Eason Rajah QC is named in the Private Client Global Elite 2018 directory, recognising his private client expertise advising UHNW clients. Eason’s practice includes domestic, off shore and cross-border trusts and will disputes, related tax and professional negligence issues, drafting, structuring and advising in relation to trusts, succession planning and tax and related areas. He is regarded as “a superb all-rounder” (Legal 500 2015).
Eason won ‘Private Client: Trusts and Probate Silk of the Year 2018’ in the Legal 500 Bar Awards.
He was shortlisted for the Legal 500 ‘Private Client: Trusts and Probate Silk of the Year’ award in 2017, 2016 and 2015 and the Chambers UK ‘Chancery Silk of the Year’ in 2014.
Eason is named by eprivateclient as one of the ’50 Most Influential’ private client professionals at the forefront in shaping private client work for 2016 in the UK and British offshore jurisdictions. He has been recommended by the Legal 500 and Chambers UK legal directories for his expertise in this field for many years.
He is Chairman of the Chancery Bar Association and a member of the committee of STEP Central London.
Eason is a Recorder (2016) and was called to the Malaysian Bar in 1991.
Practice Areas
Legal 500 2017 recognises Eason Rajah QC as a leading silk in offshore cases: ‘He is enormously clever, always helpful and his views are tremendously respected.’ Chambers UK 2014 and earlier editions report that Eason is “a courageous advocate, he gets right down to the issues and is very persuasive on his feet. He is an eloquent barrister who knows his stuff”. “Engaging and technically adept,” “very assured on his feet, vastly experienced and quick, calm and collected when responding to queries”. “He is a great lateral thinker who always advises with the commercial context in mind”.
Reported Cases:
- Crociani v Crociani and others [2012- 2017] – a hard fought USD 180m breach of trust claim which went to trial in Jan 2017 in Jersey.
- Dellal v Dellal & Ors [2015] EWHC 907 (Fam): A £multi-million claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 in respect of the estate of the legendary property dealer Jack Dellal.
- High Commissioner of Pakistan v Nat West Bank [2015] EWHC 55 (Ch): Involves issues of sovereign immunity and trust law, and Indian and Shari ‘a succession law.
- Crociani v Crociani & Others [2014] UKPC 40: exclusive jurisdiction clauses in trusts and forum disputes.
- Al Sadi v Al Sadi [2013]: Claim by certain children of deceased that under Shari ‘a, Liechtenstein and Monegasque law, assets held in a Liechtenstein Foundation and a Panamanian company form part of the estate.
- Rodman v Rodman [2013]: Claims for intermeddling and misappropriation from $125m estate – value £millions.
- Scarfe v Matthews [2012] WTLR 1579: Doctrine of election – estate of Bernard Matthews.
- Re the Valetta Trust[2011] JRC 227 (the validity of third party litigation funding arrangements for trust litigation in Jersey),
- Re IMK Family Trust[2008] JLR 430 (the landmark decision on the enforcement of foreign matrimonial judgments in Jersey) C v C (Privilege) [2008] 1 FLR 115 – applicability of legal professional privilege to disclosure by anstalt where wife claimed anstalt attempting to defeat her ancillary relief claim.
Private Client: Non-Contentious
Eason is particularly experienced in advising on matters concerning trusts, and related tax issues as well as drafting and structuring. He has a reputation for giving clear, commercial and practical advice. Chambers UK 2015 directory reported that he is “a superb QC who makes unbelievably complicated things look very easy”. “A consummate problem solver, who is brilliant, personable and confidence-instilling”.
Cases are confidential and are not listed here.
He has over 25 years of experience of Court of protection issues and continues to be instructed in difficult or novel Court of Protection cases. Chambers UK say he is “top of his tree” in the 2016 directory and “masterful” in the 2015 edition for his Court of Protection, Property & Affairs work where he is regarded as “…the standout advocate. Clients like him and he doesn’t get pushed around. He’s the go-to man for contentious work”. “He is a very glossy and very persuasive advocate. He’s very well prepared and a formidable opponent”.
- Re MN [2010] WTLR 1355: The first decision on the ambit of the international jurisdiction of the Court of Protection.
Eason acts in the full range of onshore and offshore capital taxes matters.
Recommendations
” “The consummate silk. He has a remarkable intellect and command of strategy, and is a formidable advocate. Most important of all, he is approachable and client-friendly,” says one source. His broad chancery practice includes a substantial amount of offshore and cross-border work, and he is also frequently instructed in complex domestic trusts and probate matters. “Bright, sensible and a very nice chap – I always recommend him, because he’s a great practitioner,” says one market commentator. He is summed up by another source as “a consummate litigator” “.
HNW Guide 2019 - Band 1
Eason Rajah QC “”is the finest trust barrister of his generation” say sources. He performs a range of contentious and non-contentious private client work, and is very well-regarded in the field.”
WWL UK Bar 2019
“His advocacy is outstanding and he is very, very persuasive in court.” “He is incredibly robust, very strong and very direct. Constructive in his advice, he deals with complex disputes very well.”
Chambers UK 2019 - Chancery
“A shrewd operator, who is brilliant on strategy, firm in negotiation and an outstanding advocate.” “He’s extremely nice and a very able practitioner with very good client skills.”
Chambes UK 2019 - Court of Protection
“Clear and concise, with a commercial outlook.”
Legal 500 2018 - Offshore
“He is an agile thinker who is willing to brain storm.”
Legal 500 2018 - Private Client: Trusts & Probate
“Vastly experienced and is the first port of call for advice on trust issues of particular complexity.”
