Deputy Head of Clerking
Practice Manager
Assistant Practice Manager
David Brownbill KC specialises in international trust, company and financial services disputes and advice. His experience covers international trust, corporate and commercial structuring; investment funds, commercial trusts and pensions; political risks, international sanctions, investment disputes and bilateral investment treaties.
Regularly recommended by the legal directories for his work in these areas, he is described as
“Extremely knowledgeable and commercial“, the legal directories laud David as “a convincing advocate” who “has his finger on the pulse” and “combines all the ideal attributes of a barrister: he is a master of the technical law but also a major contributor towards strategy“.
David’s litigation work covers all matters within these fields, in both the English and the Commonwealth courts. David has been called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, has appeared in the courts of the British Virgin Islands, Cayman, Gibraltar, and the Isle of Man and regularly advises on cases in Anguilla, Antigua, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Jersey, Guernsey, Hong Kong, the Middle East and Singapore.
Clients value his ability to manage cases whose size, complexity and profile make them extremely difficult to handle. David has, accordingly, acted in numerous international and offshore trust, company and commercial disputes, including substantial fraud and asset recovery claims, both in England and overseas. David has also acted in various disputes concerning investment funds including a number of Madoff related matters.
David advises on the transactional as well as the litigation aspects of investments funds and commercial trusts generally and is regularly instructed to advise on complex trust and corporate documentation. David is well known for his ability to devise innovative solutions to problems, particularly in cases where tax and other transactions have gone awry.
David has for many years been concerned in the planning of international estates and family enterprise succession, including devising complex family governance and control structures.
David has also assisted various jurisdictions on the drafting of trust and company legislation and, most recently, has been retained in the Bahamas to advise on and draft legislation to provide for the arbitration of trust disputes, to introduce new features to its trust law and to abolish perpetuities.
David is an editor of International Trust Laws, and a member of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
David Brownbill QC has been concerned in numerous commercial cases, including substantial fraud and asset recovery claims, both in England and overseas. Professional negligence in the context of financial and commercial disputes is an area that David has considerable experience.
His recent work includes:
International and offshore work forms a very large percentage of David’s caseload, giving him substantial experience in this area. He regularly advises and appears in a number of jurisdictions including Jersey, the BVI, the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar and Lichtenstein.
Noted by all the legal directories as a leading practitioner in this area, David’s experience is such that he has an extremely loyal client base and acts in many of the leading cases in this field. David has particular experience with family business succession and governance disputes, including their mediation and arbitration. Legal 500/2011 says he is “in a class of his own when dealing with offshore work“.
Important cases include:
Current and recent matters also include
David has assisted various Caribbean countries on drafting trust and company legislation including Antigua (company law), the Turks & Caicos Islands (fraudulent dispositions and limited liability companies), and the British Virgin Islands (assisting on the drafting of the 2004 BVI Business Companies Act and recent amendments to its trust law). Most recently, David has been retained to advise on and draft amendments to Bahamas statute law to abolish perpetuities, introduce new features to its trust law and to provide for the arbitration of trust disputes.
