People
John Rimmer
John specialises in trusts, foundations, estate planning, wills, estates, probate, charity and taxation.
With 30 years in practice, John has grown the business to a leading private client firm, and features in the Legal 500, Chambers, Citywealth, and Legal Who’s Who. His client list includes family offices, private clients, trustees, law firms, charities and government bodies.
Following his education: Dulwich College, First Class Honours in Biochemistry BSc at the University of Southampton, MPhil in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge, John passed his Law Society exams at Guildhall University, London with honours. He subsequently achieved a Deemster’s commendation in his Manx bar exams.
John trained in London at Bircham & Co (now BDB Pitmans) and, following his qualification as an English Solicitor in 1993, worked at Simmons & Simmons, Edwin Coe and Charles Russell (now Charles Russell Speechlys). John joined Dickinson Cruickshank on the Isle of Man, and qualified as a Manx Advocate in 2000, and became a partner in 2002.
After 15 years at Dickinson Cruickshank, later Appleby, John successfully set up his own boutique private client firm in the Isle of Man.
Alongside his directorship of Advocate John Rimmer Limited, in 2020, John was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Cayman National Bank (Isle of Man) Limited, and Cayman National Trust (Isle of Man) Limited, and is a consultant to Döhle Corporate and Trust Services (Isle of Man) Limited. He is also a board member of Hospice Isle of Man.
John is a member of STEP (President’s Prize) (past branch chair and member of council), the Isle of Man Law Society, Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS), International Academy of Estate and Trust Law (IAETL), and passed Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) with distinction (1997).
John is also admitted in England and Wales and the British Virgin Islands (non-practising).
John is the author of the Isle of Man chapters in various international reviews, including Oxford University Press’s “International Succession”, “World Trusts Survey”, “International Trust Disputes”, “The International Protection of Adults”, and “Private Foundation World Survey”, and Bloomsbury’s “International Succession”. He contributes regularly to “Trusts and Estates”, and “Trusts and Trustees”.
John lectures locally and internationally on trust law.
John is listed in the Private Client Global Elite 2021 directory, and is ranked in the Legal 500 2020 as a Private Client Thought Leader and a recommended Private Client Global Leader.
Gillian Christian
Director
Gillian is an experienced Manx Advocate and qualified Notary Public advising both domestic and international clients on chancery and commercial litigation, regulatory and employment matters. Her practice also focuses on a variety of enforcement and insolvency proceedings and professional negligence before the courts and in public inquiries. She qualified in 2004 at Dickinson Cruickshank (later Appleby), and as a Notary Public in 2015. A market source (Chambers UK 2024) says she is, "the only Isle of Man lawyer I think of when there's any complex issues I need assisting with. She's a very, very impressive courtroom performer:
she's excellent with clients, extremely well prepared and technically brilliant," while clients add, "Gillian's knowledge, attention to detail and genuine care for her clients make her a force of nature - I highly recommend her to everyone." Chambers Global 2024
Gillian has been recognised as a Leading Individual by The Legal 500 for Isle of Man: Dispute Resolution (2017-2024), and by The Legal 500 for Isle of Man: Employment (2017-2024) in Chambers and Partners Global Guide 2024 for Dispute Resolution (Band 1). She is also Recognised by Best Lawyers (UK) 2012 - 2024 in the practice area of Litigation.
In 2024 Gillian was Runner Up, Citywealth Lawyer of the Year 2024, Isle of Man and Channel Islands, and was shortlisted as Woman of the Year - Professional Services for Citywealth's Powerwomen Awards 2022 &2020.
"Gillian is very open and transparent. She is very astute, approachable and it is clear she cares about her clients and providing an exemplary service."
Chambers UK 2024 "We always get a great service from Gill. Her advice is clear, easy to follow and pragmatic." Chambers UK 2024 "Gill is excellent, she picks up your needs very quickly and delivers a very high standard of work on every project." Chambers UK 2024 "Gill is highly personable and puts you at great ease explaining matters so that you understand the advice given." Chambers UK 2024 Outside of her work at Advocate John Rimmer Ltd, Gillian is Chairman of FC IOM and Honorary Legal Advisor of the Commonwealth Games Association and a Non Executive Director of National Grid Insurance Company (Isle of Man) Limited.
Hollie Ranscombe