Practice overview

Edward has a commercial and chancery practice, with particular experience in the fields of pensions, trusts, commercial disputes, professional negligence, international work, financial services and civil fraud. His practice encompasses litigation and advisory work across the broad range of commercial chancery cases.

Edward is regularly involved in large-scale litigation involving pension schemes, regulatory work, trust disputes, business disputes and professional liability, often with an international or offshore element. He has considerable experience of document-heavy long-running cases and working as part of multi-jurisdictional legal teams.

Edward is recommended in Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 for pensions, private client, commercial: chancery, professional negligence and civil fraud.

Edward was a scholar of Lincoln College, Oxford, where he obtained one of the best first class degrees in his year in Modern History. He achieved the highest mark in his year on both the CPE law conversion course and the Bar Vocational Course. He is a Queen Mother Scholar of the Middle Temple and was awarded the Eldon Law Scholarship by Oxford University.

Commercial disputes

Edward has a wide experience of commercial disputes, often on a large scale or with an international element. He is recommended in Chambers & Partners for “commercial: chancery” and in The Legal 500 for “commercial litigation” and “fraud: civil”.

His cases range from purely contractual disputes to complex disputes involving issues of asset tracing, equitable remedies, financial services, fraud and conflicts of laws. Edward has considerable experience of document-heavy and intensive litigation.

Cases include:

  • 2 BCLC 351 Defending one of the managers of an Italian investment fund against claims of conspiracy and breach of fiduciary duty: Fortress Value Recovery Fund v Blue Skye [2013].
  • Acting for high profile businessman in joint venture dispute regarding ownership of international haute couture business.
  • Bloom v Pensions Regulator – acting for the trustee in an application to Companies Court to determine order of priority of a contribution notice upon insolvency.
  • Acting as junior counsel for the main defendants during the five month Chancery Division trial in Langbar International v Rybak, a case concerning allegedly forged certificates of deposit of over US $600m.
  • Acting as junior counsel for the banks involved in a dispute about £120m loans for the Isle of Man’s new power station.
  • Acting as junior counsel for the director of a PLC in a case involving allegations of financial assistance and breach of directors’ duties.
  • Acting as counsel for the applicants in DGT v Cubitt Building and Interiors [2008] Bus LR 132. A case on the jurisdiction to stay court proceedings in favour of alternative dispute resolution.
  • Appearing in the Court of Appeal for the respondent in Vickbar v David Freud [2006] All ER (D) 411 (Nov). A case on the interpretation of a contract arising out of an unfair prejudice petition in the Companies Court.
  • Acting as junior counsel for a number of local authorities in commercial disputes with their contractors, including a claim against a London borough for rectification of a major advertising lease and two substantial claims by district councils against their waste contractors.
  • Acting as junior counsel in a claim by one of the largest UK universities to terminate a contract to accredit the degree courses of an American university in the UK.

Download Commercial disputes CV

  • Quote symbolAn outstanding lawyer, who is exceptionally clever and an excellent advocate.

    Chambers & Partners 2024

  • Quote symbolA superb draftsman and one who has a real forensic eye for points of detail.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolEdward is one of the best juniors out there. Exceptional attention to detail and preparation, coupled with good commercial acumen, makes him a high-demand barrister.

    Chambers & Partners 2024

  • Quote symbolEdward is exceptionally able, a very strong strategist and advocate. He is creative in working out how to use the court processes to get the client where it needs to be.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolAn amazing technical mind who misses nothing.

    Chambers & Partners 2024

Commercial disputes insights & events View all thought leadership View all events

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    Events / Webinars

    Wilberforce Commercial Conference: The Future of Commercial Litigation

    Thursday 28 March 2019 | 12.30pm - 5.30pm followed by drinks
    Kimpton Fitzroy, 1-8 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 5BE

    £120 + VAT | 3.5 CPD

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    Events / Webinars

    Wilberforce Guernsey Conference 2016

    Tuesday 29 November 2016 | 4.00pm -6.30pm
    The Old Government House Hotel, Guernsey,

    2.0 CPD

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Edward's expertise

Download Pensions CV

Pensions

Edward is recommended as one of the leading pensions juniors in Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500.

He has extensive experience of pensions litigation and advisory work, having appeared in a number of high-profile recent cases such as Mitchells & Butlers, Lloyds Bank Pension Scheme (GMP equalisation), Pensions Protection Fund v Dalriada, IBM, Nortel, Merchant Navy Ratings and many others. He has often appeared as advocate against silks on the other side.

Edward regularly deals with issues as to scheme funding, s75 debts, equalisation, rectification, trustee and employer duties, interpretation, insolvency, regulatory powers, PPF entry and professional liability, amongst other matters.

Edward has been involved in a number of the leading cases on Pensions Regulator proceedings such as the Bonas Group Pension Scheme and Box Clever. He has particular experience of cases concerning the Regulator’s “moral hazard” powers.

