Anthony Poulton

Anthony has extensive experience advising clients in relation to managing risks associated with exposure to wealth-related controversy, including dealing with corporate governance and family governance and resolving "private" family disputes. More generally, Anthony also has considerable expertise in handling general commercial litigation, including cases affected by fraud, asset tracing and financial recovery as well as situations involving applications for freezing or proprietary injunctions. He also assists trustees in handling disputes, managing formal litigation, carrying out risk audits and mitigating exposure to risks.

• Representing the claimant in a multibillion-dollar dispute in Bermuda, Hong Kong and the USA, seeking to set aside Purpose Trusts established by a family faction. In this ongoing dispute Anthony led the team, which obtained a USD 500 million summary judgment victory in Bermuda in 2019 on a related matter.
• Advising a major offshore trust company in relation to strategy and GBP 500 million court proceedings arising from allegations that its appointment as trustee of a substantial number of trusts holding complex business assets was invalid.
• Acting for Grupo Torras SA in relation to the enforcement of a USD 800 million judgment against trust and personal assets located in Cayman, Jersey, the Bahamas, Switzerland, Spain, Singapore and elsewhere following a massive fraud on the company by key management personnel. This involved advice in connection with the settlement of this long-running dispute and overseeing the settlement process involving seventeen parties and simultaneous court orders in three jurisdictions.
• Advising the beneficiaries of trusts in Jersey and Bermuda in connection with actions to remove a protector from office and recover trust assets put in jeopardy. This advice encompassed the coordination of litigation strategies in five separate jurisdictions.
• Acting for a high-profile settlor in an action to set aside a high-value trust and other transactions on the basis of undue influence. This action involved issues in several jurisdictions, freezing injunctions and confidentiality orders.
• Acting for a Jersey-based trustee in a fraud claim for in excess of USD 500 million. The case involved complex matters of fraud, asset tracing, corporate law, unfair prejudice and an overseas criminal investigation. Multiple jurisdictions were involved, including Russia, Kazakhstan, England, Jersey, Guernsey and the BVI.
• Acting for a holding company held in a substantial trust structure in connection with allegations of fraud and a petition for unfair prejudice in respect of the conduct of the management of a London-listed company controlled by a CIS entity.
• Advising the primary beneficiary of a Jersey trust in connection with an application for the disclosure of trust documents in the context of US matrimonial proceedings.
• Advising a principal beneficiary of a number of very valuable trusts established under the law of Gibraltar in relation to a dispute as to his beneficial interests with the trustees and the other principal beneficiary.

Anthony is listed as a “Notable Practitioner”. Anthony Poulton has a superb reputation for his approach to handling big-ticket international private wealth disputes. "He's absolutely fantastic - extremely knowledgeable and absolutely lovely, so polite and so charming. A true gentleman," says another disputes lawyer. Poulton is "very highly sought after for good reason," according to a barrister, who adds that he is "a calm litigator with a good commercial nous." Private Wealth Disputes, London (Firms), High Net Worth (Chambers Rankings 2021)

Baker McKenzie is "a powerhouse for private client work," according to a market commentator. Its private wealth litigation team is well known for taking on high-stakes cross-border work, often involving offshore jurisdictions. "The international reach sets them aside - it's the natural choice for a giant, complex, international issue," remarks an interviewee. Another says that for "very, very large cross-border disputes, they would be the choice." Private Wealth Disputes, London (Firms), High Net Worth (Chambers Rankings 2021)

Baker McKenzie regularly acts in major international trusts disputes and is "able to bring global strength and depth to private client cases in a way in which few other leading private client firms can." These disputes are frequently high-value, multi-party and cross-border. Practice head Anthony Poulton is a "star of the London legal market" and has extensive experience of advising clients on managing the risks associated with wealth-related controversy. He is skilled at advising on corporate governance and family governance, and at resolving private family disputes. (Legal 500 UK 2021)

"Anthony Poulton is class act – extremely knowledgeable, a clear market leader, always available, and head of a fantastic team of partners and associates." (Legal 500 UK 2021)

• Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists
• Commercial Fraud Lawyers' Association
• London Solicitors Litigation Association