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Leon Pickering

"He's very, very smart, very good in court and a pleasure to work with."
(Chambers UK 2022)

Regarded as “very clever, academic and good fun” (Chambers UK) Leon has a commercial and chancery practice with a particular emphasis on onshore and offshore traditional chancery and the Court of Protection. He has acted in high-profile cases such as Pakistan v Natwest and the Crociani litigation.

Leon was named by in the Legal Week Private Client Global Elite “Ones to Watch” list in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and is recognised by the legal directories for his work in Traditional Chancery, Trusts, the Court of Protection and Offshore.

In addition to inheritance, tax, commercial chancery and Court of Protection cases, Leon also advises on capital tax and succession planning. He teaches for STEP and gives seminars across the country on all aspects of private client work.

Leon recently authored the new edition of Parker’s Will Precedents (Bloomsbury).

Leon also has a keen interest in regulatory and professional discipline law. He is a barrister member of the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service, a member of the judiciary of the Rugby Football Union and a lay member of the professional conduct committee of a national healthcare regulator. He contributed to the current edition of Kenneth Hamer’s Professional Conduct Casebook (OUP).

Leon has been appointed as a Deputy District Judge on the South Eastern Circuit and appointed as a fee-paid tribunal judge as well – assigned to Health Education and Social Care Chamber.

Ranked in Band 1 for Trusts, Band 2 for Court of Protection: Property and Affairs and Band 3 for Chancery: Traditional in Chambers UK 2022.

Commercial Chancery

Leon has a broad commercial chancery practice with an emphasis on fiduciary duties and accounting. He will often be brought in to deal with complicated financial issues, particularly in relation to partnership, LLP and company accounts. He has recently acted in long-running international proceedings dealing with conflict of law, non-justiciability and sovereign immunity issues.

Leon also has a keen interest in regulatory and professional discipline law. He sits as a barrister member on tribunals for the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service and has been appointed as a member of the judiciary of the Rugby Football Union. He is also a lay member of the professional conduct committee of a national healthcare regulator.

Recent highlights include:

  • Acting for trustees who successfully set aside service of an unfair prejudice petition
  • Breach of trust and fiduciary duty proceedings offshore in relation to a commercial trust and joint venture
  • Advising on funeral pre-payment trust structures
  • Defending a claim for breach of trust and fiduciary duties in relation to the sale of company shares owned by a trust.

Reported Cases:

  • Griffith v Gourgey and others [2018] EWHC 1484 (Ch); on damages for acting without a client’s authority and on costs of an application to set aside orders (led by Eason Rajah QC)
  • Pakistan v Natwest [2016] 1465 (Ch): On non-justiciability, limitation and abuse of process (led by Eason Rajah QC).
  • Pakistan v Natwest [2015] EWHC 55 (Ch): On sovereign immunity, discontinuance and abuse of process (led by Eason Rajah QC).

Recommendations


“Gives sound advice and is really client friendly. He is also quick on his feet.” “Leon is organised, commanding, and someone who is great in front of clients. A really nice person to work with.”

“So personable and easy to work with. Clients love him.”

“He has great knowledge of the area.”

Chambers UK 2023

“He is very, very smart and very good in court.”

“He is a pleasure to work with.”

Chambers UK 2022

“Leon is a very intelligent junior. His advice is clear, reassuring and friendly.”

“An excellent team player, Leon has a fantastic mind, work ethic and sense of humour.”

Legal 500 2022

“He’s really sensitive to case dynamics and works hard to get matters concluded.”

“Sensible, measured and professional.”

“He’s very methodical and works well in a team as he’s highly contactable, and very sharp.”

“He has a friendly, affable manner, is easy to work with and is excellent in court.”

“Good with clients, excellent at drafting and always helpful.”

Chambers UK 2021

A top-drawer junior who charms the court.

Very clever. Organised and smooth. Good advisor in conference and writing.

Legal 50 2020

“He’s very methodical and works well in a team – highly contactable, and very sharp”

“He has a friendly, affable manner, is easy to work with and is excellent in court.”

Chambers HNW 2020

“He is an easy and straightforward barrister to deal with.”

“He’s very good on paper and is an excellent negotiator.”

“Exceptionally responsive, hard-working and smart. He really knows his stuff.”

