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Steven is a partner in the trust, estate and inheritance disputes team.
He specialises in the resolution of disputes relating to the formation or administration of trusts and estates in a UK and international context. Recent cases have included disputes relating to trusts and estates in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Switzerland, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Bermuda, Hong Kong and Singapore. Steven also advises on charity law matters, including dispute resolution where UK charities are involved.Steven acts for beneficiaries, trustees or other persons in bringing or defending claims in relation to the creation or administration of a trust or estate and has been appointed by the courts in England and other jurisdictions to represent the interests of minor child beneficiaries whose interests are affected by a dispute.
Achievements
He is listed in the Legal 500 Directory's Hall of Fame for his contentious trusts and probate work as a lawyer at the top of the profession known for his long-standing involvement in market-leading work. He has also been described by Chambers Global as a 'leading figure' and 'esteemed litigator'. Steven is editor and contributing author to Oxford University Press publication 'International Trust Disputes', the second edition of which was published in 2020.
He has a special interest in the arbitration of trust disputes and has spoken at numerous international conferences on the subject and is a member of the advisory board of the International Trust Arbitration Organisation.
Recent recognition
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Track record
Trust and succession disputes
Steven acts in many of the largest and most complex international trust and succession disputes, the majority of which are resolved successfully without a public court decision.
Offshore trusts transfers
Acting for high-net worth international businessman on successfully setting aside transfers into various offshore trusts that had triggered unnecessary tax on £10m+ (heard in English court in August 2019)
Removing executors of a Will
Acting for beneficiaries of an estate in proceedings that went to the Court of Appeal in England on the issue of removing executors of a Will and on the costs of the dispute; reported as Griffin v Higgs [2018]
Trustees of family trusts
Acting for trustees of substantial family trusts seeking order from the Court for additional powers under Section 57 Trustee Act 1925; reported as Gelber v The Sunderland Foundation [2018]
Attacks on trusts
Advising a blue-chip offshore trust company on its involvement in English divorce proceedings concerning attacks on trusts worth over £25 million. We handled the disclosure issues for the trustee and eventually the case was concluded without the trustee being formally joined to the English proceedings.
Inheritance Act claim
Steven and Deborah Nicholls-Carr brought the highest value Inheritance Act claim to date in Wooldridge v Wooldridge (2016). We were acting for a widow who sought to increase provision under her husband's will after his death in a tragic helicopter accident.
Trustee decisions
Advising in the Matter of the F Settlement and the A Trust (2015) a landmark decision of the Bermuda court setting aside trustee decisions.
Validity of high value trusts
The case of BQ v DQ (2010) a decision of the Bermuda Court concerning a successful challenge to the validity of two high value trusts over 30 years after they had been purportedly established.
Talks
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STEP Los Angeles conference panellist on Trusts and Estates Controversies: Current Trends – June 2024
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STEP Guernsey event - The Arbitration of Trust Disputes - February 2024
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STEP Asia - Family Law Implications of Trusts - November 2023
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BVI International Arbitration Conference - Trusts Disputes and Arbitration - November 2021
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STEP Asia - Trust Arbitrations - November 2020
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India High Net Worth Disputes Forum - Discussion roundtable on international trust disputes - November 2020
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International Chamber of Commerce event in London, launching the ICC's draft clause for the arbitration of trust disputes - November 2018
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Panellist - 'Wealthy families in dispute', Private client dining club, London - May 2018
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STEP, Hong Kong branch, lecture on 'Trust and divorce' - February 2018
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'Trust planning in divorce', Isle of man conference - September 2017
Insight
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External publications
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IFC article - When Two Worlds Collide: Offshore Trusts and Arbitration, September 2023
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STEP Journal - The Mother of All Conundrums: commercial surrogacy and trust interests, June 2023
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Editor and contributing author to Oxford University Press' International Trust Disputes, first edition 2012, second edition 2020
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STEP Journal article on Arbitration of Trust Disputes, March 2019
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Wealth Management Spotlight on Contentious Trusts, Spears Magazine, September 2017
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"Stress Testing Trusts in an Unstable World", Wealth Briefly, August 2016
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'Protecting Private Wealth from Europe to the Far East and beyond', Global Business Magazine, World Trustee Report
Admissions
England and Wales, 2000
Education
University of Leeds, BA (Hons) in Political Studies
The College of Law, Diploma in Law
Languages
- English
Memberships
Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists
Charity Law Association
Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners
Key dates
- Year joined: 2014
- Year became partner: 2014