Nuno is one of the most highly regarded Jersey advocates. He has over 30 years' experience and his profile has resulted in Collas Crill attracting some of the island's best known and most complex, top-flight litigation work.
Experience
Nuno's experience, at the highest level, is extensive and he has been instructed by a wide variety of clients, ranging from international financial institutions to countries.
He specialises in commercial litigation and regularly represents clients in highly complex and important trust, contract and fraud cases many of which are now leading cases in their areas of law. The favoured advisor for many of Jersey's wealthiest families on their private, property and trust disputes, he has appeared in many substantial Jersey cases including acting for the first defendant in the Alhamrani trusts litigation, Jersey's biggest ever litigation dispute.
Background
Nuno is a Crown Advocate and has prosecuted a number of particularly high profile criminal cases; he regularly advises various departments of the Island's government (the States); and undertakes investigations arising out of complaints of discipline or misconduct against members of the Jersey Law Society. Few Advocates, whether in Jersey or in England, are able to work at the highest level of their profession in such a wide variety of areas.
Nuno was appointed Relief Magistrate in 2009 and continues to undertake that role and is one of the founding members of the International Fraud Group (IFG), a co-ordinated team of expert fraud lawyers (including Mishcon de Reya). The IFG enables multi-jurisdictional matters to be managed centrally, and his membership has led to his being instructed on several substantial international matters over the years.
Nuno is named in Legal 500's Hall of Fame UK lawyers list which identifies exceptional legal talent at the pinnacle of their profession. He is also ranked in band 2 in Chambers & Partners UK Guide. He has also been recognised as one of the world's leading practitioners in the Lexology Index: Private Client and Offshore Services and Asset Recovery.
He has an outstanding reputation for handling contentious trust work.
Chambers & Partners
Nuno Santos-Costa is a very smart lawyer. He understands issues quickly and is a great strategist. He is excellent with clients, has a pragmatic approach and is much sought after. Nuno has a pleasant, knowledgeable demeanour which commands respect.
Legal 500 2022
Nuno Santos-Costa is extremely experienced. he has excellent client-handling skills and is very practical in seeking a solution for his client.
Legal 500 2022
Nuno is a good courtroom performer and good cross-examiner.
Chambers UK 2023
Nuno Santos-Costa is fantastic, a great advocate with a stellar track record.
Nuno Santos-Costa has a reputation that proceeds him in court and is brilliant on his feet.
His reputation as one of Jersey's most respected and accomplished lawyers is fully deserved.
Legal 500
Nuno is an experienced Jersey advocate who knows the courts very well.
Chambers UK 2024
Clients highlight his "incisive" handling of matters, and characterise him as "a big hitter" in litigation.
Chambers & Partners
He is a force of nature. He is one of the most experienced trial lawyers on the island.
Chambers & Partners
Nuno is an accomplished and experienced lawyer who is adept at navigating through noise, providing clear and helpful advice.
Chambers UK Guide 2026
In Jersey Nuno Santos Costa is a superb advocate, his cross examination is excellent and he is a keen tactician.
Legal 500 (UK) 2023
Nuno is very commercial, a great litigator and a pleasure to work with. He is brilliant with clients.
Nuno gave a master class in cross-examination. He's fantastic.
Chambers UK 2024
Nuno Santos-Costa is one of the most experienced advocates on the island and is an extremely robust performer in Court.
Legal 500
Excellent at putting complicated matters into plain English – he takes a concrete approach, focusing on the important aspects and not wasting time
Legal 500
Nuno Santos-Costa is an astute, practical lawyer, who provides excellent wise counsel. He really gets to the nub of a case quickly, and easily grasps the technical, commercial matters.
Legal 500 (UK) 2023
Nuno is thorough, balanced and gives excellent advice.
I would put Nuno as truly top of his field.
Chambers UK Guide 2026
He's very good and very charismatic. He is certainly an advocate you would want representing you.
Chambers & Partners
Nuno Santos-Costa has almost legendary status. He is a superb advocate.
Legal 500 (UK) 2024
Named in Legal 500's inaugral Hall of Fame UK lawyers list.
Legal 500
Nuno is a first class litigator.
Legal 500 (UK) 2023
Expertise
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.
As regulatory experts in the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey we frequently act on contentious matters and can leverage our experience to help clients achieve the highest regulatory standards and avoid common pitfalls.
We combine pragmatic risk assessment with rigorous legal advice and compliance guidance to reduce exposure and protect reputation, while drawing on our cross-jurisdictional knowledge to design remediation strategies, negotiate with regulators and, where necessary, litigate effectively.
Our collaborative approach ensures clients receive clear, actionable legal advice that balances regulatory obligations with commercial realities, delivers timely, proportionate solutions and supports remediation plans, helping prevent escalation into more serious enforcement action and preserve business continuity.
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.
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 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.
For financially distressed companies in need of restructuring and reorganisation, or for those where the opportunity to do so has passed or failed, we work to achieve the most beneficial outcome in these difficult situations.
At whatever stage we are engaged, our involvement will assist in identifying the ongoing risks facing a client and to enable that client to continue to identify and effectively manage deteriorating relationships with creditors, financiers, investors or other interested parties.
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.
Our real estate disputes lawyers combine specialist real estate litigation experience with commercial pragmatism to deliver tailored strategies across negotiation, mediation and court proceedings. They provide measured advice on risk, costs and likely outcomes, and protect client interests through proactive case management and evidence gathering, working closely with commercial, tax, trust and family law specialists where disputes intersect.
With offices in Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey, our real estate disputes team’s practical focus is on achieving durable resolutions that preserve value and client relationships.
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.
It is a fact of life that all regulated businesses today face ever increasing pressure in the areas of compliance, regulation and risk management. Not only are our businesses required to comply with regulations and laws imposed within each jurisdiction, we need to be alert to impending changes in the UK, EU and elsewhere which could have an impact on the way we operate.
We provide fast, cost-effective and sensitive advice on all types of will-related disputes during what is often an extremely upsetting and distressing time for those concerned. We regularly act on multi-party actions for both plaintiffs and defendants.
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.
As the global legal and regulatory landscape becomes ever more complex, managing wealth across generations, succession planning and transferring control of assets has never been more challenging. That's why it's important to work with lawyers who can offer solutions that are tailored to your unique circumstances.
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.
With offices in Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey, our contentious private wealth lawyers combine courtroom skill with discreet client care, advising on jurisdictional strategy, interim relief and complex equitable claims.
