Out of time Inheritance Act claim – use of standstill agreements and hope for late claims? – No. 5 Chambers

Posted August 29th, 2019 in appeals, news, time limits, trusts, wills by sally

‘In a decision handed down on 30th July 2019, the Court of Appeal have overturned a controversial first instance decision. Mostyn J had refused permission to bring a claim under s4 Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. The substance of the claim under the Act related to whether a beneficial interest under a discretionary trust, rather than outright provision, failed to make reasonable provision for a spouse. The first instance decision created a stir because, among other findings, Mostyn J made obiter comments that it was not appropriate for parties to enter into ‘stand still agreements’ as an attempt to extend the 6-month time limit for bringing claims under the Act whilst negotiations were underway.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 7th August 2019

Source: www.no5.com

Akcil & Ors v Koza Ltd & Anor [2019] UKSC 40 – Hardwick Chambers

‘The first respondent (“Koza Ltd”) was a private company incorporated in England in March 2014. Koza Ltd was a wholly owned subsidiary of the sixth appellant (“Koza Altin”), a publicly listed company incorporated in Turkey and part of a group of Turkish companies known as the Koza Ipek Group (“the Group”). The Group was formerly controlled by the second respondent (“Mr Ipek”).’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 22nd August 2019

Source: hardwicke.co.uk

Firm right to withhold privileged information, High Court rules – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 24th, 2019 in disclosure, law firms, news, privilege, trusts by tracey

‘The High Court has backed international firm Taylor Wessing over its refusal to disclose privileged information to the beneficiary of a Bahamian trust. Taylor Wessing was acting for the trustee of the Glennfinnan Settlement when a beneficiary of the trust requested personal data about parties to litigation in the Bahamas.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 23rd May 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Trusts and divorce: the ‘Chinese tigers’ saga continues – Family Law

Posted February 6th, 2019 in charities, divorce, news, trusts by tracey

‘Edward Floyd, a partner at Penningtons Manches in London, writes that there has been a fascinating twist in the tale of the long running, bitterly contested litigation, Quan v Bray (dubbed the “Chinese tigers” case) after the wife’s financial claims on divorce came before Mr Justice Mostyn in December 2018. The case has spanned six years and legal fees of £7 million have been incurred, attracting widespread tabloid interest.’

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Family Law, 6th February 2019

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

The status of allotments – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 29th, 2019 in charities, Charity Commission, local government, news, trusts by sally

‘The recent decision of the Upper Tribunal in Densham v Charity Commission [2018] UKUT 0402, in which the Charity Commission made detailed legal submissions, will be of interest to all trust law practitioners as well as those working with local authorities.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 28th January 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Quan v Bray: Joint lives maintenance orders and deferred capital claims in financial remedy proceeding – Family Law

Posted January 25th, 2019 in financial provision, news, periodical payments, trusts by tracey

‘Antonia Barker, senior associate at Vardags, who acted for the wife in this case, comments on Quan v Bray, which involved long-running financial remedy proceedings in which the court made findings of gross litigation misconduct and that the husband had earning capacity that could be inferred.’

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Family Law, 25th January 2019

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Homeless family ‘can’t use £500,000 trust fund’ – BBC News

‘A woman awarded £500,000 after being left with severe physical and mental disabilities is homeless after her mother was barred from buying them a home with the money.’

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BBC News, 14th January 2018

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Residential Nil Rate Band: A Path through the Maze – Radcliffe Chambers

Posted December 12th, 2018 in inheritance tax, news, trusts, wills by sally

‘In late 2015, the Government introduced an additional nil rate band for inheritance tax purposes applying where a deceased person’s interest in their residence is “closely inherited” by their children and other descendants, known as the residential nil rate band (“RNRB”). The objective was to meet the criticism that the estates of persons, who are by no means wealthy, were being dragged into the inheritance tax net by virtue only of the historic rise in residential property prices.’

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Radcliffe Chambers, 5th December 2018

Source: www.radcliffechambers.com

Financial Remedies and Divorce Update, September 2018 – Family Law Week

‘Rose-Marie Drury, Senior Associate, Mills & Reeve LLP analyses the news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during August 2018.’

