We specialise in handling all varieties of disputes for families and private wealth professionals.
We recognise that each family has its own unique dynamic and that, when conflicts arise, they are rarely driven by financial considerations alone. We tailor our advice and work hard to achieve practical, long-term solutions that meet your needs.
We act for private individuals, family businesses, trustees (both individuals and trust companies) and other fiduciaries, such as executors, protectors, deputies and attorneys. We also have particular experience acting for charities in relation to disputes that arise over testamentary gifts. We pride ourselves on our strong relationships with our clients and our ability to work in partnership with them.
A large proportion of our work for our clients involves assets located in multiple jurisdictions, often held in private wealth structures offshore. We are able to draw on the firm’s international expertise in succession, trust, tax and divorce law matters. We also regularly work in collaboration with our clients’ other professional advisers throughout the world, advising on English law issues and co-ordinating worldwide litigation.
Why choose us
Many of our practitioners are recognised as leading experts in their field, with particular expertise in:
- Domestic and international trust disputes
- Wills and succession disputes
- Disputes over trust assets on divorce
- Professional negligence claims concerning the administration of trusts and estates
- Court of Protection and mental capacity issues
- Disputes over works of art and cultural assets
- Worldwide asset-tracing and recovery, injunctions and freezing orders
- Tax related disputes
We have a top tier arts disputes team handling all issues relating to the art world, whether for private owners, trusts, charities, governments, museums, dealers, auction houses, artists’ estates, artists or creators.
We also specialise in handling disputes and investigations for our clients across all areas of tax. This includes not only HMRC disclosures and enquiries, but also litigation before the courts and tribunals, advising on the scope of HMRC’s powers, remedying unsuccessful planning and tax-related professional negligence.

International Private Wealth Disputes
As private wealth becomes more global and family dynamics more complex, disputes will inevitably arise.
Meet our private wealth disputes lawyers
- Call Graeme +44 (0)20 7427 6674
- Email Graeme
- London office
- Call Duncan +44 (0)1483 252579
- Email Duncan
- Guildford office
- Call Tamasin +44 (0)20 7203 5396
- Email Tamasin
- London office
- Call Oliver +44 (0)20 7427 6655
- Email Oliver
- London office
- Call Robert +41 (0)22 591 1882
- Email Robert
- Geneva office
International Partner (England & Wales and British Virgin Islands)
Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency, Dispute Resolution
- Call Ray +852 9083 3385
- Email Ray
- Hong Kong office
- Call Frédéric +33 (0) 1 70 99 09 05
- Email Frédéric
- Paris office
- Call Pierre +41 22 591 18 88
- Email Pierre
- Geneva office
- Call Patrick +852 2531 3430
- Email Patrick
- Hong Kong office
Top team involved in all the big cases in this area. Incredible expertise and experience both on and offshore. Its client handling skills are excellent and the lawyers always look for a sensible solution."
One of the best private client firms in the country, if not the world."
A series of videos in which experts from our Family, Private Wealth Disputes and Tax, Trusts and Succession teams discuss the relationship between trusts and family proceedings.
Watch hereAwards


Our thinking
Tim Maxwell
Charles Russell Speechlys partners with London Art Week
We are proud to be partnering with London Art Week, supporting the world’s leading art galleries and auction houses.
Sangna Chauhan
IBA 27th Annual International Private Client Conference
The IBA heads to London for the 27th Annual International Private Client Conference.
Oliver Auld
Unexplained Wealth Orders & Trustees
Learn about Unexplained Wealth Orders, what they are, who can obtain them and the implications that exist for trustees.
Tim Maxwell
Tim Maxwell is quoted in The Art Newspaper on client confidentiality and transparency following the sale of work by Rothko
Tim Maxwell is quoted in The Art Newspaper on client confidentiality and transparency following the sale of work by Rothko.
Patrick Chan
Corporate Treasurer publishes Patrick Chan's comments regarding the No Consent Regime
Corporate Treasurer publishes Patrick Chan's comments on the No Consent Regime
Sarah Anticoni
Sarah Anticoni quoted in PA Media ahead of No-Fault Divorce Law implementation in the UK
Sarah Anticoni quoted in PA Media ahead of No-Fault Divorce Law implementation in the UK
Oliver Auld
Pitfalls of international trust structures as asset protection vehicles
Circumstances in which they were established mean that they will always be inherently under threat.
Hannah Connors
Environmental Land Management: Whose carbon is it anyway?
Everything you need to know about Environmental Land Management Schemes.
Ben Moore
Playing fast and loose with justice: estoppel by conduct
Ben and Simon look at La Micro Group (UK) Ltd and another v La Micro Group Inc and others and its impact on estoppel
Sarah Higgins
Trusts in Family law proceedings
Sarah Higgins, Tamasin Perkins and Nicola Thorpe answer some of the most important questions concerning trusts on divorce.
Sophie Dworetzsky
Sophie Dworetzsky and Helen Coward write for Tax Journal on the impact of the Chancellor’s Budget on the private client industry
The Autumn 2021 Budget was, from a private client perspective, surprisingly uneventful.
Funding for Inheritance Act 1975 claims: Success (fee) or gamble?
Samantha takes a look at funding for Inheritance Act 1975 claims
Oliver Auld
Oliver Auld writes for the Trusts and Estates Law & Tax Journal on the scope of the Jersey courts to set aside a voluntary disposition or other transaction on the grounds of mistake
Oliver Auld reviews the scope of the Jersey courts to set aside a voluntary disposition or other transaction on the grounds of mistake.
New Criminal Offences – Pensions Regulator’s Approach
Tom and Esther take a look at the Pensions Regulator's recently published guidance on their new powers
Simon Green
Simon Green, Jeffrey Lee and Ray Ng featured in Asian Legal Business' article on the wealth management industry in Hong Kong
There has been a 20% increase in UHNW individuals in China in the past three years, with more than a fifth based in the Greater Bay Area.
Hugh Gunson
Hugh Gunson quoted by the Daily Express on IR35 tax fines following the news that HMRC was forced to issue tax penalties to several Government departments
HMRC was forced to issue several Government departments with tax penalties in recent months as IR35 failings were unearthed.
Hugh Gunson
Hugh Gunson quoted by Accountancy Age on why HMRC needs to rebuild taxpayers' trust after its Loan Charge failings
"HMRC needs to listen to the criticisms made in relation to its handling of the loan charge and reflect on them to achieve real change."
Hugh Gunson
Hugh Gunson, Dominic Lawrance and Catrin Harrison write for Taxation on the limits to HMRC’s power to require information from foreign domiciled taxpayers
Are there limits on HMRC’s power to require information from foreign domiciled taxpayers?
Piers Master
Record success for Charles Russell Speechlys’ Private Wealth practice in Chambers HNW 2021 directory
We are delighted to have once again been recognised as a leader in our field in the Chambers High Net Worth 2021 Guide.
Rory Partridge
Weighing in on the importance of attention to detail in service cases
Rory looks at recent judgments that have emphasised the need to follow correct procedure when serving documents in court cases