Richard Wilson KC
Richard Wilson KC
Barrister | Serle Court
JURISDICTION
TOP SPECIALISMS
Estates: Contentious
Trusts: Contentious
Trusts: Planning
Office Location
London, United Kingdom
Short Biography
Described by one of the legal directories as "... the all-around superstar of a barrister" Richard Wilson KC has an extensive multi-jurisdictional practice in trusts and estates matters, frequently acting for large professional trustees and UHNWIs. He has appeared in many of the leading cases in these fields, including the Wang dispute in Bermuda. He also advises on high value trust and succession planning.
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
Oswald's
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Do not pretend to know that which you do not
What was your first job?
Barman / waiter for a catering company (I can still do silver service!)
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?
Probably an increasing number of trusts and estates disputes!
Paul Grant
Paul Grant
Associate | Signature Litigation
JURISDICTION
TOP SPECIALISMS
Commercial Litigation
Dispute Resolution or Arbitration
Trusts: Contentious
Office Location
Gibraltar
Short Biography
Paul is a well-rounded practitioner and has a broad litigation experience having advised clients in a wide range of contentious matters. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2017 and subsequently to the Gibraltar Bar in 2019. Paul has experience in contentious trust matters and has appeared as a junior in the Chancery Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Gibraltar and the Court of Appeal on matters relating to the administration of trusts and insolvency. Paul has been instructed in relation to various high-value disputes touching upon construction, insurance, telecommunications, banking and regulatory disputes.
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
Casa Pepe, Queensway Quay, Gibraltar.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
It is better to have the ability to be forceful and choose not to be forceful, than not to have the ability to be forceful.
What was your first job?
Broadcast Assistant
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
Ernest Hemingway - The Old Man and the Sea
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?
I expect my contentious trusts litigation practice to intensify and become more varied in step with Signature Litigation's drive to build and nurture relationships in London and other offshore jurisdictions.
Helen Butterfield
Helen Butterfield
Senior Private Banker | Coutts & Co
JURISDICTION
England and Wales, Switzerland, Monaco, Gibraltar, Jersey
TOP SPECIALISMS
Family Office
Private Banking
Office Location
London, United Kingdom
Short Biography
I am a Senior Private Banker with over 20 years experience looking after European and US private clients and their families. I provide advice to help them navigate the unique opportunities and challenges facing families of wealth and co-ordinate their financial affairs to ensure their wealth is sustained and aligned to their family ambitions. I help build a team around clients using other Private Client Global Elite members when required, combining the expertise of Coutts to build a flexible financial strategy designed to ensure wealth is suitably structured and that capital is used efficiently.
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
Has to be the amazing Coutts dining rooms at 440 Strand
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Be reliable! Clients love that i am always on hand to help and guide
What was your first job?
Serving Champagne at Ascot
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
The Silk Road
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?
I think there may be changes linked to new tax policies but we roll with the changes and embrace the chance to connect with our clients.
Gilead Cooper KC
Gilead Cooper KC
Barrister | Wilberforce Chambers
JURISDICTION
England and Wales, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Hong Kong SAR
TOP SPECIALISMS
Art and Cultural Property
Estates: Contentious
Trusts: Contentious
Office Location
United Kingdom
Short Biography
Before coming to the Bar, Gilead enjoyed a brief career in publishing, editing books on photography, popular science and astronomy. He also spent a couple of years teaching in pre-revolutionary Iran. Gilead joined Wilberforce Chambers in 2015, specialising mainly in trusts and estates litigation. He has a particular interest in Art Law, as well as NFTs and digital assets. He occasionally sits as an arbitrator.
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
The Garrick
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
tantum religio potuit suadere malorum
What was your first job?
Waiter. I was terrible at it.
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
The Matter with Things, by Iain McGilchrist
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?
The proportion of offshore work has been increasing steadily over the past few years; I hope that continues.
Elspeth Talbot Rice KC
Elspeth Talbot Rice KC
Barrister | XXIV Old Buildings
JURISDICTION
TOP SPECIALISMS
Dispute Resolution or Arbitration
Estates: Contentious
Trusts: Contentious
Office Location
United Kingdom
Short Biography
Described in the directories as "the smiling assassin" Elspeth is a highly sought after court advocate who commands a wealth of international trusts expertise. She acts in international trust matters across the globe, combining her knowledge and depth of experience with incisive legal analysis, clarity of expression, practicality, supreme approachability, energy and zest, a strong court presence and superb advocacy. A market source has said " Elspeth embodies all of the qualities we look for in our leading counsel: intellectual rigour, fierce determination, engagement with the client and the detail of the case, composure under pressure, commerciality and articulate leadership. She manages also to be highly responsive, accessible, energetic and incredibly positive. This combination of skills and personality is incredibly hard to find in one person and consequently she is much in demand in the big cases, where her sense of purpose and direction are of immense value."
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
MCR, Lincoln's Inn
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
trust your instincts and be yourself
What was your first job?
riding instructor
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
The Shardlake series and the Burton and Lamb series
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?
greater use of AI products which are being developed.
Elliott Phillips
Elliott Phillips
Founding Partner | Signature Litigation
JURISDICTION
TOP SPECIALISMS
Civil Fraud
Dispute Resolution or Arbitration
Trusts: Contentious
Office Location
Gibraltar
Short Biography
Elliott is the founding partner of Signature Litigation’s practice on the Rock complementing his practice in London. Elliott specialising in contentious trusts and his practice extends to commercial litigation, civil fraud and insolvency. Elliott appears before all courts in Gibraltar and England, and he is ranked Band 1 in Chambers directories, he is described as “an outstanding practitioner and one of the best lawyers in Gibraltar.” The Guide also highlights Elliott as “simply superb. a brilliant tactician and outstanding advocate, he leads his team with incredible skill and care”. Elliott is also recognised by the Private Client Global Elite and as one of the Top 100 Trust Litigators and Top 35 Private Client Litigators 2020-2023. From 2015-2023, Elliott was also an MP in Gibraltar and served as HM Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Justice. Elliott also served as Shadow Minister for Health during the C-19 pandemic.
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
Club Gascon
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Always go back to the books
What was your first job?
Cement mixer….
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
Thinking, fast and slow
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?
Harnessing the opportunities that exist outside the usual jurisdictions of choice