Signature Litigation has hired Charles Simpson from Triay Lawyers to lead its Gibraltar office following the departure of Elliott Phillips to Mishcon de Reya.
Simpson is a seasoned litigation partner with extensive experience in commercial litigation, including civil fraud and asset tracing, insolvency and private client disputes, including trust litigation and family law matters.
He was called to the Bar in England and Wales in 1996 and subsequently in Gibraltar in 1997. He qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2003 and is a door tenant at Gatehouse Chambers in London.
Graham Huntley, founding partner of Signature Litigation, said Simpson brings “extensive experience, deep expertise and a strong commitment to our clients and people. We are confident that he will build on the continued success of the office and further strengthen our presence in the market”.
Huntley also praised Phillips, who is relocating to London on his departure. Huntley said: “We thank [Phillips] for his significant contribution to our firm and the development of our Gibraltar office over the past nine years.
“As he embarks on a new chapter in London, we wish him every success and happiness in his future endeavours. While we are naturally sorry to see him leave, we are grateful for his commitment, leadership and the strong foundations he leaves behind.”
Simpson said Phillips had played an important role in the development of the Gibraltar office, adding: “I am grateful for the strong foundations he leaves behind. They provide an excellent base on which to grow the office further.”
Phillips called his time at Signature Litigation “immensely rewarding”, adding: “I leave with tremendous respect and affection for the business and wish Charles, the Gibraltar team and the wider firm every success for the future."
Phillips officially departed the firm this week, after concluding client matters. Phillips is an internationally recognised offshore barrister specialising in global commercial litigation, high-value contentious trust disputes, civil fraud, asset tracing, corporate and insurance insolvency, and shareholder disputes, including applications for directions brought by trustees and claims brought by beneficiaries.
He has been involved in several cases before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which is based in London, where Lord Briggs – announced earlier this week as the UK’s new Supreme Court president – is the lead judge.
Writing on social media, Phillips said he was relocating to London to start the next chapter of his career as a partner in the private wealth disputes team at Mishcon de Reya. He also paid tribute to Signature, saying: “After nearly 10 years as the Gibraltar founding [and] managing partner, responsible for building Signature Litigation’s offering on the Rock from the ground up, together with brilliant colleagues, we have managed to build the only dedicated independent/conflict-free complex disputes practice in Gibraltar.”
Philips said he was “immensely proud” of its achievements, adding: “As I move on, I am pleased to say that over the last 24 months we have been responsible for over 70% of all high-value complex commercial/private client disputes before the Gibraltar Courts. Our cases under management this year exceeded £4bn in value.”
A former leader of the opposition in Gibraltar’s parliament, with family still residing there, Philips added: “Gibraltar is very much part of my DNA, and I will not be leaving it behind,” saying that he would “continue to have a regular presence on the Rock”.
Speaking about his new firm, Phillips praised Mishcon’s “deep private wealth expertise”, adding: “As wealth, assets and family interests become increasingly international, clients need advisers who can navigate complex structures, multiple jurisdictions and challenging personal dynamics with sound judgement and determination.”
Peter Steen, Mishcon’s head of private wealth disputes, responded, calling Phillips “an accomplished disputes lawyer with extensive experience of handling complex and sensitive private wealth matters across jurisdictions”.
He added: “Elliott’s combination of technical expertise, strategic judgement and understanding of the dynamics that underpin private wealth disputes will be a real asset to our clients.”
The news of his exit comes as Signature has boosted its Paris operations this month, although it has seen departures in London to larger firms, most recently to DAC Beachcroft and to Haynes Boone.
Phillips’ arrival at Mishcon, meanwhile, is its 10th lateral hire this year, having recruited international arbitration partner Robert Rhoda from Dentons’ Hong Kong office in August. Rhoda will practise between the firm’s London and Hong Kong offices.
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