Manhattan transfer

The importance of family to David Truex, the well-known Australian family lawyer based in London, has taken on a new twist as he is laying claim - through an ancestor - to 44 acres of prime real estate in Manhattan.

According to the journal of the Law Institute of Victoria back in Australia, his forefather, Philip de Trieux, was the first marshall (or sheriff) of New Amsterdam, as New York was originally known.

A map of the island from 1644 apparently shows the estate as having 'a nice frontage on the East River'.

Mr Truex says that the chain of title is missing some documents from the mid-17th century, perhaps destroyed in Indian attacks or lost by the British when they took over the colony in 1664.

He is now looking for lawyers with experience in dealing with 17th century property disputes with the British Crown.

'Contingency fee terms can be discussed,' he says.