Oliver Hilton

Oliver has a broad traditional and commercial chancery practice, with a particular emphasis on trust disputes, contentious and non-contentious probate, administration of estates, 1975 Act claims and property related litigation, including constructive trusts, proprietary estoppel, mortgages, landlord and tenant, easements, adverse possession, nuisance and boundary disputes.

Oliver has a developing practice in pensions as one of a number of pension juniors within chambers. He has gained a particular specialism in LGPS related matters, and has acted and advised in matters concerning purported amendments to trust deeds, the winding up of schemes and bankruptcy and pension rights.

On the commercial side, Oliver has a wealth of experience in company, insolvency, personal property, FSA, banking and finance related disputes.

Oliver's practice emcompasses litigation, drafting and advisory work.

In terms of litigation experience, Oliver regularly appears before Circuit Judges in the County Courts and Judges and Masters in the High Court, and his practice has taken him to the Court of Appeal on a number of occasions and a petition for leave to appeal to the House of Lords. A significant proportion of Oliver's more recent litigation practice has involved representing clients at mediations (the vast majority of which have resulted in settlements).  

In terms of advisory work, Oliver regularly assists trustees and personal representatives on all issues that may arise during office, including questions of construction, distribution and their various administrative and dispositive powers. Oliver has also recently gained experience in seeking relief against the consequences of mistakes in drafting trusts, wills and associated documents.

Oliver has experience in drafting wills, trusts and pension documentation and associated instruments.

 

Notable recent cases

 

Oliver’s recent cases include:

  • HR Trustees Ltd v Wembley Plc [2011] EWHC 2974 (Ch) Mr Justice Vos found that where an amendment to the rules of a pension scheme was invalid because only four out of five of the scheme's trustees had signed it, despite all five having agreed to the amendment, the court could cure the defect by the application of the maxim that equity looked on matters as done which ought to be done, and correct what had been an obvious administrative error.

  • Lex Wealth Management Ltd v Giannotti [2011] EWCA Civ 1341. The Court of Appeal revisited the threshold test for showing that a debt in winding up proceedings was disputed on substantial grounds. The matter concerned the interpretation of an FSA drafted deed poll entered into by the applicant’s directors in respect of undertakings to meet the debts of a previous company

  • Oakley v Fox (2011). Oliver acted for a claimant seeking to rescind a Declaration of Trust in relation to land, alternatively seeking a declaration that the beneficial interests therein have been altered by subsequent agreement. The disputes settled at mediation.

  • Haq v Island Homes [2011] EWCA Civ 805. Following a 4 day trial in which Oliver was successful in claiming a long lease in a supermarket on the Isle of Dogs on the basis of a commercial context proprietary estoppel, he was led by Sarah Asplin QC on the Respondent’s 2 day appeal before the Court of Appeal.

  • HSBC v Watson (2011) High Court. Oliver acted for minor and unborn beneficiaries in a claim for rectification of a trust.

  • Re Asset Co (2011) High Court. Oliver acted for a former director of the company as one of a number of supporting creditors in this high profile, highly contentious petition where the company alleged the debt was disputed.

  • Atlantis v Orion (2010) High Court. Oliver was instructed to defend a £1m+ breach of contact claim pursuant to a failed joint venture arrangement between two recruitment agency companies. The matter settled before trial.

  • Alexander v Alexander (2010) High Court. Oliver is presently acting for minors and unborns on a claim under the Variation of Trusts Act in relation to a proposed power to sell property held subject to a right of occupation.

  • Delone Properties v Harvey-Taylor & Ors (2011) High Court. Oliver was instructed on a complex trust dispute concerning a parcel of land, a building company and an alleged breach of the self dealing and conflicts rules. The claim settled at mediation.

  • Re Wharton Deceased (2010) High Court. Oliver has recently acted for the Claimant in a highly contentious probate action concering a multi-million pound estate.

  • Gibson v Hart (2010). Oliver represented a proposed claimant in a day long mediation in Manchester concerning a large family dispute which issues included the validity of a will, the beneficial interest in property, the recovery of lifetime transfers of money and the continued administration of the deceased's estate.

  • Re Kelk (2010) High Court. Approval hearing in respect of a settlement of a 1975 Act claim made in respect of a £12m estate.

  • Southern Pacific v Farrell (2010) High Court. Oliver advised and acted for a wife on her successful claim to set aside a mortgage as against her beneficial interest in the matrimonial home the husband had sought to obtain by forging her signature on the mortgage application form.

  • Stratford v Trump (2009). 5 day trial in which Oliver was successful in a claim concerning a beneficial interest in company shares based on a trust and secret profits.

  • NATIXIS v WestLB & ors (2008) Commercial Court. Oliver acted as junior counsel to Joe Smouha QC and Andrew Twigger on behalf of an investment bank in a claim in negligence and/or fraud against an arranger, lead manager and private equity firm in relation to the Box Clever securitisation. Claims settled before judgment.

  • Yewbelle Ltd v London Green Developments Ltd.& Anor [2007] EWCA Civ 475. Oliver was led by Edward Bannister QC in this appeal concerned with a implied terms as to obtaning planning permission in a contract for the sale of land. Petition for leave to appeal to the House of Lords was refused.

  • Jarrom v Sellars [2007] EWHC 1366 (Ch): recent leading authority on the costs consequences on the abandonment of a probate claim of failing to mediate.

  • Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre v Natural History Museum (2007) High Court. Oliver acted as junior counsel to Geoffrey Robertson QC and Gilead Cooper QC in a claim for the repatriation of human remains held by museum. The case settled following a mediation.

  • Bakwin v Sotheby's & Others (2006) High Court. Oliver acted as junior counsel to both Norman Palmer QC and John Wardell QC for an Amercian citizen in a successful claim for the return of highly valuable paintings stolen from his home, which had passed through various hands before ending up at Sotheby's for sale. Issues included the validity of an arbitration clause and service upon a Panamanian company abroad.

     

Professional membership

 

Chancery Bar Association

 

Education

 

Oliver read Law at King’s College, University of London, where he graduated with first class honours. He was awarded the Hardwick scholarship from Lincoln’s Inn.

 

Publications and seminars

Oliver is the author of the Lexis Nexis Practice Note on Pension: "Amending Mistakes and Rectification" (Oct 2011)

Oliver lectures on all aspects of his practice both in chambers and at venues around England and Wales (including his solicitors’ offices). Recent talks include:

  • Jones v Kernott: Where are we know with Co-Ownership of Land: Talk for the FreethCartwright Contested Trusts and Probate Seminar

  • a 5 hour seminar titled 'Claims by and against Personal Representatives' for Central Law Training at various venues accross Enland.

  • a 5 hour seminar titled 'Contentious Probate - Current Issues and Problem areas for Practictioners' for Central Law Training at various venues across England.

  • 'Mistake - a gift once given, easily taken back?' - a talk to various banks and solicitors given in Jersey in July 2010.

  • ‘Jarrom v Sellars: Costs following discontinuance of a Probate Claim’ for Withers LLP

  • The protection of LGPS pensions on a transfer of public sector employees to the private sector.

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