Every family is unique. We recognise there is "no one size fits all" as families are dynamic and constantly evolving to meet their own needs and the needs of those surrounding them.
Our approach is to make sure that we understand what is important to a family by asking those probing questions and drawing on the substantial experience of our team to suggest options that fit the particular family.
Our clients include both onshore and offshore, single and multi-Family Offices, all having a common need for specialist legal advice to mitigate tax, preserve their assets and pass it on to the next generation. By being able to offer this full service, we have the capability to work with a Family Office through all stages of its life cycle from initial structuring advice, governance and regulatory advice and estate planning through to advice on investments, asset protection and succession planning.
Areas of focus
- Creating a Family Office - advising on the structuring of the Family Office, including the appropriate jurisdiction for the purposes of cross border estate planning and asset protection, and tax matters for individuals and corporates.
- Governance arrangements – advising on creating a workable charter which reflects the family’s views and reviewing and updating family charters and governance arrangements.
- Establishing an investment platform – establishing and structuring a full range of investments funds and associated structures, products and services including funds formation, funds investor and fund manager establishment expertise and hosted fund model advice.
- Making investments – advising on acquisitions and investments, sales and restructurings of business assets (including real estate and fintech investments) and joint ventures and providing banking support on debt finance.
- Charity and philanthropy - advising on international charity and philanthropy matters, including the establishment of charitable and philanthropic vehicles.
- ESG and sustainable investments – providing a legal risk review for portfolio managers that addresses the wider ESG factors that are critical to a business.
- Ongoing support and growing a Family Office – providing immigration advice for high net worth individuals and business immigration advice for employers; advising Family Offices on employment contracts, shareholder and governance arrangements, and issues of remuneration and incentives for family and non-family members.
- Protecting a Family Office’s assets - advising on tax matters and inheritance tax reliefs, the use of trusts for tax planning and asset protection purposes and how to deal with succession issues; and providing family law advice on pre and post-nuptial agreements and the effectiveness of asset holding structures.
- Data protection and privacy – advising on all aspects of data protection and cyber security regulation and compliance.