Private Wealth Disputes
High Net Worth Guide 2024 : London (Firms)
Band 1
About
Provided by Payne Hicks Beach LLP
Trust law and probate disputes are becoming increasingly international with greater scope for disagreement.
As one of the leading firms in the country in this area Payne Hicks Beach is able to unlock difficult inheritance and trust disputes. Sometimes the disagreement is between trustees and beneficiaries, but often complex issues are involved such as rights governed by multi-national jurisdictions asserted over the same property involving high net worth parties.
Our work includes:
- handling UK trust and estate disputes and the co-ordination of multi-jurisdictional disputes relating to ownership of assets
- resolving conflicts between beneficiaries and trustees or executors and between trustees and protectors
- advising executors when faced with claims by disappointed beneficiaries
- dealing with defective or unclear wills or trust documents
- advising trustees on their duties and obligations to individuals and authorities
- advising beneficiaries on the enforcement of their rights
- obtaining court directions for trustees in both hostile and non-contentious circumstances.
In disputes of this nature, resolving the conflict with the minimum of time and expense is essential as is having an expertise in this complicated area of the law. We always explore ways to resolve problems and examine all alternatives before resorting to litigation.
Chambers Review
The team at Payne Hicks Beach advises on the full spectrum of contentious trusts and estates matters. Partners handle cross-border litigation and represent clients involved in cases concerning Inheritance Act claims, fiduciary removals and breach of trust allegations.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Their strategic planning on cross-jurisdictional and multifaceted disputes is second to none. They are constantly available when the pressure is on."
"PHB has real strength and depth when it comes to complex trust and private wealth work. Nothing fazes them and they're always ready to roll up their sleeves. They are very responsive and proactive."
"The quality from junior to senior is very high. They are very nice to work alongside, very sensible and pragmatic."
"Their strategic planning on cross-jurisdictional and multifaceted disputes is second to none. They are constantly available when the pressure is on."
"PHB has real strength and depth when it comes to complex trust and private wealth work. Nothing fazes them and they're always ready to roll up their sleeves. They are very responsive and proactive."
"The quality from junior to senior is very high. They are very nice to work alongside, very sensible and pragmatic."
Notable Practitioners
Jessica Henson handles significant domestic and cross-border contentious trusts and estates matters. Her work also includes advising on trusts issues arising during divorce cases.
"She is extremely bright, easy to deal with, very sensible in her advice and has great judgement."
"Jessica is thoughtful and considered in her advice. She combines pragmatism with a steely resolve and a can-do attitude."
"Jessica Henson is an outstandingly good lawyer. She has unsurpassed knowledge of trusts law and is one of the best trust litigators."
Richard Manyon represents high net worth clients both domestically and offshore. His broad range of matters includes high-value cases, including breach of fiduciary duty claims, will validity challenges and Inheritance Act matters.
"He's very eloquent, clear in his thinking and in his writing, and has a good sense of strategy and a good way with clients. He also has a practical and commercial sense about him."
"Richard is an unrivalled strategist."
"Richard Manyon is a brilliant strategist. He looks at the overall picture and really thinks about the knotty issues and how to get to where the client wants to be."
Charlotte Henshall is a legal director at the firm, assisting with contentious trusts and estates matters. She represent trustees, protectors and beneficiaries in breach of trust issues and 1975 Act claims.
"She's super organised, very easy to deal with, clearly capable and really bright."
"Charlotte's super. She is clearly very bright and extremely good at being on top of complex papers."
Clementine Dowley is a legal director at Payne Hicks Beach. She brings a corporate law background to complex domestic and international trusts disputes.
"She's across all of the detail and is great at making constructive suggestions on moving the case forward. She's excellent with clients - very calm and patient."
Senior associate Emily Stoneham advises clients on a broad range of private client disputes. Her work includes will contests and Inheritance Act 1975 claims.
"She's a very high-quality solicitor."
"Emily Stoneham identifies key issues and is able to digest complex subjects with ease."
Ranked Individuals at
Payne Hicks Beach LLP
London (Firms)
Members
Provided by Payne Hicks Beach LLP
Ane Vernon
Dean Ryan
Emma Harris
Francesca Sargent
Head of Department
Rosie Sells
Sean Knight
William Savage