TL4 & ConTrA present Private Client Summer School: The Ultimate Insider’s Guide

Chris Moorcroft advises individuals and families on wealth planning and succession matters. This includes the use of estate planning vehicles such as companies, trusts and foundations to manage the passing of wealth and family businesses to younger generations, to protect wealth from unexpected events like death and incapacity, to protect wealth from adverse third parties and to manage complex cross-border tax problems involving multiple jurisdictions.

He advises on will planning and probate involving assets spread across jurisdictions, including the application of the EU Succession Regulation. He frequently deals with wills and probates which involve more than one jurisdiction and acts as executor and administrator of estates, as well as the trustee of a charitable trust.

He represents wealthy individuals and families from around the world, with a particular focus on US-connected clients and individuals from the Middle East and Africa. In addition, he also represents professional trust companies and other fiduciaries on issues relating to the design and management of structures, risk mitigation (including fiduciary risk), data protection and tax.

A significant element of his expertise involves advising UK and international high net worth individuals who are resident, investing or spending time in UK on how to structure their assets, including advice relating to the remittance basis regime and the structuring of UK residential property.

Jo qualified as a solicitor of England and Wales in 2008, working as a private client solicitor in the UK before beginning her trust career at Summit Trust International SA in Geneva in 2011. Jo has a wide range of experience in trust and company management, providing bespoke private client trusteeship to ultra-high value, complex international trust structures, within which an array of real assets are managed, including fine art, vintage cars, shipping fleets, yachts, private equity, operating businesses and commercial and residential property. Jo is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). In 2018 and 2020, Jo won Trustee of the Year at the Citywealth Magic Circle Awards. Jo speaks English and French.

James joined Stevens & Bolton in 2017, having trained and qualified at a Top 50 firm. He became a partner in 2019.

James acts predominately for private clients or for those who advise private clients, such as corporate trustees, private banks and other law firms.

James advises on claims by or involving estates and trusts, most commonly involving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. He acts for executors, trustees and beneficiaries, and also specialises in advising on claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

James also has a substantial practice advising on claims overlapping the trusts and family court jurisdictions, dealing with trustees and beneficiaries who have become involved in divorce proceedings and on issues arising from the enforcement and implantation of ancillary relief orders made in divorce proceedings.

James has been listed in the "Excellence" category in Legal Week’s Private Client Global Elite Directory 2024, in the Citywealth “Top 100 Private Client Litigators List 2023” and is ranked as a “Top Recommended 2023 Contentious Tax & Trust Lawyer” in the Spears 500.He is ranked in Band 1 in Chambers HNW and as a “Next Generation Partner” in The Legal 500.

James is a co-chair of ConTrA, the Contentious Trusts Association

Emilly is a dispute resolution associate specialising in contentious trusts and probate litigation. She also has experience in complex international trust and probate administration.

James' work encompasses dispute resolution, strategic advice and restructuring in relation to legal and commercial challenges faced by high net worth individuals, trusts and corporate structures.

Identified in 2020 by Legal 500 as a “Rising Star” and one of the eprivateclient Top 35 under 35, James is an associate in the Firm’s top tier private wealth disputes team. He previously trained and qualified at Macfarlanes where he worked in their private client advisory team and joined the Firm in 2018 in order to focus on private wealth disputes.

A significant proportion of James’ work relates to international matters with little (or no) connection with the UK.

Jacob specialises in domestic and international litigation, with a particular focus on trust disputes, international succession and estate disputes and fraud. 

He advises on a broad range of litigation both in England and across the world, including the BVI, Guernsey, Cayman, Cyprus and Hong Kong. He focuses particularly on:

• trust disputes, including removing or defending trustees, tracing assets, and disputes between beneficiaries;
• estate and probate disputes, including disputes over the validity of wills and claims against the solicitor who drafted the will;
• fraud claims, including tracing and recovering assets; and
• insolvency claims, including claims against former directors and recovering assets for creditors.

Jacob edits the Contentious Matters section of the Butterworths Wills, Probate and Administration Service.

Jacob is ranked as a leading individual in the 2021 UK Legal 500 guide.  He is a qualified solicitor advocate and sits as a Magistrate in London.