Edward has acted for many different types of client in pensions cases: trustees, employers, members / representative beneficiaries, public bodies and professional advisers/insurers. He aims to combine specialist technical knowledge with a practical and strategic approach.

His pensions practice also comprises pensions-related professional negligence claims.

Example cases:

  • Mitchells v Butlers – acting for the successful claimant in a 3 week rectification trial.
  • Lloyds Bank Pension Scheme – acting for trustee in two trials on GMP equalisation
  • Pension Protection Fund v Dalriada – acting for the PPF in claim to resolve issues about the operation of the Fraud Compensation Fund
  • Box Clever – acting for the targets in a claim by the Pensions Regulator for an FSD.
  • IBM v Dalgleish – acting for the trustee in a claim to establish whether the employer had acted in good faith.
  • Bloom v Pensions Regulator – acting for the trustee in an application to the Companies Court to determine the order of priority of a contribution notice upon insolvency.
  • Re Merchant Navy Ratings – acting for the trustee in proceedings concerning the contribution rules of an industry-wide scheme.
  • Bonas Group Pension Scheme – proceedings concerning the first contribution notice issued by the Pensions Regulator.
  • Nortel (Canadian/US/UK proceedings) – acting for the trustee and the PPF in proceedings for an FSD and other claims.
  • Hugh Mackay Retirement Benefits Scheme – application by the Pensions Regulator for the appointment of an independent trustee.

Download Pensions CV

  • Quote symbolAn outstanding lawyer, who is exceptionally clever and an excellent advocate.

    Chambers & Partners 2024

  • Quote symbolA superb draftsman and one who has a real forensic eye for points of detail.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolEdward is one of the best juniors out there. Exceptional attention to detail and preparation, coupled with good commercial acumen, makes him a high-demand barrister.

    Chambers & Partners 2024

  • Quote symbolEdward is exceptionally able, a very strong strategist and advocate. He is creative in working out how to use the court processes to get the client where it needs to be.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolAn amazing technical mind who misses nothing.

    Chambers & Partners 2024

Pensions insights & events View all thought leadership View all events

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    Articles

    Newell Trustees Ltd v Newell Rubbermaid UK Services Ltd

    Edward Sawyer has written a casenote on the recent Newell decision, which provides a fresh insight into the effect of Courage provisos on the conversion of DB benefits to DC. The article was first posted on Paul Newman KC‘s website... Read more

    By Edward Sawyer
    Monday 5 February 2024

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    Recent Cases

    Judgment handed down: British Broadcasting Corporation v BBC Pension Trust Ltd

    Pensions

    Brian Green KC | Michael Tennet KC | Edward Sawyer | Joseph Steadman
    Monday 14 August 2023

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    News

    Wilberforce shortlisted for The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023

    We are delighted to announce that Wilberforce has 11 nominations across 9 different categories at The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023. Set of the Year Chancery Set of the Year Chancery Junior of the Year: Edward Sawyer, Sebastian Allen Chancery... Read more

    Wednesday 12 July 2023

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    Events / Webinars

    Nugee Memorial Pensions Conference & Dinner 2023

    Wednesday 21st June 2023 | 12.30pm - 5.55pm, followed by drinks and dinner by Nobu
    Nobu Shoreditch Hotel & Restaurant

    £175 for conference & dinner / £125 for conference only | 3.5 CPD

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Professional liability

Edward is recommended by The Legal 500 in the field of “professional negligence”.

Edward has considerable experience of professional negligence cases involving accountants, auditors, lawyers, actuaries and financial advisers. He has been particularly involved in cases regarding investment funds and pension funds, and in professional negligence claims arising out of fraud.

Representative work includes:

  • Defending a major international auditor in respect of claims arising from collapse of a corporate group.
  • Acting for pension scheme actuaries in relation to failed benefit equalisation.
  • Defending a leading firm of accountants against claims of mismanagement of a high net worth individual’s investments.
  • Proceedings involving claims of negligence and other misconduct against a City firm of solicitors in relation to advice on corporate governance and directors’ powers.
  • Acting for a claimant in a claim against an actuary for negligent work on a FRS17 disclosure note.
  • Defending an auditor in respect of claims arising from the failure of a film finance partnership.
  • Proceedings involving claims of negligence against an accountant in respect of corporation tax advice on director’s loan account.
  • Defending solicitors sought to be made vicariously liable for the fraud of their partner.
  • Acting for the claimant in a claim against a major investment bank for breaches of the FSMA regulatory regime in the conduct of investment business.

Download Professional liability CV

  • Quote symbolAn outstanding lawyer, who is exceptionally clever and an excellent advocate.

    Chambers & Partners 2024

  • Quote symbolA superb draftsman and one who has a real forensic eye for points of detail.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolEdward is one of the best juniors out there. Exceptional attention to detail and preparation, coupled with good commercial acumen, makes him a high-demand barrister.

    Chambers & Partners 2024

  • Quote symbolEdward is exceptionally able, a very strong strategist and advocate. He is creative in working out how to use the court processes to get the client where it needs to be.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolAn excellent, hard-working and very capable senior junior.

