Claims Against Trustees & Other Fiduciaries

We regularly advise clients on bringing and defending claims against trustees, executors, professional trustees, and other fiduciaries for breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty, and professional negligence.

Trustees, in particular, take on significant responsibilities upon appointment. They are required to exercise appropriate care and skill to preserve – and in some cases enhance – the trust’s assets, always acting in the best interests of the beneficiaries.

Breaches may arise where a trustee fails to uphold their express duties under the trust instrument or other obligations established by the courts. Common examples include:

 

  • Distributing assets to individuals not named in the trust.
  • Failing to invest trust funds in accordance with statutory or express powers.
  • Profiting personally from the trust, such as transferring assets to a business they own or control.
  • Acting negligently or recklessly in administering the trust, to the detriment of beneficiaries.

 

Where removal of a trustee or executor is necessary, we provide clear guidance on the process and can assist with any associated removal applications.

 

Court of Protection work

We provide guidance to clients regarding applications to the Court of Protection.  This is a specialist court which deals with decisions on behalf of individuals who lack the mental capacity to make them independently and have not previously appointed an attorney.

 

These matters often arise in emotionally sensitive and complex circumstances, and our team is experienced in guiding families, carers, and professionals through the process with clarity and compassion. The Court has the authority to appoint ‘deputies’, who are empowered to make decisions relating to property, financial affairs, and personal welfare.

EXPERIENCE
We acted for Mr Solad Mohammed and others Mohammed v Daji [2024] EWCA Civ 1247 in their claim over a substantial freehold site in East London, where ownership was disputed. There was a large mosque on the site and the dispute arose due to a division in the Tablighi Jamaat movement in Islam with which the mosque was associated. The claim was for recognition by the claimants (by way of a charitable trust) of their ownership of the land.
We acted for trustees in relation to a claim against them for breach of trust and/or breach of fiduciary duty based on the assertion that they transferred shares in a development site purportedly held on trust for the claimant to a third party. The development site subsequently obtained planning permission for a large residential development and the claimant claimed that their shares would have been worth over £1.5million. We defended the claim on the basis that our client had not acted in breach of trust and that the transfer was effected with the knowledge of the claimant
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