Emma Loizou has a broad chancery practice with a particular focus on private client litigation. She frequently acts in matters concerning wills, trusts and estates and has been instructed on a number of cases involving will challenges on various grounds including undue influence, forgery, lack of testamentary capacity and want of knowledge and approval. She also has experience of claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, claims concerning the administration of estates and removal of personal representatives. In 2023, Emma worked with Carey Olsen in Bermuda for six weeks, having won a scholarship as part of the Inner Temple Pegasus Scheme

Claire-Marie is the lead Partner for the Will, Trust and Estate Disputes team in London.

She specialises in private client disputes and litigation, specifically those concerning trust, estate and succession disputes. Claire-Marie’s clients include private individuals, trustees, executors, administrators, protectors and beneficiaries.

She deals with all manner of disputes both in the UK and internationally, including claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, will disputes, and claims in respect of beneficial interests in property.

Claire-Marie was named in Citywealth’s list of Top 10 Powerwomen Trust Litigators 2020 and Top 100 Trust Litigators and Polymaths in May 2020. She’s also ranked in Legal Week’s Private Client Global Elite Directory as ‘One to Watch.’ 

Emily provides international private wealth and tax advice to families and trustees of family trusts on a variety of issues. Her areas of expertise include establishing wealth preservation structures such as offshore trusts, foundations and companies, family governance and business succession planning, the reporting of beneficial ownership under the various global initiatives and structuring the acquisition and ownership of UK residential property.

Emily also works closely with families on their philanthropic objectives, including advising on establishment, administration and governance of UK charities and other not-for-profit organisations, as well as advising on charity and UK tax implications of proposed donations and helping to set, monitor and implement philanthropic initiatives.

Much of Emily's work has a cross border element and she has a particular focus on the Middle East, often advising on the use of local structures to hold regional assets, alongside any international structures.

David Kilshaw is a Manging Director with Rothschild & Co and Head of Private Client Wealth Solutions.

A qualified lawyer and former partner with KPMG, EY and Rawlinson & Hunter,  David no longer provides tax advice but works alongside leading lawyers and accountants to help clients craft solutions to their personal and business needs. David received the STEP Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018

James is a Group Partner in Private Client and Trusts team. He joined Collas Crill in January 2024. James is an English barrister and Jersey Advocate and has a busy practice with a particular focus on contentious and non-contentious trust work. 

He advises, undertakes drafting work, and acts for beneficiaries, trustees and other power-holders in relation to breach of trust claims, asset tracing/recovery and claims for secondary liability against accessories, issues concerning trust administration, the appointment and removal of trustees and the exercise of powers, applications to court for directions, the variation and rectification of trusts and the disclosure of information to beneficiaries and third parties, jurisdiction disputes and the enforcement of foreign judgments against trustees and beneficiaries and issues concerning trustees’ rights of indemnity, fees and legal cost.

James also advises in relation to a broad range of contentious commercial and company law disputes. He is named as a Rising Star in Legal 500 UK 2023 and ranked in Chambers UK and Global 2023.

Emily is a trust and estates disputes specialist, resolving both domestic and international cases.

She acts for individuals, families, executors, trustees, beneficiaries, trust companies, protectors and family offices and also has a wealth of experience dealing with disputes which often have an international element. This includes conducting cases concerning the validity of wills, breach of trust claims, construction proceedings and rectification applications, and applications to remove executors and trustees.

Emily also handles Court of Protection applications (both contested and uncontested) for the appointment of deputies and the approval of statutory wills or lifetime gifts. Emily provides robust representation of clients in court but equally helps clients reach a settlement away from the risk and publicity of litigation where possible. She is experienced in various forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution, such as mediation.

Emily's experience means that she also advises settlors who are establishing trusts on risk management issues, such as the treatment of a trust's assets on the divorce or bankruptcy of a beneficiary. She is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars, and also contributes to national publications on issues surrounding disputes relating to inheritance.

Rachel is a trust and estates disputes specialist and a Director in the Freeths Private Client Dispute Resolution Team.

She acts for individuals, executors, trustees, beneficiaries and relatives/friends of the deceased in inheritance and trust disputes. She deals with a wide range of cases concerning the validity of a will; claims against estates for financial provision; disputed trusts; construction and rectification applications and applications to remove executors and trustees. She is known for dealing with complicated, multi-party and often cross jurisdictional disputes. Rachel also acts for individuals in disputed Court of Protection applications made during a person’s lifetime. Often, this is a dispute between siblings or other family members as to what is in the best interests of the person affected. She has a reputation for successfully assisting clients to achieve cost effective and timely settlements and for providing pragmatic advice to clients in sensitive family disputes.

