Francesca Perselli

Overview

I am counsel in our Guernsey litigation practice with broad experience of litigation. I practice in trusts, insolvency, cross-border commercial disputes and intellectual property.

Prior to joining Mourant I practised as a barrister in London at Maitland Chambers (from 2019 to 2023) and New Square Chambers, where I also did my pupillage (2012 to 2019). I have extensive advocacy experience, having regularly appeared as trial counsel and at appellate level in the English courts.

I have maintained a professional connection with the Guernsey since 2015, when I worked at Mourant on secondment. I also undertook secondments with other firms in Guernsey in 2017 and Jersey in 2019, gaining a thorough working knowledge of Channel Islands litigation.

My practice at the Bar typically involved disputes of significant value (£1 million and above). Many had international elements in a number of on- and offshore jurisdictions, including Cayman, Gibraltar, Switzerland, Nigeria and Italy.

Having studied Chemistry, I am also particularly suited to cases of a technical, numerical or scientific nature.

Professional qualifications

• LLM (Cantab), Commercial Law – Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, 2012
• Barrister, Middle Temple (called 2011, pupillage 2012; currently non-practising)
• Bar Professional Training Course (Outstanding) - The College of Law, 2011
• GDL (Distinction) – The College of Law, 2010
• MChem (Dunelm), Chemistry (First) – St Mary's College, Durham, 2008

Memberships

• Bar Council of England and Wales, elected member: Legal Services; Equality, Diversity and Social Mobility; Young Barristers; and International Committees (2018-2023)
• ConTrA (Contentious Trusts Association)

Work Highlights

• Trusts dispute concerning choice of law, forum non conveniens in sham trust claims, civil law recognition of trusts under the Hague Convention, injunction alleging conflict of interest (Judgment 47/2015).
• Investec Trust v Glenalla Properties (Tchenguiz Discretionary Trust) – litigation relating to the ambit of Art 32 Jersey Trusts Law (liability of a trustee to third parties).