David  O'Hanlon

David O'Hanlon  

Partner | Guernsey | BVI

  • An individual who stands out is David O'Hanlon.
  • David O’Hanlon is calm and understated but firm in his advice. Willing to take on board client strategic views and to advise having regard to the ultimate aims.
    Legal 500 2022
  • David O’Hanlon – commercially minded, talented lawyer with sound judgement and good strategic insight.
    Legal 500 2024 (UK)
  • We appreciate, beyond words, you 'being there'.
    Client feedback
  • David O’Hanlon is smart and always engaged, not just from a legal perspective but also strategically.
    Legal 500
  • David O’Hanlon brings clears-sightedness, good sense and commerciality to difficult cases and handles them with skill.
    Legal 500 (UK) 2023
  • A calm and astute lawyer.
  • David O’Hanlon is responsive and helpful – a good strategic thinker.
    Legal 500

David has extensive experience of commercial litigation, professional negligence matters and trust disputes, often with cross-border or jurisdictional issues.

Experience

David has acted for trustees, investment banks and beneficiaries in contentious or semi-contentious matters, such as defending trustees against claims for breach of trust, acting in relation to variations of trust and advising trustees and beneficiaries on their obligations and rights in respect of the trusts.

"I enjoy working as part of the client's team to achieve the outcome they need. This often requires a view of the bigger picture as well as the immediate litigation the client is facing. "

Recent public matters include: Walker et al –v- Egerton-Vernon et al in which David acted for one of the former trustees of a settlement established by the late entrepreneur Jack Walker in defending a claim in excess of £100 million (and settled on confidential terms).

David advises directors, shareholders and corporate service providers on contentious corporate matters such as shareholder or board disputes, claims against directors and advice on issues such as potential conflicts of interest.

Recent work includes acting for the Independent Directors in Carlyle Capital Corporation Limited (in liquidation) and ors –v- Conway Jr and ors in their successful defence of a claim for in excess of $1 billion brought by the liquidators of Carlyle Capital Corporation Limited (in liquidation).

David was admitted to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands in June 2025.

Chambers Ranking In UK
*Business Assistant
Caroline West

Caroline West

 
My services
Contentious regulatory
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In regulatory disputes there are often fine lines between the usual wrangling with the regulator and something more serious – by matching our mix of experienced contentious and non-contentious lawyers to the particular problem at hand, we achieve better and more efficient outcomes.

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Corporate disputes
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Our dispute resolution specialists collaborate seamlessly with our corporate advisory and banking teams across jurisdictions to advise multinational corporations, trust companies, banks, funds, insurers, governments and directors.

We provide a global perspective, working closely with our clients to ensure that they are best placed to respond to customer issues, fraud risks, rapidly changing market conditions and regulatory demands.

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Trust disputes
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We represent beneficiaries, high-net-worth individuals, trustees, protectors and other power holders in a range of contentious and semi-contentious situations. Our lawyers have been at the forefront of the most complex, high-value private wealth litigation offshore. 

We often deal with novel points of law, creating new and innovative solutions to meet the needs of our clients.

Given the international nature of private wealth, with clients and their assets spread across the world, we work as a joined-up global team so that our clients can benefit from the knowledge and experience wherever they may need it.

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Private client and trusts
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Our full-service private client team offers wealth structuring, advisory and disputes expertise to trustees and high-net-worth individuals, and a range of services to clients within our local jurisdictions.

With our strong global presence and partner-led approach, clients can benefit from our leading expertise and experience around the world.

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Dispute resolution
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We live in an increasingly contentious world. When your business is involved in any kind of legal dispute it's crucial to work with lawyers who are hands-on, cost-effective and flexible enough to respond quickly and intuitively to your unique situation and needs.

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Real estate disputes
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Our experienced team represent clients in a range of private, contractual and commercial real estate disputes.

Widely regarded as the preferred advisors for numerous high-net-worth individuals and families, we regularly assist in navigating disputes related to private matters, property (including boundary disputes), trusts, and family issues. 

Additionally, our arbitration specialists are increasingly being used as a cost-effective, confidential and efficient alternative to court litigation in resolving commercial and construction disputes.

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Personal injury and clinical negligence
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We advise both plaintiffs and defendants on personal injury and clinical negligence claims on and have represented some of the largest insurers in the UK.

Directors' disputes
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Disputes between directors can threaten the stability and governance of a company. We advise boards, individual directors, shareholders and stakeholders in contentious matters involving boardroom deadlock, removal or appointment of directors and conflicts of interest.

Drawing on our corporate, regulatory and dispute resolution expertise, we provide strategic advice in navigating internal power struggles and fiduciary issues. Our cross-border teams work cohesively to resolve disputes efficiently, protect business continuity and mitigate reputational risk.

Whether acting in private companies, joint ventures or complex corporate structures, we help clients manage director-level disputes with clarity and confidence.

16 Oct 2025

Strong rankings maintained in Chambers UK Guide 2026

Collas Crill's Guernsey and Jersey teams have upheld the firm's rankings across all practice areas in the 2026 Chambers UK Guide, including the Guernsey property team's top-tier ranking and a notable promotion to Band 2 for the Guernsey trusts team. Ther...

9 Oct 2025

Caribbean Brief

Collas Crill Caribbean Brief – key offshore updates in one place Welcome to the Collas Crill Caribbean Brief – a concise round-up of significant recent decisions and legal developments affecting offshore and cross-border litigation. This edition covers: ...

30 Sep 2025

Fang Ankong & anr v Green Elite Ltd (In Liquidation) [2025] UKPC 47

Court: Privy Council (from the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (BVI))Subject: Breach of fiduciary duty, payments for improper purpose, Duomatic principleJudges: Lord Briggs, Lord Sales, Lord Hamblen, Lord Burrows, Lord Richards Sum...

30 Sep 2025

Maso Capital Investments Ltd and another v Trina Solar Ltd [2025] UKPC 48

Court: Privy Council (from the Court of Appeal of the Cayman Islands)Subject: Merger appraisals, share valuation methodology, approach to determination of appealsJudges: Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lord Hamblen, Lord Leggatt, Lord Burrows, Sir Popplewell Summary T...

23 Sep 2025

Linksure Global Holding Limited v Infinite Solution Limited and Ors [2025] CIGC (FSD) 95

Court: Grand Court (Cayman Islands)Subject: Leave to serve out of the jurisdiction, reliance on GCR O.11, r.1(1)(ff) where defendant was director or officer of another defendant, extension of validity of writ to enable service by Hague Convention methods...

22 Sep 2025

Kenneth M Krys (as Liquidator of Fairfield Sentry Ltd (In Liquidation)) v Farnum Place LLC [2025] UKPC 43

Court: Privy Council (from the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (BVI))Subject: Material changes in circumstances as ground for retrospective sanction for successful US appealJudges: Lord Sales, Lady Rose, Lord Richards Summary Kenne...

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