Contentious Trusts, Estates and Private Wealth Litigation

These disputes are typically very complex in nature, requiring expert legal and strategic advice particularly on alternative and often conflicting laws and jurisdictions. Our lawyers are ideally placed to provide that assistance, acting for clients from a variety of backgrounds on trust related issues including investment trusts, hedge funds, private equity houses, insolvency practitioners, banks and corporates.

We also have considerable experience in dealing with private wealth disputes for families, family offices, high net worth individuals, trustees, trust companies and beneficiaries in international and offshore trust litigation. Much of our work involves assets located in multiple jurisdictions and which are often held in offshore structures. In advising on international litigation, we benefit from strong connections with other professional advisers in London, Hong Kong, Continental Europe, Singapore, the Channel Islands and the major Caribbean offshore centres.

Our work for clients often supports multi-jurisdictional proceedings, dealing with trust disputes emanating from high value contentious divorces, or where the trustees are based in Gibraltar. We are regularly involved in obtaining injunctions and other forms of interim relief, examining ways in which we can enforce a UK judgment in the context of a Gibraltar trust, as well as commencing proceedings in parallel to other jurisdictions to protect assets that are controlled by locally based structures, directors and entities.

Our lawyers are highly regarded for their private wealth disputes expertise

Partner Elliott Phillips, head of Signature Litigation’s Gibraltar office, is a ranked expert in the Chambers Global and Europe Guides and is listed as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 EMEA Guide for his disputes practice. He is described as “an impressive individual” and a “a specialist in international trusts and estates disputes.” The Gibraltar practice is described as “very professional, knowledgeable and efficient” and “an ideal choice for litigation in the jurisdiction.” Elliott is also recognised in Legal Week’s Private Client Global Elite, a directory of the world’s elite lawyers advising ultra high net worth clients. He is also a regular speaker at high profile private client conferences, contributing to discussions centring on ultra high net worth private wealth disputes.

Partner Graham Huntley has 30 years’ litigation experience and has acted in a number of high profile and complex trusts and estates litigations. He is a highly ranked expert in the Chambers and Legal 500 Guides, which describe him as “hugely experienced” an “exceptional litigator” and “a very impressive solicitor who thinks strategically and deeply about his cases.”

Partner Thomas Rouhette, head of Signature Litigation’s Paris office, has almost 30 years’ experience in litigation including in civil fraud, asset tracing and high net worth private wealth disputes. Thomas is highly ranked across the Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 legal directories. Described as “an intelligent and clear-minded lawyer”, a “tough but excellent” litigator, “a good strategist and the best trial lawyer [the client has] seen in the French court system”, Thomas focuses on complex, bet the company litigation. Who’s Who Legal also ranks Thomas in its Thought Leaders – Litigation 2020 Guide, which notes he is “a tough and pragmatic lawyer” with “deep knowledge of the legal and regulatory environment”.