Max specialises in all areas of family finance and is ranked by both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners for his financial remedy work.

Max regularly deals with cases involving trusts & complex asset structures, claims under Schedule 1, TLATA and Part III, jurisdiction disputes and enforcement issues. He is comfortable both on his own or as a junior in a larger team.

He is an expert in the use of the Judgment Summons procedure having been junior counsel, and later sole counsel, for Sir Frederick Barclay in the long-running and widely reported Barclay enforcement proceedings.

Joe has over 30 years’ experience in the finance industry, most of it as a professional trustee. His own experience has given him unique insight into the workings of trust companies and their clients. 

Maria is an associate in our contentious trusts and pensions dispute team. She has regularly represented both beneficiaries and trustees in complex (on shore and offshore) trust litigation. Maria also has extensive experience acting in high value professional negligence claims in a pensions context.

Maria regularly advises private individuals and corporate trustees on issues relating to disclosure, distributions and breach of trust claims.   She also has experience acting in domestic probate claims regarding the validity of will(s). 

Maria has defended a number of professional negligence claims brought by pension trustees against their advisors. She has advised both PI insurers and the Assured.

“She has insight far beyond her years and she really adds value to a case.”

Chambers UK 2023

Tamasin advises high-net worth individuals, trustees and fiduciaries on complex international trust disputes including sham, breach of trust claims, mistake and claims involving protectors. She also advises trustees on administration actions such as applications for directions.

She advises on multi-jurisdictional injunctions and claims for the recovery of assets arising out of such disputes. Her practice also includes domestic and international succession disputes including challenges based on capacity, fraud, undue influence or forgery, proprietary estoppel disputes and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Tamasin routinely advises on professional negligence claims arising out of trust and succession disputes and tax advice. She also acts on many contentious matters for charities and in complex contentious Court of Protection matters.

Sarah specialises in international disputes related to private wealth, often involving complex trust structures with a corporate asset base. She has represented individuals, trustees, and charities in claims of breach of trust, constructive trust, under the laws governing property rights on the end of a relationship or death, in contract, and in company law. Sarah works with colleagues across the firm’s locations on cross-border cases.

Prior to joining the firm in 2022 Sarah practised as a barrister and solicitor at a leading New Zealand private client and trust litigation firm and, before that, in the Dispute Resolution team at a top-tier Asia-Pacific law firm.

Sarah is admitted to practise in New Zealand and in Australia.

Aurélie Conrad Hari leads the civil litigation practice of Bär & Karrer in Geneva, where she has been a partner since 2017. She has a broad experience in handling complex multi-jurisdictional disputes in financial, banking and commercial disputes. She also specializes in private clients' assistance and representation.

Her practice encompasses shareholders' and employment disputes, insolvency as well as asset recovery, with the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards. She also frequently acts as counsel representing parties in commercial arbitration related to various industries, eg, sale, distribution, agency, construction (including power plants) and energy. Additionally, she conducts internal investigation on specific fact findings and compliance issues upon instructions from clients or supervisory authorities.

Aurélie Conrad Hari is a regular speaker and publisher on topics of her expertise. She is co-chair of the officers of the commissions committee and member of the Extended Bureau of the International Young Lawyers Association and chairs the Expert Forum on Dispute Resolution established by the Geneva Bar Association in 2017.

Who's Who Legal lists her as a leading lawyer in litigation, asset recovery and as a future leader in arbitration. She is also recognized by Chambers and Partners and Legal500 for her litigation practice as well as by Leaders League, the Global Elite Private Client Directory as well as Citywealth where she is featured in in the IFC Powerwomen Top 200 since 2018.

Marcus has more than 25 years’ experience as both an English lawyer and a Cayman-based professional trustee. The main part of Marcus’s practice involves managing disputes involving wealthy global families and their associated structures.

He has in-depth experience of establishing and managing structures and resolving disputes that arise in a practical, commercial and cost-efficient manner. He has led the management of many disputes around the world, most recently a multi-billion dollar, multi-jurisdiction dispute involving prominent Middle Eastern families.

