Pennington v Waine established that equity can perfect an imperfect gift of shares even without formal transfer where it would be unconscionable to allow the donor to resile from the gift. The case significantly relaxed the strict requirements for share transfers by allowing equitable intervention in appropriate circumstances.

House of Lords decision establishing the doctrine of secret trusts, holding that equity will enforce secret trusts to prevent fraud, even though they appear to contradict statutory formality requirements for wills.

Equity treats valid lease agreements as if leases already granted

Knight v Knight established the three certainties required for the creation of a valid trust in English law. The case laid down the fundamental principle that there must be certainty of intention, certainty of subject matter, and certainty of objects for a trust to be legally enforceable.

Contractual licences with equity can bind third party purchasers with notice

Tinsley v Milligan established that a party can recover property held under an illegal trust if they can prove their equitable interest without relying on the illegality. The case clarified the application of the 'reliance principle' in cases involving illegal transactions between joint participants.

Target Holdings v Redferns established fundamental principles about causation and loss in breach of trust claims. The House of Lords held that trustees are only liable for losses that would not have occurred but for their breach, revolutionizing how trust law approaches compensation.

Re Rose established the rule in equity that a gift is complete when the donor has done everything within their power to transfer the property, even if legal formalities remain incomplete. This case is fundamental to understanding when equitable title passes in incomplete legal transfers.

Milroy v Lord established the fundamental principle that for a gift to be valid, it must be completely constituted either by transfer of legal title (whether to the donee outright or to trustees) or by declaration of trust. The case demonstrates that an imperfect gift cannot be saved by treating it as a declaration of trust unless there is clear evidence of such intention.

Moss orally declared himself trustee of 50 of his 950 shares in a private company for Hunter's benefit. The Court of Appeal held that a trust of intangible property (shares) does not fail for uncertainty of subject matter even when the specific shares are not segregated from the larger holding, distinguishing tangible chattels.

Strong v Bird established the rule that an imperfect gift can be perfected where the intended donee later becomes the donor's executor. This case created an important exception to the general rule that equity will not assist a volunteer to perfect an imperfect gift.

Proprietary estoppel may fail where equity has been satisfied by acquiescence

Restrictive covenants can bind future landowners in equity despite lack of privity

Keech v Sandford established the fundamental principle that trustees cannot profit from their position of trust, even where no fraud or bad faith is involved. A trustee who renewed a lease for his own benefit after being unable to renew it for the trust was held accountable for the profits, creating a cornerstone rule of fiduciary duty.

Property rights require definiteness, identifiability, and third-party enforceability to constitute proprietary interests.

Morice v Bishop of Durham established the fundamental principle that charitable trusts must have purposes that are sufficiently certain and capable of being carried out by the court. The case created the foundational test for charitable trust validity and the cy-près doctrine in English law.

Contracts for equitable interests need separate written disposition despite specific enforceability

A testamentary gift failed for uncertainty where the testator left 'the bulk of my residuary estate' to trustees. The court held that 'bulk' was too vague to constitute a valid trust.

Saunders v Vautier established that adult beneficiaries of a trust who are of sound mind and absolutely entitled can call for the trust property to be transferred to them, even if this terminates the trust earlier than the settlor intended. This fundamental principle gives beneficiaries significant control over trust assets.

Oral dispositions of equitable interests are void without writing under s53(1)(c)

Majority shareholders' votes are subject to equitable considerations protecting the minority

The Court of Appeal established the test for third party liability in breach of trust cases, requiring either dishonest assistance or knowing receipt.

Re Hallett's Estate established the fundamental principle in trust law that when a trustee wrongfully mixes trust money with their own funds, the beneficiary can claim the mixed fund or any traceable proceeds. This case created the important rule that a trustee cannot profit from their breach by claiming they spent the trust money first.

House of Lords decision establishing the four heads of charity based on the Charitable Uses Act 1601. This foundational case created the classification system that dominated charity law for over a century.

House of Lords clarifies tracing rules for mixed trust funds

The Court of Appeal held that a half-secret trust fails if the terms communicated to trustees differ from those specified in the will.

Equity prevents enforcement of rights where party induced reliance on representations.

This case established the fundamental distinction between fiduciary duties and duties of care and skill in professional negligence. The Court of Appeal clarified that breach of fiduciary duty requires dishonesty or lack of good faith, while ordinary professional negligence falls under duties of care.

Boardman v Phipps established that fiduciaries who make unauthorized profits using information obtained through their position must account for those profits, even if they acted honestly and the principal benefited. The case clarified the strict liability nature of the fiduciary no-profit rule in English law.

House of Lords establishes equality principle in divorce financial settlements

The House of Lords held that where a settlor transfers property to trustees but retains some benefit or control, they remain the beneficial owner for tax purposes. This established the principle that incomplete dispositions of beneficial interests cannot escape tax liability through technical legal arrangements.

Equitable mistake allows rescission where enforcement would be unconscionable despite valid contract.

Court of Appeal decision establishing that charitable purposes must be exclusively charitable, with no significant non-charitable purposes. The case clarified the modern approach to the exclusivity requirement for charitable trusts.

Proprietary estoppel creates enforceable rights where assurance induces detrimental reliance on property

House of Lords clarifies crucial distinction between trusts and powers

Proprietary estoppel can grant full ownership where reliance and detriment are sufficiently substantial.

Unjust enrichment recognized as independent cause of action requiring restitution subject to defenses.

Matrimonial property governed by ordinary property law, not special family asset doctrine

No one should be condemned unheard - natural justice requires fair hearing.