputes across Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and the Bahamas. Of recent note, Adkin is representing the plaintiff in a dispute surrounding issues of a settlor’s capacity in the Supreme Court of the Bahamas for more than $100m. Dakis Hagen KC has a thriving offshore trusts practice, and he is currently acting for the plaintiff in the high-profile case of Wong v Grand View PTC and others, which concerns an action to set aside five purpose trusts in Bermuda which in total hold more than $18bn. Constance McDonnell KC is another key silk at the set with expertise in the cross-border administration of trusts.
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Profile
Position
Jonathan Adkin KC is a leading Silk at the Chancery and Commercial Bar. His high-profile practice spans a wide range of fields in international and domestic chancery and commercial law. He appears regularly in the High Court and appellate Courts in England, in domestic and international arbitrations, and in international commercial Courts and offshore jurisdictions including Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, the BVI, the DIFC and Gibraltar.
In the leading legal directories (Chambers & Partners and Legal 500) Jonathan holds rankings across eight practice areas, encompassing Commercial Dispute Resolution, Commercial Chancery, Civil Fraud, Trusts and Probate, Company, Insolvency, Partnership and Offshore.
Jonathan was named the Chancery Silk of the Year at the Legal 500 Awards for 2022 and shortlisted for the same award in 2023 and 2024. He was named Trusts and Probate Silk of the Year at the Legal 500 Awards for 2017. He has also been recognised as one of The Lawyer magazine’s “Hot 100 Lawyers”. He is shortlisted for Commercial Dispute Resolution Silk of the year for the Chambers and Partners UK Bar Awards 2024.
Career
Qualified 1997, Gray’s Inn; Silk 2013.
Memberships
Commercial Bar Association; Chancery Bar Association.
Education
Balliol College, Oxford; City University.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The clerks here are what other chambers should aspire to. Well led by Nicholas Hockney, they are responsive, commercial and really helpful.'
- 'Clerks are always quick and easy to deal with, particularly Daniel Wheeler and Colin Bunyan. They understand commercial imperatives for the matters and never have any issue with them.'
- 'Jim Costa is particularly good to work with.'
- 'Serle Court always offer a high level of service. Nicholas Hockney is an outstanding senior clerk.'
- 'Clerks are user-friendly, commercial and easy to work with. Charlie Payne and Nicholas Hockney are stand-outs.'