“He’s totally on top of technical stuff and has the confidence of a silk.”

“He is extremely responsive and provides solid commercial advice. He is very easy to deal with.”

“He handled our matter very efficiently and delicately and got the right result.”

Chambers UK 2020

“His technical knowledge is excellent and he has a good manner of explaining this to the client in a way they understand.”

“He provides very clear advice and analysis.”

Legal 500 2020

“Extremely responsive and provides solid commercial advice. He is very easy to deal with”

“He’s totally on top of technical stuff, and has the confidence of silks”

“Very good-quality, practical advice.He has recently been instructed in the highly notable Crociani case.”

HNW Guide 2019

“Demonstrates brilliant analytical skills and is very good in court.”

“Manages client expectations well and is a very safe bet if you have very technical issues which need to be resolved.”

Chambers UK 2019

“An excellent junior who is able to undertake complex drafting whilst also being very client-friendly and a tough litigator.”

“He’s very knowledgeable in this area.”

Chambers UK 2019

“He is reassuringly confident in his advice.”

Legal 500 2018

“a very enthusiastic advocate with wisdom and knowledge beyond his year of call. He makes a point of knowing everything going on in the field”

“He demonstrates brilliant analytical skills and is very good in court”

“He has a very good manner with clients and they find him easy to work with. He really knows his stuff and he provides really sensible and reasonable advice.”

Chambers HNW 2018

“Excellent in court and on his feet and very good at dealing with clients.”

“He is really, really bright and very highly rated in the market. When you speak to other law firms he’s definitely perceived as one who is a rising star in the field.”

HNW 2018

“a very enthusiastic advocate with wisdom and knowledge beyond his year of call. He makes a point of knowing everything going on in the field”

“He demonstrates brilliant analytical skills and is very good in court”

“He is good at negotiating with parties and managing client expectations.”

“He has a very good manner with clients and they find him easy to work with. He really knows his stuff and he provides really sensible and reasonable advice.”

Chambers UK 2018

“He was excellent in court and on his feet. He helped us achieve a favourable settlement and he is very good at dealing with clients.”

“Last time I saw him on his feet he beat me, and I have to say he pulled off an absolute blinder. You’ve got to respect that; it was extraordinary, we got trounced. Honestly, I think he did very well, it was impressive.”

Chambers HNW 2017

“A tough litigator and very client friendly, he also has a good grasp of detail and undertakes complex drafting.”

Chambers UK 2018

He’s very clever, academic and good fun.”

“Although he’s junior, that masks the experience he brings. His drafting is great, he’s hands-on and his response times are very quick.”

Chambers UK 2017

“Rapidly expanding traditional chancery practice”

“Really great”

“Regularly involved in high-stakes litigation”

“Someone you feel you can work with”

Chambers UK 2016

“Great with clients”

“practical opinions on trust law”

“cogent advice that can easily be forwarded to the client”

“approachable”

“very good understanding of clients”

Chambers HNW 2016

Qualifications


  • Wadham College, Oxford, MA (First)
  • Wadham College, Oxford, MPhil (Distinction)
  • GDL
  • BVC (Outstanding)

Appointments


  • Accredited mediator
  • Member of the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service
  • Member of the judiciary of the Rugby Football Union
  • Member of the professional conduct committee of the CNHC

Associations & Memberships


  • Chancery Bar Association
  • Charity Law Association
  • Court of Protection Practitioners’ Association

Speaking Engagements


Leon regularly gives in house talks and seminars and is a sought after speaker for commercial seminar providers. He has been called an “excellent” and “engaging” speaker with an “entertaining presentation” and a recent CLT delegate said of him: “Wonderful speaker; one of the best I’ve seen.” He also teaches for STEP.

For more information and advice

 

Call: +44 (0)20 7405 0758

Email: clerks@tenoldsquare.com

 

Pricing Policy

Unless otherwise agreed my Clerk will calculate my fees based on my current hourly rate. My rates are reviewed annually and details can be obtained from my Clerk. Once a rate is set for any particular case the hourly rate will only ever be adjusted with express agreement between my Clerks and those instructing me. All fees are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate where applicable.

Social links


Leon Pickering 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 57378] and is fully insured with the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund [BMIF Ref 2360/066] 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 119673101.

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