    Chambers & Partners 2024

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    Events / Webinars

    Professional Liability Conference 2019

    Thursday 31 January 2019 | 8.30am - 1.00pm followed by lunch
    One Moorgate Place, Chartered Accountants Hall, London EC2R 6EA

    £75 + VAT | 3.0 CPD

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Trusts, probate and estates: contentious

Edward has been involved in many contentious and non-contentious cases involving trusts, probate and succession, both domestic and offshore. He has had particular experience in recent years of domestic trusts litigation and advisory work (much of it confidential in nature), while also working on heavy offshore trusts litigation. He has acted on behalf of trustees and beneficiaries and for and against professional advisers acting for the trust. Edward aims to provide practical client-focused solutions and, where litigation is necessary, a strategic and proportionate approach.

He is ranked as a leading junior in The Legal 500 in the field of “private client: trusts and probate”.

Recent cases include:

  • Caldicott v Richards [2020] EWHC 767 (Ch) – claim for setting aside a self-dealing transaction by a trustee and for removal of trustees.
  • McAllister v Herbert [2022] EWHC (Ch) – acting for administrator of an estate sued for personal liability for wrongful distribution.
  • A v B – working on long-running trust litigation and appeal in Hong Kong concerning c£800m of assets. Issues raised include constructive trusts, sham gifts, undue influence, breach of fiduciary duty and challenge to validity of will.
  • Re X Fund – acting for a representative beneficiary in a Court-approved compromise of trust proceedings in which a £30m campaign fund was transferred to a newly-created charity.
  • Re Y Employee Benefit Trust – advising trustees of employee benefit trust in relation to application to Court for removal of an entrenched restriction on distribution from the articles of a company owned by the trust.
  • Re N Golf Club – acting in Part 8 proceedings in the Chancery Division for members in dispute about ownership of a golf club allegedly held on the trusts of an unincorporated association.
  • Defending former trustees (and their insurers) in proceedings for breach of trust for failing to collect a debt owed to the trust.
  • Advising trustees of UK trust on incidence of expenditure between capital and income.
  • Acting for ex-partner in TLATA 1996 proceedings concerning ownership of leasehold property.
  • Assisting with preparation of evidence about ownership of discretionary trust assets for US arbitral proceedings.
  • Advising beneficiary on claim against trust’s solicitors for failing to protect her interests under the trust.

Download Trusts, probate and estates: contentious CV

  • Quote symbolAn outstanding lawyer, who is exceptionally clever and an excellent advocate.

    Chambers & Partners 2024

  • Quote symbolA superb draftsman and one who has a real forensic eye for points of detail.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolEdward is one of the best juniors out there. Exceptional attention to detail and preparation, coupled with good commercial acumen, makes him a high-demand barrister.

    Chambers & Partners 2024

  • Quote symbolEdward is exceptionally able, a very strong strategist and advocate. He is creative in working out how to use the court processes to get the client where it needs to be.

    The Legal 500 2024

  • Quote symbolAn excellent, hard-working and very capable senior junior.

    Chambers & Partners 2024

Trusts, probate and estates: contentious insights & events View all thought leadership View all events

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    Articles

    Data protection legislation in the UK and its impact on the confidentiality of trustee decision-making

    Article by Edward Sawyer, 2nd February 2024 To read or download this article as a PDF, please click here.  Introduction The UK’s data protection legislation has been in the news recently with the introduction last autumn of a US-UK data bridge... Read more

    By Edward Sawyer
    Friday 2 February 2024

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    Events / Webinars

    Wilberforce Trusts Litigation Day 2024

    Monday 29th January 2024 | 9am - 5.35pm, followed by drinks and dinner
    InterContinental Park Lane, London

    £299 - £360 + VAT | 5.5 CPD

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    News

    Wilberforce shortlisted for The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023

    We are delighted to announce that Wilberforce has 11 nominations across 9 different categories at The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023. Set of the Year Chancery Set of the Year Chancery Junior of the Year: Edward Sawyer, Sebastian Allen Chancery... Read more

    Wednesday 12 July 2023

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    Events / Webinars

    Wilberforce Trusts Litigation Day 2023

    Monday 23 January 2023 | 9am - 5.45pm followed by drinks and dinner
    InterContinental Hotel (and online via Zoom), InterContinental Hotel, One Hamilton Place, Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1J 7QY

    £360 + VAT/£299 + VAT | 6.0 CPD

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Edward's Details

BSB/VAT information

Registered name: Mr Edward Humphrey Sawyer
VAT number: 802811659

Privacy Notice pdf

Qualifications and Appointments

  • First class degree in Modern History from Lincoln College, Oxford
  • CPE Law Conversion Course, College of Law
  • Bar Vocational Course, College of Law

Memberships

  • Chancery Bar Association
  • Association of Pension Lawyers
  • Civil Fraud Lawyers Association
  • Commercial Bar Association
  • Property Bar Association

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