Ian Pearl

Ian specialises in commercial litigation, property litigation and disputes involving high-net-worth individuals and estates. 

He is known for his ability to quickly understand complex issues and then build a case strategy to give clients their desired outcome. His advice is outcomes-driven, focusing on the commerciality of the dispute, including the consideration of the costs which can become as important as the dispute itself. 

He is straightforward and direct with clients, giving the advice they need to receive in a clear and coherent manner. 

He has acted on numerous shareholder and partnership disputes, often having to grapple with complex legal issues whilst managing what is in effect a “corporate divorce”.   

His property litigation practice includes acting for property investors in protecting their assets. He is also instructed by international retailers on their contentious leasehold renewals. 

He has a particular specialism in contentious probate disputes. He has extensive experience in cases of disputed wills arising out of a lack of testamentary capacity and undue influence. He also acts on claims brought under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependents) Act 1975 challenging whether the will provided “reasonable financial provision”.  

Ian also acts on insolvency and bankruptcy disputes, acting for both Insolvency Practitioners and former directors in claims challenging antecedent transactions, misfeasance and unlawful dividends. Ian has particular expertise advising in insolvent estates were the former directors had entered into unsuccessful tax avoidance (EBT) schemes.  

In summary, Ian’s practice engages all contentious aspects of real and personal property, trust and estates (insolvent and deceased). Disputes are rarely isolated to a single legal issue and Ian’s depth of experience in these fields makes him sought after by clients and colleagues alike. 

Recent Experience

• Bringing an unfair prejudice petition in a multi-million company and obtaining a buy-out of the minority shareholder’s shares without a minority discount. 
• Obtaining a declaration at trial that property development and related assets were partnership assets, recovering capital funding with interest with orders for an Account.  
• Negotiating significant damages for property investors for breach of contract where a seller of mansion block was unable to provide vacant possession of all flats. 
• Negotiating at mediation a multi-million-pound settlement for a surviving partner for “mere maintenance” under an “Inheritance Act” claim. 
• Successfully upholding the validity of a will which was being challenged where the testator had made three previous wills in the year before his death. 
• Registering a foreign judgment that declared a party had a beneficial interest in property in London.  
• Obtaining the dismissal of a worldwide freezing injunction on grounds including proving that the applicants had failed to provide “full and frank disclosure”. 
• Settling a dispute brought by a liquidator against former directors to set aside antecedent transactions on the grounds that they were entered into to mitigate a failed tax avoidance (EBT) scheme.  

Career History

Ian trained with a large regional firm and qualified in 2003. He subsequently practised in a West End firm before joining the OGR team in 2008. 

Prior to becoming a solicitor Ian trained as an underwriter at Lloyds of London. 

He has a 1^st in Law.