Graeme heads the firm's Contentious Trusts & Estates team. He advises trustees, executors and beneficiaries in relation to a broad range of disputes. Graeme is recognised in the legal directories as a leader in contentious trust and estates matters. He practises in both domestic and international trust and succession disputes - recent cases have involved parties located in multiple onshore and offshore jurisdictions around the world. Graeme regularly works alongside his colleagues in the family and private client teams on complex multi-jurisdictional issues. He also has a growing practice in IFA disputes and handles fraud and professional negligence cases relating to trust, tax and succession matters.Graeme is admitted to practise in England and Wales.Experience highlights: Advising beneficiaries in an offshore trust dispute involving assets in excess of $2bn Advising trustees on a multi-jurisdictional trust dispute involving funds in excess of $100m where there were allegations of fraud against a protector Advising trustees in English divorce proceedings involving assets in a number of jurisdictions Acting for clients in complex Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act disputes
England - London • Private client
Charles Russell Speechlys LLP
Charles Russell Speechlys LLP is ‘involved in the big cases and is handling these big cases well’, under the able leadership of the ’exceptional’ Graeme Kleiner, who has ‘almost legendary status.' The practice enjoyed a number of recent highlights, including the arrival of the ’real powerhouse’ Ziva Robertson from McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP, and the promotion of Geneva-based Robert Avis to the partnership. The team has a stellar reputation both nationally and internationally. Its work spans the entire private wealth sector – it regularly works with its matrimonial team on some of the largest international divorce cases. Duncan Elson covers the full gamut of contentious trusts and estates work. Tamasin Perkins advises high-net-worth individuals, trustees and fiduciaries on many complex international trust and probate disputes. Areas of expertise include breach of trust claims, and claims involving protectors. Oliver Auld specialises in acting for private clients, and a wide range of people who are acting in a fiduciary capacity.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Oliver Auld and Graeme Kleiner are both very able litigators. Graeme is highly experienced. Both are very able lawyers and tacticians. Superb client handling always with a view to getting the best outcome for the client. The team is big and strong across the board.'
‘Graeme Kleiner - clients love him and he has very good instincts as to where a case might go. Duncan Elson is equally excellent and really fights his client's corner while knowing when to make a good deal.'
'Tamasin Perkins is an excellent lawyer and very good with clients. Robert Avis, a new partner, is a phenomenal lawyer and very calm. There are some excellent associates.'
‘Very strong in contentious trusts and probate. Clear practical advice and litigation preparation. Availability of specialist advice in other areas of the law to complement the litigation team.'
‘Graeme Kleiner. Absolute standout. The solicitor you would want to act for you. Very knowledgeable, quick thinking and practical. Will ask the difficult questions early on, so that where there are risks and difficulties the client is fully aware of them before getting too far involved in litigation. Has his finger on the pulse of the latest developments in the law and practice.'
‘Graeme Kleiner is a first-rate litigator who relishes hard-fought litigation. Ziva Robertson is a great strategist who can come up with solutions to the most difficult problems.'
‘Simply one of the best in London - strength and depth in the team which is studded with stars of trust and probate litigation. Graeme Kleiner - one of the most experienced, bright and sensible trust litigators in London. Tamasin Perkins has a firm handle on trust litigation.'
'Duncan Elson - combines experience, knowledge, intellect and robustness in litigation with sensitivity for the human element. A difficult combination to find. And a total delight to work with.'
Key clients
- Mate v Mate
- Dawson Damer v Grampian
- Colicci and another v Grinberg and another (It acts for Robert, Rosanna and Josephine Colicci)
Work highlights
- Successfully bringing a claim for members of a farming family in respect of claims for proprietary estoppel, unjust enrichment and professional negligence in relation to development of farming land and declarations of trust.
- Acting for the defendant/counterclaimant in High Court proceedings concerning claims relating to a Grade I listed property in Buckinghamshire designed by Sir John Soane with Grade II listed Capability Brown grounds, worth approximately £15m.
- Acting for the claimants in High Court proceedings relating to a promise to make wills and the subsequent succession of 40% of the shares in a family company, which operates a number of cafes, restaurants and kiosks across various locations in central London.
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Leading individuals
Next Generation Partners
Oliver advises trustees, protectors, high net-worth individuals and beneficiaries in a broad range of domestic and offshore trust disputes, including claims relating to breach of trust, sham, mistake and challenges to trusts on divorce or insolvency. He also advises on trustees’ applications for rectification, directions or on construction issues, variation of trusts applications and applications for the removal of trustees.He also acts for personal representatives and beneficiaries in relation to probate disputes concerning domestic and international estates, including claims concerning the administration of estates, rectification the validity of wills and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. His clients include professional and lay executors, high net worth individuals and national charities. Oliver also advises on professional negligence claims arising out of trust, tax and probate matters.Oliver has been recognised as a “Next Generation Lawyer” in Legal 500, 2017, Contentious Trusts and Probate.Oliver is admitted to practise in England and Wales.Experience highlights: Acting for charities defending their legacy income in validity of wills disputes and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 Acting for claimants and defendants in professional negligence claims in relation to administration of estates and trusts, including professional charges and investment disputes Advising on issues relating to trust and estate assets invested in commercial enterprises Advising trustees on challenges to trusts on divorce Acting for trustees in uncontested rectification and construction applications
Tamasin advises high-net worth individuals, trustees and fiduciaries on complex international trust disputes including sham, breach of trust claims, mistake and claims involving protectors. She also advises trustees on administration actions such as applications for directions. She advises on multi-jurisdictional injunctions and claims for the recovery of assets arising out of such disputes. Her practice also includes domestic and international succession disputes including challenges based on capacity, fraud, undue influence or forgery, proprietary estoppel disputes and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Tamasin routinely advises on professional negligence claims arising out of trust and succession disputes and tax advice. She also acts on many contentious matters for charities and in complex contentious Court of Protection matters.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Graeme Kleiner