Overview

Our team of international trusts lawyers advises a variety of financial institutions and trust companies. Our expert advice covers the creation, variation and termination of international trusts. We also advise clients on the day-to-day duties involved with international trust management.

Our international trusts lawyers have extensive experience preparing standard form and bespoke trust documents governed by a range of international trust laws. Our team has a wealth of experience in setting up private trust companies, purpose trusts, protectorship vehicles and foundations.

We have a comprehensive understanding of how international trusts work for different businesses. We tailor our advice and service to suit our clients' needs accordingly. Working with our worldwide network of legal contacts and preferred law firms, we are able to support clients involved with international trust management.

Our international trusts lawyers regularly advise on all aspects of dispute resolution in trust and succession matters, whether for settlors/grantors, beneficiaries, trustees or protectors. Our aim is to ensure clients understand the rights and responsibilities of each party as well as the risk and likely costs of all possible courses of action.

Areas of focus

Our international trusts expertise includes the following:

  • Establishing trusts in numerous jurisdictions around the world, including bespoke trust drafting where required.
  • Establishing private trust structures and purpose trusts.
  • Setting up protectorship vehicles and foundations.
  • Restructuring of international trusts.
  • Termination of trusts and foundations.
  • Advising on the UK tax implications of the creation, administration and termination of trusts.
  • Advising on trustee duties, including in relation to trust accounts, assets and investments.
  • Advising on general trust law issues and on trustees' policy documentation.
Experience

Assisting trust companies on the take on of the trust business of other trust companies, including drafting all documentation to change the trustees of all trusts involved.

Assisting trust companies on the take-on of a book of business from another trust company by reviewing in detail trust files to highlight any potential issues.

Advising high net worth and ultra high net worth clients on the creation of international trust structures, including preparing all necessary documentation and considering all relevant tax requirements.

Advising on the establishment and running of private trust company structures.

Advising trustees on the restructuring of existing structures, including the extent of the trustees' powers and duties and the options available to them, taking into account any relevant tax considerations.

Advising trustees and beneficiaries on the termination of structures and on their respective rights and potential liabilities.

Preparing and filing Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwelling tax returns for trust companies who hold UK real estate through offshore companies for their clients.

Preparing new suites of trust documentation for a number of offshore trust companies, including trust precedents and precedents for supplemental documents.

Advising trust companies on resolving disputes with beneficiaries in relation to a wide range of issues, including the exercise of the trustees' dispositive powers, investment of trust assets and potential tax issues arising from the trustees' actions.

Meet the team

Suzanna Harvey Partner

  • Head of Private Wealth
  • Private Client Services
  • International Tax
Headshot John Barnett

John Barnett Partner

  • Head of Partnerships
  • Private Client Services
  • Tax
Justin Briggs

Justin Briggs Partner

  • Trust Disputes
  • Tax Negligence
  • Pension Disputes
Emma Heelis-Adams

Emma Heelis-Adams Partner

  • Private Client Services
  • International Tax
  • HNW and UHNW Individuals

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