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.
Private Client: Non-Contentious
Leon is recommended in this area by Chambers UK and Chambers HNW. He is “very easy to deal with” and is praised for his “very good quality, practical advice” and “practical opinions on trust law” (Chambers HNW). He is one of the co-authors of Tolley’s Inheritance Tax Planning and a co-author of Parker’s Will Precedents.
Leon teaches the STEP Trust Administration course and regularly speaks on private client subjects around the country He has been described as an “excellent” and “engaging” speaker.
In addition to capital taxes and succession-planning work, Leon is often instructed in applications to correct settlor and trustee mistakes through rectification and the setting aside of settlements in their entirety.
Recent highlights include:
- Re South Downs Trustees Ltd [2018] EWHC 1064 (Ch)
- A rectification of a deed of appointment (unreported, High Court, 2016)
- Setting aside a £1m+ settlement on the ground of equitable mistake (unreported, High Court, 2015)
- A successful will construction/rectification claim (unreported, High Court, 2015)
- A number of applications under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958
Recommendations
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
Publications
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.
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.
