Tax haven lawyer leaves £1m in will

Harvey McGregor QC, an Edinburgh native, helped set up the islands as a place for rich clients to safeguard their money from the taxman in the 1970s. He was also Warden of New College, Oxford and wrote an authoritative text on damages.

Mr McGregor was also known for throwing legendary parties at his homes where he would play the piano for guests.

He passed away aged 89 in June last year after a short illness. His will revealed an estate worth £1,423,494 and which included a home near the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, two Bechstein grand pianos as well as an art and jewellery collection.

He left his estate to long-time partner, John Davy.

Born in 1926, the flamboyant lawyer was the son of an engineer and was educated at Inverurie Academy after which he undertook national service as a flying officer in the RAF from 1946 to 1948. He graduated from Oxford University in 1951 and was called to the bar by Inner Temple in 1955, becoming a bencher in 1985.

Few people had heard of the Cayman Islands before he helped establish them as a tax haven.