Track record
Bitter dispute over administration of the late Dame Zaha Hadid's estate
We advised the nominated representative of the former employees of the architectural practice of the late Dame Zaha Hadid in the bitter dispute over the administration of her estate. The executors and trustees of the estate sought the Court's blessing to pass significant assets to an Employee Benefit Trust. The Court accepted submission made on behalf of the former employees that the decision should not be blessed.
Court of Appeal issues landmark decision upholding widow's right to autonomy
We represented Mrs Cowan in her claim for reasonable financial provision from the estate of her late husband, a businessman credited with bringing the black bin liner to the UK. The Court of Appeal unanimously upheld our client against a refusal to allow her 1975 Act claim notwithstanding it having been issues out of time. The case has far reaching consequences for parties engaged in 1975 Act proceedings.
Employee Benefit Trust
Sarah and Paul Hewitt advised the nominated representative of the former employees of Zaha Hadid Limited in Schumacher v Clarke and others [2020] in which the executors and trustees of Dame Zaha Hadid's estate sought the Court's blessing of a decision to pass significant assets to an Employee Benefit Trust. The Court accepted submissions made on behalf of the former employees and other representative parties that the decision should not be blessed. Click here to read the Judgment.
Estate financial provision
Sarah and Paul Hewitt represent Mrs Cowan in her claim for reasonable financial provision from the estate of her late husband. In July 2019 the Court of Appeal unanimously gave her permission to bring her claim notwithstanding it having been issued out of time. Here is a link to the Court of Appeal Judgment and to our article. Trial is due at the end of July 2020.
Trust protectors' duties
Sarah and Dawn Goodman for the successful beneficiaries in The Matter of the A Trust [2012] JRC 169A, where the Royal Court of Jersey made new law on the scope of the duties of trust protectors and the grounds on which they may be removed from office. The Royal Court found that, as with trustees, the correct test for removal of a protector arises from Letterstedt v Broers. Due not only to the protector's misunderstanding his duties to his beneficiaries but also his failure to keep a watchful eye on the trustee's management of the trusts, the Royal Court suspended his powers and removed him from office.
Disclosure by trustees
Sarah also acted with Dawn Goodman in The matter of the R and RA Trusts (Gsy C.A.) [470/2014] which concerned an unusual application for disclosure by trustees against beneficiaries of the trusts.
Family trust
Sarah and Dawn Goodman advised the successful beneficiaries in Henchley v Thompson [2017] EWHC 225 ch in their claim against the trustee of a family trust for an account dating back over 40 years from.
Baxendale-Walker scheme
Stephen Richards and Sarah advised in Twin Benefits v Barker [2017] EWHC and subsequently Barker v Confiance & Others [2018]] EWHC 2965, which arose from a failed Baxendale-Walker scheme and goes before the Court of Appeal in July 2020
Talks
Pernicious Protector, Dangerous Peer - June 2013
Powerholders in Trusts: the Trustee - Geneva and Zurich April 2017
ACTAPS - Trustees' duty to account - 2017
Power holders in Trusts: Investment Advisors - Geneva and Zurich April 2018
Powerholders in Trusts - London - September 2018
Law Society Wills and Probate Webinar May 2019