Rupert Reed

Private Client CV

In his early chancery practice, Rupert worked on a substantial number of trust and contentious probate and Inheritance Act cases.  More recently, substantial issues relating to express, implied and resulting trusts have arisen in his commercial and property law cases.  Clients have instructed him because his expertise and experience bridges these diverse areas of practice.  

Recent/notable cases include:

• With John Martin QC, acting for the Interim Administrators of Arkadi Patarkatsishvili (‘Badri') in defending various claims brought by Boris Berezovsky against Badri's Estate (Berezovsky v. Abramovich; Berezovsky v. Hine & Ors[2010] EWHC 2044 (Ch).
  
  
• Acting for the beneficial owner of a substantial property in London N16 in seeking to invalidate various transactions procured by fraud and/or undue influence and/or in breach of trust by a cousin and confidant of his late mother (Kopfstein v. Ziffer & Ors [2009]).
  
  
• Successfully obtaining judgment for US$10 million deposited with a Kuwaiti bank by a Lebanese bank under various agency contracts on the basis that the sums deposited had been held by the agent on express or resulting trust under those contracts (BLOM v. The Investment Dar Co [2009] EWHC) 3545 (Ch)).
  
  
• Acting for a beneficiary of certain will trusts in seeking the appointment of new trustees under the relevant sections of the Trustee Act (Kaufman v. Abrahamson & Anor [2008]).
  
  
• Acting for an international property fund in claiming that certain properties and/or proceeds were held on trust pursuant to fraudulent breaches of trust and misuses of confidential information by the fund's former investment manager and adviser (Belgravia Financial Services Group Ltd & Ors v. Dunkerley & Ors [2008]).
  
  
• Leading Sebastian Allen and with Australian Counsel, successfully arguing the certain Australian agricultural properties were acquired on resulting or constructive trusts for a farming partnership or the partner who had provided the purchase monies (Eglington v. Rowe [2008]).
  
  
• Acting for a divorced wife in arguing that she had a right to trace into a property on Connaught Square purchased with monies misapplied by her former husband from their pension fund in breach of trust (Clarke v. Clarke [2008]).
  
  
• Acting successfully for executors of will at trial in defending will from challenges that there had been earlier mutual wills and that the testatrix had lacked testamentary capacity or had signed the will pursuant not to mistake, undue influence or misrepresentations (Osenton v. Osenton [2004] EWHC 1044 (Ch)) and further acting in proceedings required to execute the same will [2008]).