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Trust and Succession Planning

Our advice in relation to trusts covers a wide range of services from the establishment of a trust to efficient dispute resolution.

As many of our lawyers act as trustees to one or more trusts, we have deep insight into current and developing issues which adds an extra layer of understanding to our clients’ needs and our ability to provide comprehensive advice and solutions.

We commonly advise on establishing and restructuring trusts, both in England and overseas. We have a wealth of experience in setting up private trust companies, purpose trusts, protectorship vehicles and foundations, all with an eye to relevant tax requirements.

We also make innovative use of trusts and related governance structures to help plan for the efficient transfer of wealth and control of businesses within a family.

 

Recent work

Multi-jurisdictional succession planning

Advising an Indian family based in Dubai on their worldwide succession planning, including the preparation of wills dealing with assets across the world including India and the UAE.

International trust company documents

Advising an international trust company group on new user-friendly standard form trust documents and client acceptance forms.

International estate and succession planning

Reviewing the existing estate and succession planning and family governance arrangements for an international family with homes, business interests and other assets in numerous jurisdictions.  Working closely with the family office to devise and implement arrangements which better reflect the family’s needs and objectives.

Cross-jurisdictional succession planning

Leading a team of lawyers in six different jurisdictions on the development of a complex succession plan for a family with a significant trading business, a large and valuable art collection held in numerous jurisdictions and a wide range of other valuable investments around the world.

Asset protection strategies

Leading a project which involved protecting a family’s significant private wealth. This included setting up two new trusts in two different jurisdictions and the project included advising on asset protection strategies, confidentiality / privacy / reporting considerations and UK tax and family governance issues.

Bi-cameral protectorship and investment committee structure

Devising and implementing a highly bespoke bi-cameral protectorship and investment committee structure for a group of trusts which control a Russian client’s interest in a significant and publically quoted business.

Implementation of settlor reserved powers

As a result of supplying English trust advice to a private bank’s trustee operations in Central Europe, we have advised on the implementation of settlor reserved powers trusts for Latin American entrepreneurs.

Asset structuring

Advising a wealthy Turkish citizen, resident outside Turkey, in relation to putting a new asset holding structure in place for succession, asset protection and consolidation purposes.

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Barclay Piers

Piers Barclay

 Partner
+44 (0)20 7849 2530 Email Piers

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"Every single partner on the Macfarlanes team is excellent, I have never seen that at any other firm. Macfarlanes is our number one choice for very complex international private client planning."

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"Macfarlanes focuses on client's circumstances and identifying solutions. The advice is clear and typically jargon-free, which doesn't require further simplification and/or translation for principals."

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"Macfarlanes make sure there is a personal touch with the work. They are highly professional and very well regarded within the industry, and their technical expertise is second to none."

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"The depth of talent and experience at Macfarlanes seems to be the highest standard in the UK and possibly anywhere globally for international private client advice."

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