Jonathan Hilliard

Private Client CV

Jonathan has a substantial litigious and non-contentious practice, often with an international element.

He was listed on the basis of his trusts work as

- one of the 10 stars of the junior commercial and chancery bar in Legal Week (2.10.10), who described him as "absolutely brilliant: lots of brain power- impresses solicitors and silks alike" and stated that "he completely outflanks some senior members of the Bar"; and

- one of the 10 future stars of the Bar in the Times (1.10.07), who commented that "he has it all- no wonder he's in demand".

Recommended for traditional chancery (Chambers & Partners 2012).

Many of his cases are confidential but on the litigious side, his cases over recent years have included:

• Acting in a multi-£100m Bermudan case concerning a number of novel points about disclosure of trust information.
  
  
• Acting for the husband in Tchenguiz-Imerman, v Imerman, a multi-£100m international divorce, in relation to the offshore trust networks of the families of the husband and wife.
  
  
• Acted successfully in ITS v GP Noble [2012] EWCA Civ 195 the Court of Appeal in tracing into an ex-wife's ancillary relief settlement that the husband had used trust money to fund (led by Richard Spearman QC). The wife had herself had the divorce settlement set aside for fraud on the part of the husband and the Court of Appeal held that she had thereby lost the benefit of the bona fide purchaser defence.
  
  
• Acting in a Jersey trust dispute spanning a number of potential disputes concerning trustee and protector removal and addition of beneficiaries, currently litigating before the Jersey Courts.
  
  
• Palumbo (2011): acting (unled) for new trustees in highly publicised family dispute as to the previous administration of a family trust.
  
  
• (2011): acting (led by Brian Green QC) in a number of multi-£bn offshore family trust disputes covering Bermuda, Cayman and US.
  
  
• (2011): acted (unled) for one side of the family in (confidential) reorganisation of a network of family trusts worth c.£500m (Christopher McCall QC and Mark Herbert QC acting for the two other parties)
  
  
• (2011): advising offshore trustee on litigation over addition of beneficiaries and its retirement.
  
  
• (2010-11): acting (led by Brian Green QC) in a significant multi-$bn ongoing tax dispute.
  
  
• ITS v Susan Morris (2010-11): acting for trustees in a dispute over the ability to trace into a divorce settlement (led by Richard Spearman QC). Currently on appeal to CA.
  
  
• Independent Trustee Services v GP Noble & others (2010)- acting for trustees in international asset recovery claims against 20 odd defendants arising out of alleged £52m fraud and imprudent investment by former trustees; raised issues as to investment duties of trustees, equitable compensation and account and dishonest assistance (led by Richard Spearman QC).
  
  
• Yukos v Russian Government (2008-2010): instructed (with Brian Green QC) on behalf of Yukos in relation to the offshore trust elements of US$50bn arbitration against the Russian Government.
  
  
• Rectification proceedings to undo a significant tax planning mistake in the setting up of a corporate structure under trust.
  
  
• Family dispute over the ownership of private company owned by a trust.
  
  
• Large multinational private trust claim involving predominantly the UK and Bahamas.
  
  
• Hastings Bass and Gibbon v Mitchell claims.
  
  
• Contentious probate claims.
  
  
• Claims concerning a number of failed personal tax schemes routed through trusts.
  
  
• A significant number of Variation of Trust Act claims.
  
  
• A considerable number of professional negligence claims relating to trusts and tax planning.
  
  
• On the non-contentious side, he regularly advises on a miscellany of trust, estate and personal tax planning issues.