Fresh Perspectives: a reflection on the second annual contentious trusts conference
After a hugely successful inaugural year, Forsters partner Emily Exton recently co-produced the second annual "Fresh Perspectives" contentious trusts conference, held at the W Hotel in Barcelona. Emily organised the conference in partnership with Andrea Zavos (Boodle Hatfield), Roberta Harvey (Charles Russell Speechlys), Maxine Mossman (Clifford Chance), Jenny McKeown (Stephenson Harwood), Helena Berman (Stephenson Harwood) and Emma Jordan (Taylor Wessing).
The conference brought over 75 solicitors, barristers, offshore lawyers and trust practitioners together in the Barcelona sunshine, from Sunday 13 May 2018 to Tuesday 15 May 2018. The program, this year bearing the title "Trust in the Future?", focused on the evolution of trust litigation in modern society.
Attendees arrived to a drinks reception and an informal tapas dinner (sponsored by Harbour Litigation Funding) on the Sunday evening, with much anticipation of the conference the following day. Monday morning welcomed a full programme of events, as the delegates enjoyed presentations and panel sessions on a diverse range of subjects, including the evolution of trusts in the face of the modern family unit, judicial interference in trusts, recent trends in trust litigation funding, trustee liability in the wake of Investec Trust (Guernsey) Ltd & Anr. v Glenalla Properties Ltd. & Ors [2018], the tension between the principle of open court and confidentiality and the potential application of Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence in the legal and trust industries. The day was rounded off with a further drinks reception and a gala dinner (sponsored by Consilio).
The conference was extremely well received by those who attended, with particular praise given to the atmosphere, the quality of the sessions and the calibre of those presenting and attending.
Reflecting on the event, Emily said: "I am very proud to be part of the Fresh Perspectives team and to have established our conference on a regular fixture".
With plans for the third conference already underway, the Fresh Perspectives team has now established itself and the conference as an annual fixture, which those with an interest in the field will not want to miss.