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
Dakis Hagen KC specialises in Chancery litigation, both commercial and traditional. His cases usually involve international structures, most often trusts and estates, allegations of fraud or professional negligence and asset tracing. Dakis is ranked in Chambers & Partners for Chancery: Commercial and Chancery: Traditional (Band 1) as well as for Trusts (Band 1), Offshore (Band 1) and Family/Matrimonial: Trusts/Tax Experts (Star Individual).
Chambers HNW has placed him in Band 1 for Traditional Chancery. The Legal 500 ranks him for Private Client, Civil Fraud and Offshore (top ranked). He is named in the Legal Week Private Client Global Elite.
The international nature of Dakis' practice has meant that he is instructed both by London solicitors and also directly from overseas (including from the USA, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Gibraltar and the Channel Islands). He has appeared as leading counsel in courts in the Cayman Islands, BVI, Bermuda and Gibraltar as well as frequently in London. He is co-chairman of the Legal Week Trusts & Estates Litigation Forum and in 2022 was Citywealth Barrister of the Year.
Career
Called 2002; Lincoln’s Inn.
Languages
French.
Memberships
Chancery Bar Association; COMBAR.
Education
Cambridge University, Peterhouse (MA, CANTAB); City University (Dip Law).
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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.'