Serle Court

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.

Richard has been involved in many of the most significant and high-value cases in those areas in recent years, including: Futter v. Futter [2013] UKSC 26 (the leading case on the Rule in Re Hastings-Bass); Gany v Khan [2018] UKPC 21 (claim to establish ownership of companies by BVI trust and setting aside appointment by trustees); Grand View Private Trust Company v. Wong [2020] Bermuda Court of Appeal (challenge to exercise of trustees’ powers on the basis that it destroyed the ‘substratum’ of the trust) and the Dawson-Damer litigation (high value breach of trust claim in The Bahamas with related litigation in England and Bermuda). He is also currently acting in a number of disputes concerning the estates of UHNWIs in England.

His work frequently involves offshore matters and issues of private international law. He has appeared in the Privy Council, the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal of Gibraltar, the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal of Bermuda, the Supreme Court of The Bahamas, the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. He has also given expert evidence of English Law in the Royal Courts of Jersey and Guernsey. He frequently acts in cases in all of the principal offshore jurisdictions including those mentioned above and in an increasing number of cases in Hong Kong.

Before commencing practice at the Bar, Richard worked as a tax consultant with Price Waterhouse.

Called to the Bar 1996 (Middle Temple). Formerly worked as a Tax Consultant with Price Waterhouse. Co-author of 'The Trustee Act 2000: A Practical Guide' (Jordans). Author of numerous articles.

Chancery Bar Association; STEP; ACTAPS; Professional Negligence Bar Association.

LLB (Sheffield), LLM (London).