David is an editor of International Trust Laws (Jordans), and a member of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
David Brownbill QC has acted various fraud, tracing and asset recovery claims, both in England and overseas
Current and recent matters include:
David Brownbill QC has handled a wide range of financial services and related matters both contentious and non-contentious. David deals regularly on matters involving commercial trusts, investment funds, purpose trust and other SPV arrangements, pensions and insurance contracts
Recent matters include:
Chancery: Commercial
Chambers & Partners
“A hands-on advocate with a seemingly tireless drive to achieve a positive result for his client.” (2023)
“Has a fantastic knowledge of trust law and offshore jurisdictions.” (2022 – UK and Global)
“An authoritative practitioner who really knows his stuff. He has a wealth of knowledge for all things trusts-related.” (2021 – UK and Global)
Chancery: Traditional
Chambers & Partners
David Brownbill KC is a highly respected silk whose broad traditional chancery practice includes frequent instructions in complex matters both onshore and offshore. He is also noted for the depth of his technical knowledge. Strengths: “Technically excellent, with an ability to see the whole picture, however complicated. He is a go-to for knotty trusts issues.” (2023)
David Brownbill QC has distinct expertise in offshore litigation and dispute resolution. A source views Brownbill as “technically excellent, with an ability to see the whole picture, however complicated,” continuing: “He is a go-to for knotty trusts issues.” A legal professional also recognises that he is “extremely competent, with a lifetime of experience to call upon.” (2022 – High Net Worth)
David Brownbill QC is a highly respected silk whose broad traditional chancery practice includes frequent instructions in complex matters both onshore and offshore. He is also noted for the depth of his technical knowledge. Strengths: “Thinks outside the box and brings great creativity to his analysis.” (2022)
David Brownbill QC is highly respected by both peers and instructing solicitors. “He is a highly intelligent individual who can see straight to the heart of issues in a matter and easily deal with it. His advocacy skills are also impressive and he can help the judges understand the issues in a case in the most clear and efficient way,” explains a source, who adds: “It is a great pleasure to work with him and I would have no hesitation in recommending him to anyone.” (2021 – UK and High Net Worth)
Offshore
Chambers & Partners
David Brownbill KC is a natural choice for the most complex and contentious trusts litigation. He is frequently called upon to handle work in the Channel Islands, the BVI and the Cayman Islands. His specialism lies in multi-jurisdictional and high-value traditional and commercial chancery work. Brownbill is particularly sought after for claims arising out of liquidation and insolvency. Strengths: “David Brownbill is a very forceful advocate and has a strong reputation in the offshore jurisdictions.” “He is a hands-on advocate with a seemingly tireless strive to achieve a positive result for the client.” (2023)
David Brownbill QC is a natural choice for the most complex and contentious trusts litigation. He is frequently called upon to handle work in the Channel Islands, the BVI and the Cayman Islands. His specialism lies in multi-jurisdictional and high-value traditional and commercial chancery work. Brownbill is particularly sought after for claims arising out of liquidation and insolvency. Strengths: “He is committed, cordial, and it is a fantastic experience working with him.” “David is really great. He’s been very good at offshore work and legislative changes.” (2022 – UK and Global)
Strengths: “Extremely thorough and delightful to work with.” “Very technically gifted.” “Very bright, a real pleasure to work with.” (2021 – UK and Global)
Legal 500
‘David is absolutely brilliant in dealing with highly complex and technical legal issues. His judgment is superb, taking into account not only legal issues but practical client concerns. You can always rely on his advice. He is also incredibly diligent and hard-working and a joy to work with.’ (2023)
‘A calm advocate and a real leader in the field.’ (2021)
Private Client: Trusts and Probate
Chambers & Partners
David Brownbill KC is noted for his strong track record in private client litigation and has specific expertise in trust law. He is the editor of leading textbook ‘International Trust Laws’ and is often instructed in high-profile offshore disputes. His expertise also extends to trust issues in the context of investment funds. Strengths: “David is a very talented trusts lawyer. He is very competent and inspires a lot of confidence in the people that work with him.” “Very bright, accessible, and client-friendly.” (2023)
David Brownbill QC is noted for his strong track record in private client litigation and has specific expertise in trust law. He is the editor of leading textbook ‘International Trust Laws’ and is often instructed in high-profile offshore disputes. His expertise also extends to trust issues in the context of investment funds. Strengths: “He is an excellent technical trusts lawyer who really gets into the weeds of cases. He is very, very good at getting his head across the important detail in a case.” (2022 – UK and Global)
Strengths: “Easy to chat to, very engaging, thorough and someone who thinks through all the issues very well.” “He is technically absolutely excellent.” (2021 – Global)
Legal 500
‘David is a measured, careful and meticulous leader with a deep understanding of the law and, in particular, international structures and clients.’ (2023)
‘Is very knowledgeable, technical, detailed and thorough. He is a persuasive and calming advocate and a real leader in the field.’ (2021)
David is recommended in the Citywealth Leaders List 2019 as a Prominent Contentious Trusts Barrister and Who’s Who Legal 2019 recommends him for as a global leader in private client work, praising his “strong advocacy” and “eye for detail“.
David is co-author of the disputes chapter in Crypto and Digital Assets Law and Regulation published by Sweet and Maxwell in December 2023.
Editor of International Trust Laws (Jordans)
LLB, Nottingham
Accredited mediator
