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
Qualifications
Epsom College; University of Nottingham (1988 LLB Hons)
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.
