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Trusts, foundations and stress testing

Finding the right structure to hold your wealth is key. We can help you to identify whether a trust or family foundation is the best option, finding the right location to establish it, and stress-testing it robustly so your assets are protected for the future.
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Trusts and foundations are useful ways to hold and protect your wealth, especially when you have family members and assets located in different countries.

We establish trusts and family foundations in more than 100 jurisdictions around the world. We also have expertise in using trusts in relation to Sharia law and other legal regimes that restrict the manner in which assets can be disposed.


A personal service

There is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach when it comes to the preservation of wealth. If this is something that you would like to consider, our lawyers will listen carefully to your needs and help identify your options. A trust or foundation might be most suitable if you wish to ensure that while your children can enjoy their inheritance, the assets are not split between the different family branches.

We take into account where and in what form your wealth is held, as well as the citizenship/residence of the settlor/founder, trustees, other power holders, directors, administrators and intended beneficiaries. All of this enables us to provide holistic advice in the interests of preserving the wealth for the benefit of you and your family.

If and/or when it becomes clear that existing structures no longer suit your goals or when the political situation, treaties, legislation, case law, changing tax regimes or other developments indicate a need for the structure to be reviewed, we can advise on restructuring to ensure that your structures continue to reflect your needs and adapt to the world's ever-changing environments.
 

Building robust structures

Stress testing trusts and foundations can help to preserve your family fortune, while being tax efficient, ensuring compliance with ever greater regulation and reducing the risk of future litigation.

Bringing together global expertise with specialist knowledge of political landscapes, trust structuring, wealth planning, succession disputes and governance, we stress test trusts, foundations and their related corporate structures from the planning stage onward. Our aim is to prevent or minimise difficulties and resulting exposure, with particular regard to the concerns or vulnerabilities of your family.

By understanding your goals and family values, we are able to advise on the best ways to minimise risk of unfavourable outcomes, such as attacks on the structure by fiscal authorities, government bodies, disappointed heirs and divorcing spouses. We aim to simplify and contextualise solutions and help implement unique governance structures, which ensure that your wishes are suitably embedded. We also identify and anticipate existing or potential chinks in the armour of a structure and how best to secure against and minimise unnecessary risks and exposure to potentially costly litigation or damaging political pressure in the future.
 

Disabled trusts

Disabled trusts are created to look after a disabled person in the event that their main carers are no longer able to meet their care needs, which is an area we have extensive experience in advising families on this kind of structure. Our lawyers will discuss everything from how the trust will be administered to making it more tax-efficient and how payments from a trust might affect entitlement to state benefits.  

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Track record

Recent recognition

Top ranked in Chambers HNW 2021
Top ranked for private wealth disputes (Band 1)
2020 STEP Private Client Awards finalist for contentious trusts and estates team of the year in large firms
STEP Private Client Awards - Finalist for Contentious Trusts and Estates Team of the Year (large firm), 2020
2020 STEP Private Client Awards finalist philanthropy team of the year
Finalist for STEP Philanthropy Team of the Year, 2020
Ranked in top law firms by ePrivate Client in 2017
UK top 25 private client law firm
Studio dell'anno in wealth management from Legal Community Tax Awards 2017
Legal Community ITTax Awards - Sutdio dell'Anno Wealth Management - Law Firm of the Year 2017
Ranked as leading firm in Asia Pacific by Legal 500 in 2017
Leading firm - Tier 2 for tax and trust in Singapore
Withers LLP top ranked in Chambers UK in 2017
Ranked in Band 1 for private client

Our team

Louis R. Piscatelli

Louis R. Piscatelli

Partner | New Haven

Louis R. Piscatelli

Partner | New Haven

Private client and tax

Email Louis
+1 203 974 0350
Philip Munro

Philip Munro

Partner | London

Philip Munro

Partner | London

Private client and tax

Email Philip
+44 20 7597 6515
Paul McGrath

Paul McGrath

Partner | London

Paul McGrath

Partner | London

Corporate

Email Paul
+44 20 7597 6156
Matthew Woods

Matthew Woods

Partner | London

Matthew Woods

Partner | London

Private client and tax

Email Matthew
+44 20 7597 6496
Mara Monte

Mara Monte

Partner | London

Mara Monte

Partner | London

Private client and tax

Email Mara
+44 20 7597 6301
Ceri Vokes

Ceri Vokes

Partner | London

Ceri Vokes

Partner | London

Private client and tax

Email Ceri
+44 20 7597 6288
Dora Clarke

Dora Clarke

Partner | London

Dora Clarke

Partner | London

Private client and tax

Email Dora
+44 20 7597 6032
Natasha Stourton

Natasha Stourton

Partner | London

Natasha Stourton

Partner | London

Trust, estate and inheritance disputes

Email Natasha
+44 20 7597 6626
View more

Insight

22 July 2020 | article

Trust Registration Service and Fifth Money Laundering Directive… are we nearly there?

3 July 2019 | blog

Increased scrutiny over tax planning makes it necessary for clients to pursue high-quality wealth planning advice

27 June 2018 | video

International trusts: Control and protection
Group of people with hands raised together

19 January 2018 | article

How donors, advisors, and grantees of donor advised funds may be impacted by a recent IRS notice

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Typical clients and industries include

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Families and family offices

Families call on us when they want a firm that understands their needs – whether they are looking to pass down wealth, set up and run a family office, or make their mark through philanthropy. Find Out More
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High net worth individuals

With complex interests that often span several jurisdictions, highly successful people need seamless advice. With a full-service offering across our offices around the world, we provide just that. Find Out More
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Trustees, executors and fiduciaries

Even the most experienced advisors will need legal support on complex matters such as cross-border tax queries or third-party claims. We can help you meet your obligations with confidence. Find Out More

How else can we help?


We offer a full range of services to individuals and businesses.  Find out how we can help you solve challenges and maximize opportunities.

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Our website will give you a flavour of the advice we provide - if you would like to talk to us for more information, please contact our client services team who will be happy to assist.

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