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Gareth  Bell

Gareth Bell  

Partner | Guernsey

Dispute Resolution

  • Collas Crill‘s disputes practice is praised for the ‘energy and focus‘ it displays across a broad range of Guernsey litigation. Gareth Bell continues to be involved in significant fund disputes such as the Carlyle and Highland CLO cases.
    Legal 500
  • Gareth Bell is sought after for his expertise in financial services disputes. He regularly represents clients in matters relating to trusts and breach of fiduciary duty.
    Chambers
  • The partner involved in our case was Gareth Bell. Whilst the case was long and drawn out Gareth kept us in focus at all times. Whilst not wishing to go through a similar process Gareth made the process come to a conclusion quickly and efficiently.
    Legal 500 (UK) 2023
  • Gareth Bell is knowledgeable with the ability to strategically think about the situation and how to deal with complicated and difficult events and give appropriate advice and how to deal with difficult people.
    Legal 500
  • He is technically knowledgeable and gave strategic advice.
    Chambers and Partners 2022
  • Gareth Bell is sought after for his expertise in financial services disputes.
    Chambers UK 2023
  • Gareth Bell is a very experienced and steady hand on the tiller. Knowledgeable and able to provide comfort when the going gets tough.
    Legal 500 2022
  • Knowledgeable regarding the issues and local procedure
    Chambers & Partners
  • A pleasure to deal with in every respect
    Client feedback
  • A top-notch litigator - good at strategy and client relations
    Legal 500
  • Gareth Bell has provided exceptional legal representation in our case. He provided honest and realistic expectations throughout and has been extremely helpful and very responsive during the process. As well as brilliant contacts in UK counsel.
    Client feedback

Overview 

Gareth is a litigation lawyer who specialises in trust, company (including directors' duties), insolvency, professional negligence and other financial services disputes.  He also has an active practice in semi-contentious trust matters.

Gareth is a qualified Guernsey Advocate and currently leads the firm's Guernsey Corporate Disputes team.

Experience

Gareth has been involved in a number of trials in the Royal Court of Guernsey and several appeals to the Court of Appeal and Privy Council.  He acted for the successful non-executive director defendants in the long running, multi-billion dollar Carlyle litigation that eventually concluded in 2020.  He also recently acted for the Registrar of the Chambre de Discipline (the disciplinary body for Advocates) on the first ever appeal of a disciplinary matter to the Court of Appeal, where he was successful.

"I am a modern, client focused litigator who particularly enjoys being part of a multi-jurisdictional team. I'm an unflappable, measured character but will always pursue my clients' interests robustly when required."

Background

Gareth qualified as solicitor of England and Wales in 2001 with Reynolds Porter Chamberlain in London and joined Collas Crill in 2005.  He qualified as a Guernsey Advocate in 2008 and became a partner of Collas Crill in 2010. 

Education: LLB (2.1) (University of Liverpool, 1998); LPC (Distinction) (College of Law, Chester 1999); Certificat d’Etudes Juridiques Françaises et Normandes (Caen, 2006)

Awards/Directories

  • Chambers UK Guide 2023 – Band 3 
  • Legal 500 (Guernsey) 2021 

Memberships

  • ARIES (Association of Restructuring and Insolvency Experts)
  • Chancery Bar Association
  • ACTAPS (Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists)

Gareth is a keen distance runner and is kept extremely busy by his four children and dog.

* Business Assistant
Caroline West

Caroline West

 
My services
Director & Shareholder Disputes
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Thanks to the depth of our experience and the resources of our team, we've acted on some of the largest pieces of litigation brought against directors offshore. We're well placed to deal with the 'bet the farm' proceedings that can occur in these type of disputes and have represented parties involved in intra-company disputes, including executive, non-executive and independent directors, majority and minority shareholders, companies and liquidators. We understand that shareholder disputes are often not simply 'black and white' and our team finds innovative and commercial alternatives to those which the Court may offer – taking a collaborative approach with our clients to ensure that the right result is achieved.

Dispute Resolution
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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. We know that there are many different ways a dispute can be resolved and work closely with our clients to understand every aspect of their business, priorities and goals. This allows us to find the best way forward for our clients and to advise on the commercial implications of a dispute, ensuring the process remains as stress-free as possible. Our approach is practical, responsive and tailored to the client's interests. Our expertise and reputation means we're first choice for a range of clients, including banks, trust companies, high net worth individuals and top law firms.

Insolvency & Restructuring
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For financially distressed companies in need of restructuring and reorganisation, or for those where the opportunity to do so has passed or failed, Collas Crill’s insolvency and restructuring team work to achieve the most beneficial outcome in these difficult situations. 

Our team brings a wealth of experience from a range of diverse backgrounds to give quick, accurate, commercial advice, primarily across the financial services sector. 

Currently working on some of the largest and most complex cross-border insolvencies in the jurisdiction, we frequently advise top law firms from the People’s Republic of China, the United States, the United Kingdom and other jurisdictions. We are regularly briefed by Sovereign Wealth Funds and Fortune 500 Companies to advise on particular restructurings, as well as investment managers from Europe; the United States and Russia. 

At whatever stage we are engaged, our involvement will assist in identifying the on-going risks facing a client and to enable that client to continue to identify and to effectively manage deteriorating relationships with creditors, financiers, investors or other interested parties.

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Event 5 Apr 2023
Past Event

Directors' Duties Conference

Collas Crill invites you to join us at our Directors' Duties Conference, where the focus will be on Shareholder Activism.  Join Partners David O'Hanlon, Wayne Atkinson and...

Event 17 Sep 2020
Past Event

INSOL Virtual 2020

As restructuring professionals are quickly adapting to meeting clients needs under new circumstances INSOL international has decided to present a virtual conference...

Event 26 Feb 2020
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Asset Recovery International

The KNect365 Asset Recovery International conference focusing on 'Fraud Litigation, Enforcement & Contentious Insolvency' will once again be held in Dublin this year...

Event 5 Nov 2019
Past Event

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What do you do when the unexpected hits?  Dawn raids, document disclosure, data breaches and global crises may well be out of a director's control but can affect a company...

Event 27 Jun 2019
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Wilberforce Guernsey Conference

Our Guernsey Dispute Resolution team will be attending this year's Wilberforce Guernsey Conference on Thursday 27th June. The members of Wilberforce are preparing to deliver...

Event 27 Feb 2019
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Asset Recovery International

The KNect365 Asset Recovery International conference focusing on 'Fraud Litigation, Enforcement & Contentious Insolvency' will be held in Dublin this year. Over 50...

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