The Advisory Board
The Advisory Board explores aspects of international fiduciary alternative dispute resolution, particularly with respect to common law trusts. It is fortunate to enjoy privileged access to some of the field's leading authorities in the Commonwealth. The Director-General serves as the body’s Chairman.
John Bender TEP (Zürich/Liechtenstein)
John Bender has been on the board of an SFO historically associated with a FTSE-100 publishing company since 2008 and director of its fiduciary office since 2012. As a trust and estate practitioner specialising in UHNW private client wealth planning, he has longstanding experience as independent trustee, PTC director, trust protector and investment committee member. Mr. Bender has also led a number of cross-border dynastic and fiduciary litigation projects.
Henry Brandts-Giesen (Auckland)
2016 Dentons Kensington Swan, New Zealand, Partner and Head of Private Wealth Team
2004–2016 Mourant, Jersey Channel Islands
2015 Admitted as Solicitor (British Virgin Islands)
2008 Admitted as Solicitor (England and Wales)
2004 Admitted as Solicitor (Cook Islands)
2002 Admitted as Solicitor (New Zealand)
Russell Brown (Vancouver)
2015-2023 Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
2014 Justice of the Court of Appeal of Alberta
2013 Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta
2008 Admitted to the Bar (Alberta)
1995 Admitted to the Bar (British Columbia)
David Brownbill KC (London)
2008 Queen's Counsel
1993 Attorney Turks and Caicos
1989 Called to the Bar (England and Wales)
1980 Admitted as Solicitor (England and Wales)
Court appearances: British Virgin Islands, Cayman, Gibraltar, and the Isle of Man
Bahamas: Adviser on draft legislation for trust law and the arbitration of trust disputes
James Clanchy, FCIArb. (London)
2008 – 2012 Registrar of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)
1994 - 2008 Avocat au Barreau de Paris
1990 - 2019 Admitted as Solicitor (England and Wales)
Gilead Cooper KC (London)
2006 Queen's Counsel
1983 Called to the Bar (England and Wales), Bar of the BVI
Court appearances: BVI, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong.
Ben Giaretta (London)
Chairman of London Branch, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
2020 Fox Williams LLP Co-Head of International Arbitration,
2018 - 2020 Partner at Mishcon de Reya
1999 - 2018 Partner at Ashurst
2001 Admitted as Solicitor (England and Wales)
Jeremy Johnson (Auckland)
2020 Barrister and Arbitrator, Bankside Chambers, New Zealand
2008 – 2020 Solicitor and Partner, Wynn Williams
2023 Admitted as a Foreign Lawyer with the Singapore International Commercial Court
2019 Admitted as a Legal Practitioner of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
2008 Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK (CIArb)
Fellow of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ)
Steven Kempster (London)
2014 Partner at Withers in Trust, Estate and Inheritance Disputes team
2008 - 2014 Partner at Taylor Wessing
2000 Admitted as Solicitor (England and Wales)
The Honourable Barry Leon (BVI/Toronto)
2015 - 2018 Presiding Judge of the BVI Commercial Court
2009 - 2015 Partner and Head of the International Arbitration Group at Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP
1974 - 2009 Partner, Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice at Torys LLP
Charles Lloyd (London)
Since 2001 Head of Macfarlanes Private Client Disputes Group
1992 Admitted as Solicitor (England and Wales)
1988 Called to the Bar (England and Wales)
Elspeth Talbot Rice KC (London)
Head of Chambers XXIV Old Buildings
2012 Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn
2008 Queen's Counsel
2008 Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
1990 Called to the Bar, Wigglesworth Scholar Lincoln's Inn (England and Wales)
Court appearances: British Virgin Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands
Dancia Penn OBE KC (BVI)
2012 Head of Chambers Dancia Penn & Co
2007 - 2011 Member of the House of Assembly of The Virgin Islands
2004 - 2007 Deputy Governor of the Virgin Islands
1999 Admitted of the Bar of Barbados
1996 Queen's Counsel
1992 - 1999 Attorney General of The Virgin Islands
1981 Barrister and Solicitor of The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in The Virgin Islands