Piers Feltham

Piers frequently acts in litigation relating to trusts. Since 2019 he has been heavily engaged in the multi-billion Wang trust litigation in Bermuda and Washington DC. Prior to that, from 2015, he was instructed in a Swiss forced heirship claim, defending the validity of similarly large offshore trusts against allegations of sham.

He has also acted on applications under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958 in a number of very large estates, both to avoid premature vesting, and to extend perpetuity and accumulation periods, including MN v OP, where the Court of Appeal ruled on their publicity.
Piers has persuaded the court in a number of cases to rescind declarations of trust by reason of mistakes as to their tax consequences, and to rectify a mistake as to the identity of a principal beneficiary of a £50 million trust.

He undertakes drafting, advisory work and litigation in relation to all aspects of domestic and offshore trusts, including resulting trusts, constructive trusts, the exercise of trustees’ dispositive and administrative powers, removal and discharge of trustees, rectification and rescission of trusts, applications under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958, s.57 Trustee Act 1925 or s.64 Settled Land Act 1925, resettlement by way of compromise, breach of trust claims, self-dealing, investment, the position of trustees in relation to adverse claims, taxation, construction, limitation, accounts, disclosure, and Beddoe Applications for directions as to the prosecution and defence of claims. Piers has also represented classes of employee members of large employee trusts on applications by the trustees to approve transactions affecting the members’ interests.

His work of note includes:

• From 2015 acting in a Swiss forced heirship claim, defending the validity of very large offshore trusts
• From 2019 acting in the Wang Trust litigation in Bermuda and Washington DC
• Appearing in large scale Variation of Trusts Act applications including MN v OP [2017] 3 WLUK 80
• Appearing in applications to rectify and rescind trusts for mistake including as to tax, e.g. in Re Huntley [2014] WTLR 745
• Successfully defending trustees in Blades v Isaac [2016] WTLR 589 against an application for costs although they had wrongfully refused disclosure on the advice of previous counsel
• Successfully acting for the claimants against the estate of Jimmy Savile in the much publicised hearings before Sales J and the Court of Appeal as to its administration: Re Savile [2014] EWCA Civ 1632; Re Savile [2014] WTLR 637.
• Upholding the absolute rule against trustees self-dealings in Hewavisenti v Wickramasinghe [2021] EWHC 2045 (Ch).

Piers was also responsible for trust and property law and wayleave damages in the team of Counsel acting in large scale group litigation for the Bodo community against Shell Petroleum, that reached the landmark settlement in the Bonny-Bomu oil pipeline litigation.

Other work includes:

• Acting for the beneficiary named as intended recipient in a testatrix’s non-binding letter of wishes, of a Chinese Qing vase that the executors sold at auction for £9m, exercising a power to give the vase and its proceeds to the residuary beneficiaries instead of the beneficiary named in the letter of wishes, on the grounds, inter alia, that tax on the vase would swallow up the estate; seeking to set aside their exercise of discretion on the ground that the executors had misconstrued the power, taken the wrong matters into account, and were subject to a conflict of interest that meant they should surrender the power to the Court
• Acting for a professional trustee in securing the dismissal of a 1975 act claim and the retirement of two trustee/beneficiaries of a large family will trust at loggerheads over the exercise of dispositive discretion by compromise of a proposed surrender of discretion to the court
• Acting in a number of claims against trustees for breach of trust in relation to investment and application of trust funds/ balancing the interests of the beneficiaries/ exceeding powers/ acting under an obligation void for inalienability
• Drafting appointments under trusts so as to carve up an estate and give rights such as easements and restrictive covenants to the beneficiaries over each others’ parcels without creating liability to Stamp Duty Land Tax
• Appearing in an application to rectify a will so as to prevent it excluding future born grandchildren from benefit
• Varying a trust to prevent minors inheriting a substantial capital at 18 and achieve a tax benefit
• Acting in a claim by a settlor to set aside a discretionary trust made for the benefit principally of a named grandchild on discovery that the grandchild is not his natural grandchild
• Advising in a hostile Beddoe application for authority to sue former trustees of the trusts of a substantial landed estate for fraud on a power in the exercise of a discretionary power so as to give the estate to one side of the family
• Advising in relation to a Deed of Variation whereunder nil rate shares are passed into a discretionary trust and the possibility that widower may then seek to buy the shares from the trustees in consideration for a covenant to pay their then market value on demand, including consideration of relevant property regime charges, Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Schemes legislation, s103 Finance Act 1986 Associated Operations and Furniss v Dawson
• Advising on relevant property regime in relation to discretionary pension trusts and the rate of charge on distributions from life policy trusts
• Advising and making successful 75 act application to interpose short interest in possession or husband to reduce IHT for children where husband’s interest was forfeited by reason of manslaughter of wife
• Advising on business property relief in relation to tv/radio intellectual property rights and the estate of a major artist
• Advising on agricultural property relief in relation to a complex farming partnership structure and semi retired widow
• Advising on and drafting appointment and deed of variation to channel shares which had risen in value into nil rate fund
• Advising and drafting appointment of family trust to ensure no creation of a new settlement for CGT purposes
• Advising will trustees as to exercise of power of appointment in a way which would be immune to criticism by warring beneficiaries
• Advising trustees of family settlement on construction, vesting, revocability, allocation of IHT liability between sub-funds, burden/lending between capital and income of expenses, tax and insurance to cover tax, exercise of investment powers fairly between capital and income, compliance with standard investment criteria in particular diversification in relation to ownership of family company, and ability to support co-purchase of own shares from profits with regard to fairness between income and capital.

Piers was for ten years a trustee of Alone In London, a charity for homeless young people, and, for five years a trustee of The Mausolea and Monuments Charitable Trust and Vice-Chairman of The Fitzrovia Community Centre. He is presently a trustee of the Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights.

The earliest stage at which Piers Feltham is instructed is in relation to these matters is to draft a will for a private client that requires specialist attention or to draft pro forma wills for use by instructing solicitors.

Also in relation to pre-death matters, he is often instructed to bring or defend claims challenging the validity of a lifetime gift or other transaction for undue influence or duress or want of mental capacity, in relation to which a presumption of undue influence may assist where the done was in a position of confidence.

Piers may also be instructed to apply for or respond to an application for the making of a statutory will during the life of the person who has lost capacity to make a will.

At the next stage, in relation to the estate of a deceased person, Piers receives many different types of instructions. These may, for instance, be to advise as to the proper construction of a will which may result either in a paper to Court for authority to distribute in accordance with Piers’ Opinion under s48 Administration of Justice Act 1985, or to a Court Hearing if the beneficiaries are in dispute as to the effect of the will.

Piers is also frequently instructed to bring and defend claims to reasonable provision from an estate by family members or dependants claiming under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

Proprietary estoppel claims based on detrimental reliance on a representation as to inheritance are a particular speciality by reason of Piers’ editorship of “Spencer Bower on Reliance-Based Estoppel”.

Piers is also brings and defends claims to set aside wills for lack of mental capacity to make the will, lack of knowledge and approval of its contents, or undue influence amounting to coercion (there being no operative presumption in relation to wills).

Piers may also be instructed to advise on and draft in particular with a view to achieving Inheritance Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax benefits.

At the final stage disputes may arise between beneficiaries and executors/trustees or between the beneficiaries themselves as to the administration and distribution of the estate and the discharge of the executors/trustees. Piers has brought and responded to many claims challenging accounts of the administration of the estate by the executors/trustees and has sought and resisted removal of executors and trustees from their office at the suit of beneficiaries.

Piers also advises on UK and offshore law as to the validity of trusts in forced heirship claims against very large foreign estates.

Piers’ cases of note includes appearing successfully for the claimants against the estate of Jimmy Savile in the much publicised hearings before Sales J and the Court of Appeal as to its administration (Re Savile [2014] EWCA Civ 1632; [2014] WTLR 637). He also successfully obtained rectification of a will by reference to its tax consequences in Re Huntley [2014] WTLR 745.

His recent work includes:

• Obtaining in mediation settlement on favourable terms for a father of his son’s claim to a right to inheritance by proprietary estoppel of a £200m farming and property business
• Forcing a proprietary estoppel claimant to inheritance of a £2m house to drop her claim in mediation by identifying and obtaining evidence that she had forged a key document
• Appearing for Administrators in hostile proceedings to remove them from control of a £30m estate alleging that they obtained letters of administration improperly and were subject to a conflict of interest
• Acting in numerous disputes as to capacity and undue influence, e.g. a sensitive case as to whether a client’s mother lacked testamentary capacity because she harboured insane delusions about him, and mediating on behalf of the defendant sister a family dispute in which a brother was accusing his sister of unduly influencing their mother into seven figure transactions and dishonestly siphoning benefits from family trusts
• Securing monies paid out of an estate by freezing orders against a relative where the deceased’s cheques appear to have been forged
• Advising on probate issues in relation to the recent Mau Mau claim.

Piers Feltham advises on and litigates over all aspects of the law of real property, including trusts of land, cohabitation, equitable remedies, land registration, overreaching, commercial and residential conveyancing, mortgages, professional negligence, perpetuities and accumulations, strict settlements, contracts of sale, auctions, specific performance, proprietary estoppel, commercial and residential landlord and tenant, disrepair and other breach of covenants, security of tenure, easements, restrictive covenants, rent charges and adverse possession.

His recent work and cases of note include:

• Acting in an appeal from the Bahamas concerning adverse possession and the Constitution of the Bahamas which was settled at the door of the Privy Council
• Appearing in several claims for specific performance of contract for the sale of land where proposed developments have gone sour
• Acting in a number of proprietary estoppel claims, particularly against estates
• Appearing in an adverse possession case concerning continuity of a number of squatters’ possession of a house in a London street where a former prime minister lived and the transitional provisions of the Land Registration Act 2002
• Advising on/drafting to ensure the enforceablity of covenants in favour of tenants to preserve their security on a major transfer by the Crown Estates
• Acting in large scale group litigation against Shell Petroleum on behalf of the Bodo Community of Nigeria for compensation for damage done by large scale oil spills, with responsibility for issues of property law, where a landmark settlement of £55 million was secured and a successful application was made for a further stay of the claim to enforce remediation(King Felix Sunday Bebor Berebon v The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd [2018] EWHC 1377 (TCC))
• Acting in litigation over the mines and minerals in the Shafto estate

• Successfully having the case remitted to the first instance Court on the basis of an argument as to the supervention of equitable claims in personam in a Torrens system of Land Registration in Gardener v Lewis [1998] 1 WLR 1535

• Successfully resisting a claim for the full amount due under a mortgage securing a guarantee, at both first instance and in the Court of Appeal, on the technicality that the bank had previously sued on the guarantee and by mistake obtained judgment for a far lesser sum than was due in Lloyd’s Bank v Hawkins [1998] 3 EGLR 109
• Arguing issues of trust law in a landlord and tenant context as to whether a co-owner was bound to join in serving a counter notice under the Agricultural Holdings Act in Cork v Cork [1997] 1 EGLR 5
• Successfully bringing a proprietary estoppel claim on behalf of the companion of the deceased in Pereira v Beanlands [1996] 3 AER 528, where the defendant executor survived debarral on the grounds of default
• Appearing inJawara v Gambia Airways [1992] EGCS 54, a case concerning conveyancing and the law of agency in a case from the Gambia.

Piers lectures, participates in seminars and has given Lexus Nexis webinars on proprietary estoppel which is a particular speciality by reason of his editorship of Spencer Bower on Estoppel by Representation.

Piers Feltham is instructed by applicants, respondents and the Official Solicitor on behalf of patients in Court of Protection matters relating to all aspects of property and financial affairs, including disputes over statutory wills, the validity of Lasting Powers of Attorney, the making of gifts and other transactions (often with a view to tax mitigation), and the investment of funds, breach of duty by attorrneys (including recently obtaining a freezing order against the attorney of a patient who had misappropriated her funds), and the removal of deputies.

Piers also acts in disputes concerning welfare of patients, in particular in relation to residence and care, including recently obtaining an emergency injunction from the High Court, within one hour of instructions being received, to prevent abduction of a patient abroad.

In Re W [2000] Ch 372 Piers appeared successfully before the then Mrs Justice Arden in establishing the principles applicable to the implied revocation of both Powers of Attorney.

He has since acted in a large number of disputes over the administration of patients’ affairs by attorneys, often in circumstances of great hostility between family members.

More recently, Piers successfully procured the order sought by the Official Solicitor at a contested hearing in Re LM [2015] EWCOP 91 concerning a statutory will leaving a surplus of state-provided funds.

He has also acted and advised on a number of successful applications for lifetime dispositions to be made on behalf of patients with a view to the mitigation of tax.

Piers has also negotiated settlement on behalf of the Official Solicitor of a number of applications for statutory wills in the terms which the Official Solicitor considers to be in the best interests of the patient.

He is currently representing a deputy on an application for a statutory will to dispose of a very large estate in the face of opposition by a substantial charity.

Piers Feltham advises domestic and foreign private clients on all aspects of Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Stamp Duty Land Tax and Income Tax (relating to trusts), including recently:

• Drafting appointments under trusts so as to carve up an estate and give rights such as easements and restrictive covenants to the beneficiaries over each others’ parcels without creating liability to Stamp Duty Land Tax
• Acting in relation to the variation of a trust to prevent a minor inheriting substantial capital at 18 and achieve Capital Gains Tax benefits
• Advising in relation to a Deed of Variation whereunder nil rate shares were passed into a discretionary trust with the possibility that widower might then seek to buy the shares from the trustees in consideration for a covenant to pay their then market value on demand, including consideration of relevant property regime charges, disclosure of tax avoidance schemes legislation, s103 Finance Act 1986, associated operations and Furniss v Dawson
• Advising on the relevant property regime in relation to discretionary pension trusts and the rate of charge on distributions from a life policy trust
• Advising on business property relief in relation to tv/radio intellectual property rights in a well known show and simlar advice in relation to the works of a well known artist
• Advising on agricultural property relief in relation to a complex farming partnership structure and semi retired widow
• Advising on and drafting appointment and deed of variation to channel shares which had risen in value into nil rate fund
• Advising and drafting appointments from a family trust to ensure no creation of a new settlement for CGT purposes
• Advising trustees of family settlement on allocation of IHT liability between sub-funds; In Lake v Lake [1989] STC 865 Piers appeared successfully in what became a leading authority establishing the ability of parties who are not in dispute retrospectively to rectify a Deed of Variation of a will that has by reason of a mistake had an adverse tax consequence.

Piers acts for and against solicitors, accountants and financial advisers in claims for compensation for losses suffered as a result of professional negligence in relation to matters such as residential and commercial conveyancing, the making and administration of trusts and wills, the conduct of litigation, the establishment of joint ventures and other commercial relationships, investments and tax mitigation schemes.

Breach of trust claims frequently also involve a Part 20 claim against solicitors who advised the trustees, in relation to an alleged breach of duty, for instance by failing to have proper regard to the interests of a life tenant.

Recently, having secured rescission or rectification of trusts for mistakes as to tax consequences and beneficial provisions, Piers has successfully pursued claims for the costs of the proceedings to secure rectification for rescission against the professionals who acted on the making of the trusts.

Piers is currently acting in two cases against professional trustees on behalf of different life tenants: one whose trustees who exhausted her trust fund on failed applications for planning permission to develop farm land; and another whose professional trustees failed to have proper regard to her interests in their investment policy.

He represented the defendant solicitor in a mortgage fraud claim involving over 1000 different properties, which involved hearings before one Commercial Court and five Chancery Judges raising issues, inter alia, as to the Civil liability Contribution Act, sampling of transactions in large litigation, the fraud exception from legal professional privilege, admission of evidence under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, and at the five week trial (which settled on the second day) with central issues as to lender knowledge and the meaning of dishonesty after the cases of Twinsectra and Barlow Clowes.

Piers was also recently instructed in a substantial claim for losses suffered as a result of negligent advice to transfer a pension fund.

Other recent cases include two claims against solicitors for negligence in relation to the making of wills, in one by failure to draft a will so as to prevent it being revoked by marriage, and in the other by causing a probate dispute.

Piers also recently pursued a claim against an IFA for a client who made investments through a structure that would inevitably result in loss as a part of a scheme to mitigate Spanish Inheritance Tax.

Piers Feltham advises and acts for charities on topics such as: charitable status, the construction of charitable trusts and articles of association, the appointment and removal of trustees, resolution of internal factional disputes, fundraising and the use of trading companies, taxation, land transactions, mergers and acquisitions, breach of trust and fiduciary duties, cy-prés application, and winding up of charities.

Piers also frequently advises on the identification and tracing of charities that have been misnamed as donees of testamentary gifts, or have ceased to exist or merged prior to or since a will was made, and as to cy-prés application, or application under sign manual, in respect of gifts that would otherwise fail.

Piers is advising and representing charitable trustees in a claim that the grants of long leases by predecessor trustees are void for non-compliance with the requirements of the Charities Act

He has acted in major disputes, particularly in the Midlands, East London, and Southampton, relating to Muslim mosques and Sikh temples.

Recent charity clients include schools, a zoo, a sports club, welfare organisations, a think tank, a mosque, a museum and an order of nuns.

Examples of recent work are advising on whether the Court of Appeal’s Pre-Human Rights Act ruling on the status of residents in almshouses survives recent decisions as to the effect of the Act on landlord and tenant law. Piers has also advised a local authority whether the charitable trusts on which it holds parkland in the centre of the city under statute prevent it from allowing vehicles to cross the park, following conflicting opinions of several leading counsel, which resulted in the bringing of proceedings against the Attorney General which were then conceded by the Attorney General.

In Re East Grinstead Working Men’s Club [2011] WTLR 975 Piers represented the interests of the descendants of the original charitable donors against Counsel for the Attorney General in a case that raised complex issues relating to the Recreational Charities Act, the Charitable Trusts Validation Act, and the rule against inalienability.

He has lectured and participated in seminars with members of the Government, Third Sector and Legal Profession in Northern Ireland and England on the public benefit requirement.

Piers was for ten years a Trustee Alone in London Charity for the young homeless, and an Honorary Scientific Fellow of the Zoological Society of London (in recognition of pro bono work to prevent closure of London Zoo) and for five years a trustee of The Mausolea and Monuments Charitable Trust and Vice-Chairman of The Fitzrovia Community Centre. He is presently a trustee of the Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights.

From the beginning of his practice Piers Feltham has acted in partnership disputes, the first of which related to a firm of minicab drivers, and the most recent to a substantial firm of solicitors. He also advises in relation to partnership formation, drafts partnership agreements, and undertakes drafting work in relation to the establishment of shareholder agreements and joint ventures.

He has argued in Court issues such as whether a partnership agreement has been made at all, what the terms of partnership agreements were and how they are to be interpreted.

Piers has recently advised and acted on disputes as to the enforceability of covenants restraining trading by departing members of partnerships and clauses liquidated damages for their breach.

The expense and labour of the taking of a full partnership account is to be avoided if possible but when former partners have been unable to resolve their differences Piers has on a number of occasions acted in the taking of partnership accounts by a Chancery Master over days to weeks in Court.

Piers has also advised and acted in both the setting up and the falling apart of joint ventures, particularly in relation to property development, in particular where constructive trust and estoppel issues have arisen.

In London Borough of Enfield v Jossa [2018] I.C.R. 549 Piers established in spite of the underlying merits of the case that the Local Government Pension Rules do not allow liability for fraud to be set off against pension entitlement unless the fraud was discovered and caused the employee’s dismissal.

His pension practice chiefly involves instructions in relation to alleged maladministration, estoppel issues, breach of trust,and professional negligence. These have resulted in Applications both to the Pensions Ombudsman and a High Court.

He has been instructed in a substantial claim for compensation for losses suffered as a result of negligent advice to transfer a pension fund, and also acts for members in pursuing claims due pension benefits they have been wrongfully denied. He was recently instructed to advise pension trustees as to correct interpretation of the words “common law spouse” in the pension trust deed and the application of that interpretation to the borderline facts of the case.

In Moore’s (Wallisdown) Ltd v Pensions Ombudsman [2002] 1 WLR 1649 Peter Crampin KC and Piers succeeded in making new law as to the definition of maladministration and denial of the Pensions Ombudsman’s costs on the appeal.

In a related area, Piers has also represented classes of employee members of large employee trusts on applications buy the trustees to approve transactions affecting the members’ interests.

Piers advises on UK and offshore law as to the validity of trusts in forced heirship claims against very large foreign estates. He also advises on issues arising in relation to the administration and taxation of offshore trusts.

Many of the property disputes in which Piers acts and advises have an international aspect in that they include disputes over rights to property located abroad and/or raise issues as to the conflict of laws.

He negotiated a successful mediation on the eve of one month trial of a very substantial claim by the Department of Trade and Industry which was contested on the basis that enforcement of the compromise settlement under which it was claimed was a breach of the European prohibition on State Aid.

Piers has also appeared successfully against Leading Counsel in the Privy Council on appeals from Africa and the Caribbean.

His cases and work of note include:

• Successfully resisting an appeal on the facts and as to the interpretation of legislation governing the benefit of insurance in Colonial Fire & General Ins Co Ltd v Harry [2006] UKPC 53
• Acting in two recent cases raising conflict of laws issues as to succession and renvoi, in particular as to whether the Czech Republic and Egyptian forced heirship rules governed succession to £multi-million assets

• Advising on probate issues in the recent Mau Mau claim
• Acting in large scale group litigation against Shell Petroleum on behalf of the Bodo Community of Nigeria for compensation for damage done by large scale oil spills, with responsibility for issues of property law, where a landmark settlement of £55 million was secured and a successful application was made for a further stay of the claim to enforce remediation (King Felix Sunday Bebor Berebon v The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd [2018] EWHC 1377 (TCC))

• Appearing in Jawara v Gambia Airways [1992] EGCS 54, a case concerning conveyancing and the law of agency in a case from the Gambia.

Piers was for ten years a trustee of Alone In London, a charity for homeless young people, and, for five years a trustee of The Mausolea and Monuments Charitable Trust and Vice-Chairman of The Fitzrovia Community Centre. He is presently a trustee of the Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights.

He is an active supporter of pro bono projects, with work including helping the “Ad Hoc” group of zoologists save and reform the London Zoo.

Piers has been ranked by the leading legal directories for many years. His recent directory entries include the following commendations:

• “Piers is very bright, extremely thorough, leaving no stone unturned, articulate and passionate about what he does. He is a great advocate and really fights his client’s corner.” (Private Client: Trusts and Probate, Legal 500 UK Bar 2024)
• “Piers is technically brilliant in the Court of Protection field, has in-depth knowledge and leaves no stone unturned. He is strategic in his approach and provides clear and robust advice. He is a superb advocate.” (Court of Protection and Community Care, Legal 500 UK Bar 2024)
• “Deserves high praise for his strategic and technical ability. He has been fully across the detail of all his cases for many years now and is a pivotal part of the team.” (Trusts, Chambers UK Bar 2024)
• “Piers has so much experience and is very good on his feet. He is great with clients and nothing is too much trouble for him from a client service point of view.” (Trusts, Chambers UK Bar 2024)
• “Able to deal with complex technical issues and a pleasure to work with. He’s excellent.” (Trusts, Chambers UK Bar 2024)
• “Piers is very good and has great communication skills. He is wise and able to quickly grasp what the client wants to achieve.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers UK Bar 2024)
• “Piers is brilliant and tenacious when dealing with difficult legal arguments both on paper and as an advocate. He is also excellent with clients.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers UK Bar 2024)
• “Highly intelligent, he is a great strategist and a sharp-witted advocate, who is also at the same time receptive to clients’ needs and circumstances and very commercially aware. Clients love him.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers UK Bar 2024)
• “Piers is always reliable and a joy to work with.” (Offshore, Chambers UK Bar 2024)
• “Piers is very good with great communication skills. He is wise and able to quickly grasp what the client wants to achieve.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers HNW London Bar 2023)
• “Piers is brilliant and tenacious at making those difficult legal arguments both on paper and as an advocate. He is also excellent with clients.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers HNW London Bar 2023)
• “He is highly intelligent, a great strategist and a sharp advocate, but at the same time receptive to clients’ needs and circumstances, and very commercially aware. Clients love him.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers HNW London Bar 2023)
• “He is incredibly skillful and leaves no stone unturned in his approach.” (Court of Protection: Property & Affairs, Chambers UK Bar 2023)
• “Piers is a very well-rounded and very able advocate. He is incredibly intelligent.” (Court of Protection: Property & Affairs, Chambers UK Bar 2023)
• “Piers combines a bespoke Court of Protection property and affairs practice with excellent Chancery knowledge.” (Court of Protection and Community Care, Legal 500 UK Bar 2023)
• “Piers is technically extremely good and provides very clear opinions. He is very persuasive on his feet.” (Private Client: Trusts and Probate, Legal 500 UK Bar 2023)
• “Hands-on, solutions-driven, great with clients and a fine tactician. He is also very easy to work with and is the master of understatement.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers UK Bar 2022)
• “He provides great tactical advice.” (Court of Protection: Property & Affairs, Chambers UK Bar 2022)
• “Piers combines a bespoke Court of Protection property and affairs practice with excellent Chancery knowledge.” (Court of Protection and Community Care, Legal 500 UK Bar 2022)
• “He is a brilliant advocate who he fights very hard for his clients.” (Private Client: Trusts and Probate, Legal 500 UK Bar 2022)
• “Studious, diligent and very hard-working, he provides excellent advice in a timely manner and never leaves any stone unturned.” (Offshore, Legal 500 UK Bar 2022)
• “Piers has meticulous attention to detail and outstanding intellectual ability.” (Charities, Legal 500 UK Bar 2022)
• “Can see the solution and drive that way. He’s very bright and knows everything there is to know about estoppel.” “He’s very easy to deal with, very responsive and very intelligent. His written work is amazing, and his technical ability is excellent. He’s very user-friendly.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers UK Bar 2021)
• “One of the most thorough barristers around. The court has tremendous respect for him.” “A reliable and committed performer who has broad shoulders, metaphorically speaking.” (Trusts, Chambers UK Bar 2021)
• “He has masterful knowledge of his area and is an intelligent and careful thinker. No matter how complex the labyrinth, Piers will guide you through.” (Court of Protection: Property & Affairs – All Circuits, Chambers UK Bar 2021)
• “Has an eye to finding solutions.” (Charities, Legal 500 UK Bar 2021)
• “Tactical nous. Intellect. Very gentle approach (so necessary with Court of Protection work) but solid understanding of all things Chancery and Court of Protection. If you have a problem, Piers is the barrister to go to.” (Court of Protection and Community Care, Legal 500 UK Bar 2021)
• “Strategically and technically brilliant on complex issues of trusts and probate law.” (Offshore, Legal 500 UK Bar 2021)
• “Is strategically and technically brilliant on complex issues of probate and trusts law – he offers a first-class service, he is readily available, and is a team player.” (Private Client: Trusts and Probate, Legal 500 UK Bar 2021)
• “He is outstanding on anything estoppel-related. He can see the solution and drive that way. He’s very bright and knows everything there is to know about estoppel.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers HNW London Bar 2020)
• “He’s very easy to deal with, very responsive and very intelligent. His written work is amazing, and his technical ability is excellent. He’s very user-friendly.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers HNW London Bar 2020)
• “He’s charming, clever, down to earth and extremely user-friendly.” (Court of Protection: Property, Chambers UK Bar 2020)
• “He is just the sort of barrister that you want on your side. He is clear and to the point in his written advice as well as being a very good advocate.” “He is very efficient and assured.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers UK Bar 2020)
• “Piers is just very capable and gives his advice in a clear and measured way.” “He is extremely user-friendly and very knowledgeable in trust matters and estoppel matters. He makes himself available and couldn’t do more to help.” (Trusts, Chambers UK Bar 2020)
• “Very intelligent.” (Charities, The Legal 500 UK Bar 2020)
• “A first-rate advocate.” (Courts of Protection and Community Care, The Legal 500 UK Bar 2020)
• “Has a first class knowledge of chancery law. He also has excellent judgement with regard to both tactics and presentation.” (Private Client: Trust and Probate, The Legal 500 UK Bar 2020)
• “I can’t speak too highly of him – his intellect is phenomenal, his tactical nous is excellent, and he has an ability to adapt to the very different approach taken within the Court of Protection that not many others have.” (Court of Protection: Property & Affairs, Chambers UK Bar 2019)
• “Really good at analysing the risks in a case and setting you on the path towards a solution. He is very good on his feet especially when cross-examining witnesses.” “A lawyer with brilliant judgement, he has a really instinctive grasp of how the law works and how cases will unfold.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers UK Bar 2019)
• “Very smart and hands-on.” “He deals very well with extremely tricky trusts with major property issues.” (Trusts, Chambers UK Bar 2019)
• “Totally reliable.” (Private Client: Trusts, The Legal 500 UK 2019)
• “An excellent advocate.” (Court of Protection, The Legal 500 UK 2019)
• “Rapier intellect – quickly gets to the heart of complex matters.” (Charities, The Legal 500 UK Bar 2019)
• “Extremely thorough and technically superb.” “He is very intelligent and constructive in his approach.” “Very measured and good at identifying the risks in a case.” (Trusts, Chambers UK Bar 2018)
• “A very laid-back advocate who knows his way around this area of law.” (Court of Protection: Property & Affairs, Chambers UK Bar 2018)
• “His written work shows immense clarity of thought, and he provides advice in a way that is ideal for the client.” “He is very forthright and has a really brilliant mind.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers UK Bar 2018)
• “He is highly rated for his intelligence and ability to think outside the box.” (Private Client: Trusts and Probate, The Legal 500 UK Bar 2017)
• “Highly recommended for his intelligence, advocacy and sense of humour.” (Court of Protection, The Legal 500 UK Bar 2017)
• “He is highly recommended for his advocacy skills and reading the room.” (Charities, The Legal 500 Bar 2017)
• “He has good experience, is sensible, and will always try and help people.” (Court of Protection: Property and Affairs,Chambers UK Bar 2017)
• “He is outstanding, just outstanding. He is at the top of his game and very clever. He provides sound, strategic advice in a timely manner.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers UKBar 2017)
• “He has a very good mind and always gives a first-class technical opinion.” (Charities, The Legal 500 UK Bar 2016)
• “He is phenomenally hard- working, legally creative, but also generally very approachable and unstuffy.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers HNW 2016)
• “Highly skilled and knowledgeable in Court of Protection matters, he has an invaluable ability to keep clients focused.” “He’s very pragmatic, decisive and a good all-rounder.” (Traditional Chancery, Chambers UK Bar 2015)
• “He’s very creative and empathetic in his approach. He is well regarded in the Court of Protection as he’s completely on top of his papers, has a great intellect, and always delivers.” “He’s always prepared to go the extra mile, is very proactive and is a real team player.” (Court of Protection: Chambers UK Bar 2015)
•  “A tenacious litigator with an excellent client manner.” (Private Client: Trusts and Probate, The Legal 500 UK Bar 2014)

Spencer Bower on Estoppel by Representation 4^th ed (2004)

Spencer Bower on Reliance-Based Estoppel 5^th ed (2017)

Piers delivers lectures, webinars and seminars for Lexis Nexis, Simon Gore, CLT conferences, MBL conferences and a number of solicitors’ in house programmes on subjects including estoppel, trusts and estates, and the Court of Protection.

Piers won the George Long Prize for Jurisprudence at Cambridge University and was Uthwatt scholar of Gray’s Inn.

Piers is a member of the Chancery Bar Association; the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP); the Association of Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) and the Charity Law Association.

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• Bar Membership Number: 20825