Legal 500 2018 - Private Client: Trusts & Probate
“A joy to deal with and brings a lot of common sense to matters. He guides you very smoothly through a case, demonstrating impeccable judgement, and is polite but forceful when needed.” “You can rely on him due to his real in-depth knowledge of complex cross-border matters. He is also really first rate on multi-jurisdictional family disputes.”
HNW UK 2018 - Chancery: Tradtional - London Bar - Silk Band One
Eason Rajah QC is ranked as a Band One Silk and is described as ‘ ” a well-known chancery practitioner with particular experience in offshore trust disputes. ” ‘. Clients say: “He is extremely highly thought of by us and has been advising on quite a complicated case.”
“He has got the depth of knowledge to provide commercial and practical advice on technical topics,” reports a source. The strength of Rajah’s advocacy is widely regarded in the market, and one interviewee reports: “He is a brilliant advocate who speaks very eloquently and fluently.” The same interviewee continues: “He is a consummate performer in court and clients are pleased with what he can do.”
Another commentator enthuses: “His advocacy is outstanding and he is very, very persuasive in court. He is one of the most persuasive advocates I have seen.” He is further praised for being “particularly strong on pure private client matters” and an offshore adviser remarks that “he deals with complex disputes very well.” The adviser adds that “you want him on your side.”
Chambers UK 2018 - Chancery: Tradtional (Band 1)
“He is extremely bright and very easy to deal with. An excellent tactician, I would recommend him for any big trust case without question.” “He is first class and works seamlessly with our team.”
Chambers UK 2018 - Offshore
“A very quick thinker who has a silky delivery in court.” “He’s super-impressive, tremendous with clients and an absolute delight to work with.”
Chambers UK 2018 - Private Wealth: Trusts (Band 1)
“A leading light in trusts and private client work.” “He’s incredibly articulate and precise, and his arguments are very punchy and convincing.”
Chambers Global 2017 - Offshore
“A shrewd operator, brilliant on strategy, firm in negotiations and an outstanding advocate.”
Chambers UK 2018 - Court of Protection: Property and Affairs
“He is a joy to deal with and brings a lot of common sense to matters. He guided us very smoothly and demonstrated impeccable judgement”. “He is polite but forceful when needed.” “You can rely on him for real in-depth knowledge of complex cross-border matters. He is also really first-rate on multi-jurisdictional family disputes.”
Chambers HNW 2017 - Chancery: Traditional
“He is an excellent advocate and one of the best around. He’s able to press a point, persuade a judge and keep them focused on the issues.”
Legal 500 2017
Private client: trusts and probate – Leading silk
Eason ‘is enormously clever and always helpful.’
Legal 500 2017
Offshore – Leading silk
Eason Rajah QC ‘is enormously clever, always helpful and his views are tremendously respected.’
Chambers UK 2017 - Chancery: Traditional (Band 1)
“A leading light in trusts and private client work.” “He’s incredibly articulate and precise, and his arguments are very punchy and convincing.” “An exemplary practitioner who receives abundant chancery-related offshore instructions, and has noted skill in contentious trusts matters.”
Chambers UK 2017 - Offshore (Band 2)
“A very quick thinker who has a silky delivery in court.” “He’s super-impressive, tremendous with clients and an absolute delight to work with.”
Chambers UK 2017 - Trusts (Band 1)
“Top-quality property and financial affairs silk with a fantastic reputation for his chancery work generally.” “Calm, sophisticated, smooth, highly intelligent and a shrewd strategist.”
Chambers UK 2017 - Court of Protection (Band 1)
Chambers UK 2016 directory rank him in the top bands for Traditional Chancery, Trusts and Court of Protection and report that he “continues to handle some of the most impressive trust disputes in the onshore, offshore and cross-border contexts”. and that “he is an excellent trusts expert who is pragmatic and has a good sense of humour”. “An incredibly bright and forceful advocate”.
Chambers UK 2016
“He is technically first class and clients have total confidence in him.”
Legal 500 2016 - Private Client: Trusts & Probate
“A superb all-rounder” and shortlisted him for their Private Client: Trusts & Probate ‘Silk of the Year’ 2015 nomination.
The Legal 500 2015
Eason is (and has been for many years) highly ranked in Chambers Global for his UK and Offshore Trusts work as well as in High Net Worth and City Wealth as a leading silk within the private client sector.
Appointments
- Recorder (2016)
Associations & Memberships
Eason is Chairman of the Chancery Bar Association (2018) and a former Chair of the Education and Training Committee for the Chancery Bar Association. He is a member of the committee of STEP Central London. He is a member of ACTAPs. He is a former member of the Bar Council Professional Standards Committee and the Bar Standards Board Rules Committee and a former Vice Chairman of one of the Bar Council Pupillage Monitoring Panels. He is a member of the Bar Pro Bono Unit.
Publications
- He is an Editor of Mellows Taxation of Executors & Trustees
- He is an Editor of the Court of Protection Law Reports
- He is the Consultant Editor of Ranking Spicer Pegler, Executorship Law, Trusts & Accounts
Speaking Engagements
Eason speaks regularly at specialist conferences both nationally and internationally.
Awards
Eason is the winner of the Legal 500 Private Client: Trusts and Probate Silk of the Year 2018.
Eason Rajah is a self-employed, independent barrister whose practice is governed by the Code of Conduct of the Bar of England and Wales. He is regulated by The Bar Standards Board [Bar Ref 24365] and is fully insured with the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund [BMIF Ref 2360/018] to provide legal services, please refer to the BMIF website for full details of the world-wide cover provided. He is registered for VAT under the reference 524348943.
