About the Seminar:

Fergus Whyte considers certain contentious areas of trusts and estates including the trustees’ obligation to provide information and their entitlement to privilege, and  the legal nature of powers of removal of trustees and executors  by beneficiaries and others, as well as  how these areas may be affected by the impending changes under the Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024.

About the Speaker – Fergus Whyte:

Fergus is an experienced litigator with an interest in commercial & public law disputes, intellectual property (including interim interdict and breach proceedings), data protection & media law, trust law, and alternative dispute resolution. He has considerable experience in courtroom advocacy as well as experience in conducting complex litigation, dealing with expert evidence and managing client relationships.

Fergus transferred to the Scottish bar in 2020 having previously been a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand (since 2012) and having completed an LLM at the University of Edinburgh and the Faculty of Advocates examinations in Scots Law. Since calling he has acted as sole counsel in commercial matters in the Outer House as well as appearing as sole counsel and junior in the Inner House. He has conducted a number of proceedings before Sheriffs and before the Sheriff Appeal Court. Fergus has experience of mediation and has appeared as junior counsel in a construction arbitration under the Dubai International Arbitration Centre Rules.

He has a strong background in legal research and comparative law having acted as a judges’ clerk (judicial assistant), in client and case management as a solicitor in a boutique litigation firm, and as an advocate before the higher courts in New Zealand. He previously worked in a number of legal roles in Scotland including as a researcher to the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry.

Fergus is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a former coach of the University of Edinburgh Vis Moot Team. He is a former tutor in the Law of Contract and European Union Law at the University of Edinburgh. He tutors in Human Rights for the diploma at the University of Edinburgh and in arbitration for the diploma at Robert Gordon University. He is one of the authors of the recent 2024 reissue of Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia title on arbitration.

He is fluent in French and is comfortable dealing with legal matters in French. He also speaks Spanish to a high level.

Time & Location

Book your place at: https://www.rfpg.org/event-details/trust-and-estate-questions-in-the-shadow-of-the-2024-act