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Sam Williams

Sam Williams 

Group Partner* | Jersey

Dispute Resolution

  • Sam Williams is phenomenally bright and a very attractive advocate: the Court loves him.
    Legal 500 (UK) 2023
  • Sam Williams is very clever and diligent.
    Chambers UK 2023
  • Sam Williams [...] is one to watch for the future. He was heavily involved in the long-running Crociani litigation and is extremely able.
    Legal 500
  • Sam Williams is an excellent lawyer who is very good on his feet. He has grown into a highly skilled advocate.
    Legal 500 2022
  • Senior associate Sam Williams is a real star and a very promising advocate. He is also a very sound lawyer
    Legal 500
  • Distinguished career. Accomplished in large family cases. Formidable.
    Citywealth Leaders List
  • Rising Star
    Legal 500

Overview

Sam is a Group Partner and Jersey advocate in the dispute resolution practice at Collas Crill. He specialises in complex and high-value trusts and estates litigation and semi-contentious applications. Sam also has expertise in the enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards, and asset freezing and preservation orders.

"My priority is to deliver practical results for clients. My advice always has a strategic focus so that clients can make informed decisions."

Experience

  • Appearing at trial in Representation of B and C [2022] JRC 086, an application to remove a trust protector based on loss of trust and confidence
  • Obtaining Beddoe relief for a trustee in relation to a challenge to a foreign tax liability
  • Appearing for Kea Investments Limited in Jersey enforcement proceedings against an English High Court judgment debtor, which involved issues of insolvency and winding up of trusts
  • Representation of Roberts and Toynton & Anr [2021] JRC 008: securing the appointment of receivers by the Royal Court of Jersey to pursue worldwide enforcement action in respect of a promissory note with a face value of over €50 million
  • Crociani v Crociani [2019] JRC 028B: obtaining and upholding a worldwide freezing order in the sum of £21 million in respect of an equitable contribution claim arising out of breach of trust proceedings
  • Re Estate of Constantin Mattas [2022] JRC 237: securing a ground-breaking order for substituted service on a foreign state in proceedings relating to a will trust

Background

Sam holds a first class honours degree in modern history from the University of Oxford. He joined Collas Crill in 2016, prior to which he worked at another offshore law firm in Jersey and at a well-known international firm in London where he trained and qualified as an English solicitor in 2010 (currently non-practising). Sam was called to the Jersey bar in 2015.

Awards/directories

Sam is included in CityWealth's Top 100 Trusts Litigators. In Legal 500 he is ranked as a 'Next Generation Partner' and in Chambers UK as 'Up and Coming'in the 2022/23 guide.

Publications

Sam has authored a LexisPSL practice note on enforcing arbitral awards in Jersey and is author of 'The nature of a beneficiary’s interest under a Jersey law trust: Kea Investments v Watsonin its historical context' which featured in Trusts & Trustees, Volume 28, Issue 3, in March 2022

Memberships

  • Contentious Trusts Association
  • Board of Examiners for Jersey Bar examinations
  • Law Society of Jersey
  • Law Society of England and Wales

*not a member of Collas Crill LLP in Jersey

Business Assistant
Antony Mwanzia  
My services
Contentious Trusts
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We represent trust corporations, HNWIs, individual trustees and beneficiaries, often dealing with novel points of law and creating new and innovative solutions to fit the needs of our clients. Given the international scope of settlors, investments and assets, we often co-ordinate advice from our multi-jurisdictional teams, meaning that our clients benefit from the knowledge and depth of experience of our people around the globe.

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.

Fraud, Asset Tracing & Freezing Injunctions
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At Collas Crill, we're used to working as part of a multi-jurisdictional team, capable of reacting and responding quickly to urgent requests for assistance with locating and freezing assets. As sophisticated defendants become more adept at dissipating assets, we've been involved in cases that created new law in the Channel Islands in relation to a party's ability to trace assets and recover their losses. With their ability to deal with complex issues the team deliver clear, commercial advice on the availability and likely success of recovery methods.

Private Client
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As global legislation, regulation and taxation constantly change and become more complex, it has never been more important to make long-term plans to secure your future, the future of your family or your business. We cut through the legal jargon to provide clear, practical advice when you most need it and anticipate the challenges you are likely to face so that you can rest assured you and your family are in safe hands at every step of the way.

Deal 14 Feb 2023

Offshore Jersey Trusts

This article first appeared on LexisPSL Private Client on 01.02.2023 Overview Private Client analysis: A trustee of a Jersey law trust sought a blessing of its decisions to...

News 20 Oct 2022

Collas Crill: Chambers 2022 UK

Collas Crill has maintained its strong position in the Chambers & Partners United Kingdom 2022 directory, upholding its rankings across all practice areas, with the...

Life & Careers 29 Sep 2022

Collas Crill UK Legal 500 2023

Collas Crill has maintained its strong position in the Legal 500 United Kingdom directory this year, upholding its rankings across all practice areas. Described as one of...

Insight 20 Jul 2022

Enforcing arbitral awards in Jersey

Sam Williams has produced a practice note in partnership with Lexis PSL on the enforcement of arbitral awards in Jersey.  The note provides in-depth, up-to-date legal...

Insight 23 Mar 2022

Jersey trust law

An article by Group Partner Sam Williams has been published in Trust & Trustees magazine on the topic of the nature of a beneficiary’s interest under a Jersey law trust...

Insight 15 Jul 2021

Matter of M Settlement

Case analysis by Group Partner Sam Williams, Of Counsel Fritha Ford and Associate Kirsten Bailey, published on LexisPSL on 8 July 2021 Private Client analysis: The trustee...

Showing 6 of 28 Results

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Event 22 Feb 2023
Past Event

TL4 FIRE Starters Global Summit

'The Next Gen of Asset Recovery are headed to Dublin'  We are delighted that a number of Collas Crill Partners and Associates from multiple will be in attendance at this...

Event 30 Mar 2022
Past Event

Trusts in Litigation

Guernsey Partner Ben Havard will be speaking at the Informa Connect and ConTrA Trusts in Litigation conference in Seville on 1 April.Ben will be on the panel of a workshop...

Event 14 Mar 2022
Past Event

Trust & Litigation Forum

Managing Partner Christian Hay will be speaking on 'trust and estate litigation in a changing world' at the Private Client Global Elite's Trust and Estates Litigation Forum...

Event 26 Feb 2020
Past Event

Trusts & Estates Litigation Forum

Private Client Global Elite's Trust & Estates Litigation Forum 2020 will take place on 26 - 28 February in Marrakech, Morocco. The conference, written and directed by...

Event 6 Feb 2020
Past Event

Trusts in Litigation Conference

Collas Crill Guernsey Managing Partner, Christian Hay, will be speaking at the KNect365 and Contra Trusts in Litigation Conference which will be held in Helsinki on Thursday...

Event 12 Nov 2019
Past Event

STEP New York

STEP New York will be hosting a luncheon meeting with Alliancebernstein, LP on Tuesday 12 November. A multi-jurisdictional Collas Crill team will each present on the subject...

Showing 6 of 7 Results

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