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Family Law Week, 6th September 2018

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Court of Appeal hands down judgment in British Airways pension scheme litigation – Radcliffe Chambers

Posted August 6th, 2018 in airlines, news, pensions, trusts by sally

‘The appeal concerned whether the Scheme had been effectively amended to include a trustee power to award discretionary pension increases and whether the subsequent exercise of that power was valid.’

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Radcliffe Chambers, 5th July 2018

Source: www.radcliffechambers.com

Bennett v Bennett & Others [2018] EWHC 1931 (Ch) – Tanfield Chambers

Posted August 6th, 2018 in contracts, estoppel, news, sale of land, trusts by sally

‘Tanfield barristers Marc Glover and Chloe Sheridan successfully represented the Claimants in a High Court dispute over East Thurrock United Football Club. In a judgment handed down on 25th July 2018, the Court dismissed the defendant’s and additional parties’ claims to a share in the land used by the Football Club, claimed to be worth £10 million.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 6th August 2018

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Supreme Court: use of corporate vehicles did not avoid limitation exception – OUT-LAW.com

‘Company directors were said to be responsible for assets despite their use of corporate vehicles, the Supreme Court has ruled (12-page / 157KB PDF). The ruling means that a six year limitation period stopping liquidators taking legal action against the directors does not apply. This case will impact future misfeasance actions. Director and officer indemnity insurers should take note of this decision as it confirms that the English courts are unwilling to accept the six-year limitation defence for actions against directors following the disposal of company assets in breach of fiduciary duty for economic gain.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 23rd March 2018

Source: www.out-law.com

Court of Protection: SRA regulation allows for immediate approval of trust corporations – Legal Futures

Posted February 13th, 2018 in Court of Protection, news, Solicitors Regulation Authority, trusts by sally

‘Trust corporations wanting to act as property and affairs deputies for incapacitated people must be regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to gain immediate approval, the Court of Protection (CoP) has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 12th February 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

A prenup for Harry and Meghan? – Law & Religion UK

Posted November 29th, 2017 in news, prenuptial agreements, royal family, trusts by sally

‘Almost as soon as actress Meghan Markle’s engagement to Prince Harry was announced, The Times published advice from English family lawyers suggesting the couple sign a prenup. ‘It is absolutely vital’, one interviewee said, because ‘there will always be concerns that in case of any future divorce, royal assets could end up being lost’.’

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Law & Religion UK, 29th November 2017

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Divorce and Family Trusts: Three lines of attack and how to shut them down – Family Law

Posted September 26th, 2017 in divorce, news, trusts by sally

‘A spouse looking to make a claim over a family trust has three potential lines of attack. Each one can seriously dent family wealth if there is no planned and detailed defence in place. However, there are a number of practical steps ultra-high net worth (UHNW) individuals and their advisers can take to shut down all three lines of attack – and proactively secure family wealth for future generations.’

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Family Law, 25th September 2017

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

‘Professional’ trustees likely to receive higher penalties for wrongdoing, says Pensions Regulator – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 15th, 2017 in enforcement, news, penalties, pensions, trusts by sally

‘Pension scheme trustees that are considered to be ‘professional trustees’ can expect higher penalties for wrongdoing, The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 14th August 2017

Source: www.out-law.com

High Court rejects claim of solicitors’ negligence involving payments from £230m trust fund – Legal Futures

Posted August 10th, 2017 in law firms, negligence, news, solicitors, trusts by tracey

‘A High Court judge has dismissed a negligence claim against London law firm Farrer & Co in a case involving a client with a $300m (£231m) trust fund.’

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Legal Futures, 10th August 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Binding agreements in TOLATA claims – Family Law Week

‘Alexander Chandler, barrister, 1 King’s Bench Walk, considers the law and practice of agreements to settle TOLATA claims.’

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Family Law Week, 28th July 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Sham Trusts and the Grand National – Family Law Week

Posted June 30th, 2017 in financial provision, news, sham transactions, trusts by tracey

‘Mark Warwick QC of Selborne Chambers explains the hurdles that need to be cleared in order to establish that a trust is a sham in the light of the judgment in ND v SD and Others (2017) EWHC 1507 (Fam).’

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Family Law Week, 28th June 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Finance and Divorce Update, June 2017 – Family Law Week

Posted June 14th, 2017 in divorce, financial provision, news, trusts by tracey

‘Claire Molyneux of Mills & Reeve LLP analyses the news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during May 2017.’

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Family Law Week, 9th June 2017

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk