When should the alarm bells ring for trustees? (Guernsey)

David O'Hanlon, Partner at Collas Crill LLP

David is a partner in the Guernsey dispute resolution team at Collas Crill. He has a broad experience of commercial litigation and professional negligence matters, often with cross-border or jurisdictional issues.

David has acted for trustees, investment banks and beneficiaries in contentious or semi-contentious matters, such as defending trustees against claims for breach of trust, acting in relation to variations of trust and advising trustees and beneficiaries on their obligations and rights in respect of the trusts. Recent public matters include: Walker et al –v- Egerton-Vernon et al in which David acted for one of the former trustees of a settlement established by the late entrepreneur Jack Walker in defending a claim in excess of £100 million (and settled on confidential terms).

David Cooney, Group Partner at Collas Crill LLP

David works with ultra-high net worth clients, trustees and private banks to establish trusts and other wealth planning structures. He advises on all aspects of the set-up and maintenance of those structures. David has developed particular expertise in the establishment of complex international trusts, having headed up the private client and trusts team in a key offshore jurisdiction for 5 years and having then spent 3 years in the Swiss offices of a major U.K. private client firm, focussing entirely on international structuring.

David is admitted to practise as a solicitor in England and Wales and is a Chartered Tax Advisor. He was admitted as a Cayman Islands attorney at law in 2012 and as a BVI solicitor in 2014.

Legal 500 EMEA 2019 described David as 'Fast, efficient and a brilliant standout lawyer' who is 'technically impeccable'.