Private client

Our clients are looking for truly international advice on a wide range of private client services. We're recognised as one of only a handful of law firms able to offer this.

Our team works with clients from all over the world and has particular strength in advising high net worth individuals and their family businesses in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

We have an enviable portfolio of international clients who look to us for expert advice ranging from the structuring of assets around the world, cross-border tax and succession planning, to major trust and estate disputes. While there is no 'one size fits all' solution, the key issues faced by our private clients share common themes: ensuring a smooth succession from one generation to the next, mitigating the worst effects of taxation, avoiding family disputes (through structuring and effective governance) and protecting key assets. These issues become increasingly complex when considered in an international context.

Our highly regarded lawyers have expertise in advising on international trusts/foundations and a number of estates, with a particular focus on multi-jurisdictional tax, succession and inheritance issues, as well as international asset structuring. We also have specialists in international probate, residential, commercial and agricultural property matters and dispute resolution including contentious trusts and contentious family and probate issues.

*specifically in Germany and CEE.

Trophy Assets Guide

Our comprehensive guide to the legal implications of owning, buying and selling trophy assets.

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Areas of focus

Experience

Fiscal and succession management and structuring of global wealth across 15 jurisdictions

An Eastern European family on the fiscal and succession management and structuring of their global wealth which is situated in 15 jurisdictions and which includes liquid investments, trophy assets (including planes, boats, cars and artwork) and interests in numerous trading businesses.

Nick Warr

A wealthy German national on pre-nuptial issues

A wealthy German national who is resident in the UK with a planned marriage to a British national, on the setup of a pre-nuptial agreement in accordance with English and German law. The individuals' main family assets were located in Germany at the time of the pre-nuptial agreement.

New build projects for some of the largest superyachts in the world

Acted on various new build projects for superyachts including, MY Eclipse, MY A, MY Mayan Queen IV, MY Eco, MY Lady Moura, MY Golden Odyssey and MY Triple Seven.

Multijurisdictional tax and succession planning exercise

Advised on a multi-jurisdictional tax and succession planning exercise, involving trust interests and personal real estate, art, valuable chattels and business interests in Switzerland, the UK, Monaco, the US, the West Indies, Cyprus and Lebanon.

Complex international inheritance dispute

The estate of a prominent German family member on on a complex international inheritance dispute between the second wife and the children of the first marriage.

Martin Kraus

Individual family members, the trustees and the family office on various contentious family issues

Individual family members, the trustees and the family office on all their UK tax and succession issues. We also co-ordinate the advice from other jurisdictions where the family have interests. The family's assets are in a number of different jurisdictions with 17 different trusts and over 200 underlying companies.