Withers Worldwide

Overview

John works with family offices on a cross-border basis and deals with structuring for UK residents and resident non-domiciled families. He creates structures for active entrepreneurs to hold business interests.

John received an award for his 'Outstanding Contribution to Wealth Management in 2007-8' at the 2008 Spear's Wealth Management Awards. John's award came about as a result of his successful effort in leading the industry’s response to the proposals to change the tax rules for non-doms.

John’s role as an adviser to international families was also recognised in September 2011 when he was awarded the title of ‘Trusted Adviser of the Year’ at the STEP Private Client Awards.

John is listed in both the Citywealth 2010 Leading Lawyers List Top 20 and Top 20 Men in Private Wealth Management and was recently voted by his peers as the leading private client lawyer in London.

Highlights

• Advising and acting as trustee in respect of a series of related family trusts holding a family property holding and development company of significant size. Issues of corporate governance, dividend policy and balancing the interests of those beneficiaries who have a continuing involvement with the company and those who do not, arise.
• Leading a team of UK, US and European advisers to conduct a comprehensive review of an international family trust structure with diverse commercial and investment interests. Following completion of the review, the team was appointed to replace the retiring international tax advisers.

Memberships

John is actively engaged in the wider profession. His involvement has been as follows:

Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners – STEP

John has had a variety of senior posts within STEP over many years including the Chair of the UK Technical Committee, Deputy Chairman and in recent years co-Chair of STEP’s Public Policy Committee. In his most recent role John has been responsible for liaising with national and supra-national bodies on matters of tax policy affecting wealthy families.

International Academy of Trust and Estate Lawyers – IAETL

John became a member of IAETL by invitation in 2008. He has become actively involved and at the Academy’s annual meetings in 2010 and 2011, he chaired sessions on family governance and structuring of the Family Office.

American College of Trust and Estate Council – ACTEC

Earlier this year, John was invited to become an International Fellow of ACTEC as a recognition of his significant cross-border practice.

On a personal note

John enjoys hill walking, tennis, going to the theatre and the opera and is a member of his local church.