He has experience of dealing with litigation in England, Cayman, BVI, Bermuda, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the US. His offshore address book is second to none. Clients are impressed at his round-the-clock availability, his ability to identify the key issues quickly and to assemble the right global team rapidly to tackle any type of dispute.

Marcus is an English-qualified lawyer and was a Cayman-based professional trustee for eight years and has worked in London and Cheltenham law firms (managing private client teams) and managed trust companies in the Cayman Islands.

Richard Wilson KC has a practice encompassing litigation, drafting and advisory work across a wide range of traditional and commercial chancery, with a strong emphasis on trusts and probate (both contentious and non-contentious), related company and partnership law, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, tax, professional negligence and civil fraud.

Ken has responsibility for our private wealth clients. His diverse range of clients include high-net-worth families, single and multi-family offices, listed companies and SMEs. He delivers exceptional client experience.

A significant area of his work is advising individuals and families (and their family offices) for whom a key concern is succession of their wealth and family businesses down the generations with a view to stewardship, while also ensuring asset protection, privacy and tax efficiency.

Ken joined the business in 2018 after a decade working in the financial markets in investment advisory roles, which gives him an extensive understanding of our clients’ wider planning objectives.

Ken is a Chartered Wealth Manager with a Diploma in Private Client Investment Advice and Management and is a Chartered member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment. Ken has recently been included in the peer nominated Global Elite directory as a rising star.

Cristina Torres advises private clients and large estates with interests and international structures on their investments in Spain and abroad. This includes real estate investments, wealth management and executive compensation.

She also advises private equities, venture capital and strategic investors.

She is a member of the German Desk and of the Barcelona Bar Association.

Jennifer specialises in personal tax and taxation of trusts, Wills, LPAs, succession planning and trust law, alongside disclosure regimes. She has a keen focus on charity law and philanthropy, advising those making donations as well as advising charities in every stage of their lifespan, from inception to winding up. She is experienced in the use of trusts in commercial transactions.

Jennifer is a ‘key lawyer’ in the latest Legal 500 guide for the areas of Personal Tax, Trust and Probate and Art & Cultural Property and a ‘Next Generation Partner’ for Charities and Not-for-profit. The directory notes that she is “always spot-on, very responsive, understands the facts and advice one is looking for at the time”.

Jennifer has been shortlisted as a ‘Rising Star’ at the upcoming Chambers High Net Worth Awards 2022. She is technically superb and her clients appreciate her good judgment, commercial acumen and ability to communicate complex legal advice in a clear, concise and understandable way.

Katherine advises professional trustees, settlors and beneficiaries on matters relevant to trusts and foundations, including drafting trust deeds and advising on complex structures including employee reward schemes, JPUTs and pensions.

Katherine joined Ogier in 2012 having previously been a Partner at Harvey Ingram Shakespeare; working in their Leicester and Birmingham offices advising a variety of high net worth private, charitable and commercial clients on contentious and non-contentious issues.

Katherine graduated from the University of Lincoln with a BA Hons in Law and French and completed her academic training at College of Law, York.

Katherine is a member of the International Pension and Employee Benefit Association Lawyers (IPEBLA), the  Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS), the working party for charities legislation in Jersey and until leaving the UK in 2012 was the Vice Chair of the Law Society of England and Wales Private Client Section.

Katherine has been recognised in the Citywealth IFC Power Women Top 200 list for 2018.

Mark Hubbard is a litigator with a reputation for contentious trust and estates cases, civil fraud, regulatory and disciplinary matters, company, insolvency and commercial litigation, as well as advisory work in those fields. His practice has a substantial offshore and international element. Mark has particular experience of litigation in the Bahamas, the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and Switzerland.

He is praised by clients for his quick grasp of complex cases, reliability and the quality of his advocacy, advice and client skills, he "comes up with commercial, practical and creative solutions" (Legal 500, 2016) and is described as "a very assured senior junior who is quick to grasp issues"(Chambers UK Bar 2017, Civil Fraud) and "very impressive in court"(Chambers HNW 2016).

His most recent cases include Marr v Collie 2017 (Privy Council, Bahamas, Trusts); Dinglis Properties v Dinglis Management [2016] 4 WLR 72 (civil fraud, freezing orders); Re K Trust [2016] WTLR 1225 (Guernsey, protectors, trusts); S v S [2015] 1 WLR 4592 (family, Jersey trusts) and Re Fenox (UK) Ltd [2015] All ER(D) 38 (Jan) (insolvency, arbitration).

Mark is the author of Protectors of Trusts (OUP, 2013), the first edition of an international practitioners work and of articles including "When ‘fraud’ does not unravel all", Trusts & Trustees 2013; "More about Schmidt", TQR 2014 and "Control & Ownership: and what's yours is mine too", TQR 2016. He is regularly asked to speak on domestic and offshore legal topics at home and abroad.

Caroline is a partner in the Private Client team and specialises in resolving trust and succession disputes both onshore and offshore.

She advises on all manner of contentious issues relating to the formation and administration of trusts, contested probate, professional negligence in respect of tax and trust planning and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. She also has significant experience advising trustees and beneficiaries in relation to complex trust applications involving variations, agreed compromises or blessings of the exercise of trustee powers. Recent cases have included proceedings in England, The Bahamas, Bermuda, BVI, France and Jersey.

Caroline’s expertise also includes advising trustees and beneficiaries on issues of trust law arising in the context of divorce proceedings and proceedings in the Court of Protection in relation to the appointment of a deputy, applications for a statutory will or codicil and Deprivation of Liberty matters.

Scott specialises in all aspects of medical law. He has been recognised as a leading junior by the legal directories in all three of his core areas of practice – clinical negligence, inquests and personal injury –  for many years. He is also well known for his  expertise in Court of Protection (particularly serious medical treatment cases) and Judicial Review.  Described by clients cited in the directory editorial as “absolutely fearless, incredibly bright and an excellent communicator”, Scott was shortlisted as ‘Clinical Negligence Junior of the Year’ at the  Legal 500 Awards 2022.

Lucinda is a specialist in resolving troublesome issues affecting trusts and estates. She has a leading reputation nationally for her expertise in will validity claims, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, rectification claims, claims for the removal of trustees and fiduciaries, Mental Capacity Act matters, breach of trust claims, Variation of Trust applications, and proprietary estoppel claims. Her cases often have an international element and she's had notable successes at trial and mediation.

Lucinda has nearly 20 years’ experience in resolving disputes, this means she is equipped to offer clients an early view on the prospects of success of a claim. She recognises that disputes in this area are often complex and emotionally charged, and she aims to deal with all of her cases swiftly and at proportionate cost. Lucinda's a strong advocate for mediation and is committed to achieving her clients’ objectives.

She was recently successful in defending a claim in undue influence brought against her client and also succeeded in preserving the majority of a very valuable estate for her charity client in the face of a claim by the deceased’s widow under the 1975 Act.

Chris qualified as a private client lawyer in 1999 and has experience advising UK and international families on tax and succession issues. He is involved in developing strategies to enable wealth to be passed effectively between family generations. Chris is an expert in advising owners of family businesses,acting for landowners,family trustees and those in the sports and entertainment industries.

One of Chris's most significant achievements has been to assist the owners of a large family business who wanted to transfer value in the business to the next generation in a controlled manner.  A tax-efficient structure was designed to enable the clients to achieve their goals while maintaining family harmony.  This will enable the business to continue its success into the future for the benefit of all family members.

Richard’s career began as a trust administrator. After obtaining his Certificate in Offshore Administration, Richard read Marketing, Business and later Law at university before venturing into legal practice in 2004.

Richard had a varied commercial, trust, corporate and litigation practice at the Jersey Bar before returning to industry in 2012. Richard has worked as a Fiduciary Specialist and Deputy Head of Fiduciary before becoming the Global Head of Legal and Structuring for ZEDRA in 2016. Since 2019, Richard has focussed on developing the commercial interests of ZEDRA and its clients as the Global Head of Structuring.

Richard enjoys identifying and implementing optimal solutions for ZEDRA’s clients and works closely with a number of intermediaries and clients in this space.

Erin Trimble-Cregeen is Counsel and practises in Appleby’s Dispute Resolution teams in the Isle of Man and Jersey. Having trained and qualified in the Isle of Man, Erin joined Appleby in October 2015 after gaining several years’ experience at a leading offshore firm in Guernsey.

Erin specialises in trust disputes and general trust advisory work including advising trustees and beneficiaries on a wide range of contentious trust and estates issues and regularly presents to trust service providers on the obligations of trustees.