A structure that works for the people behind the assets
A business, investment portfolio or family asset can outlive the circumstances in which it was acquired. You may need a different way to hold it, decide who can benefit, and establish who will make decisions if you cannot. The structure should reflect those objectives before documents are signed or assets move.
We help compare suitable trust and foundation arrangements, connect the relevant professional providers, and coordinate the agreed establishment and funding work. Tax planning, asset protection, family governance and succession belong in the same discussion.
What would you like the structure to achieve?
| Your objective | What we examine |
|---|---|
| Provide for your family | Who may benefit, when distributions may be made, who decides and how changing family circumstances are addressed. |
| Hold a business or investment portfolio | Ownership, decision-making, banking and the relationship between the structure and any underlying companies. |
| Plan for incapacity or succession | Continuity of administration, replacement decision-makers and coordination with existing wills and estate plans. |
| Review exposure and preserve wealth | The nature and timing of liabilities, the assets involved, the governing law and the consequences of changing ownership. |
| Build an international plan | Where the founder or settlor, beneficiaries, administrators and assets are connected, and which advisers need to be involved. |
From objectives to an operating structure
We agree the work, responsible providers and dependencies before implementation. Exact dates depend on the chosen arrangement and the completeness of the evidence.
01Define the purposeInitial assessment
Map the assets, family, residence connections, existing obligations and intended outcomes.
02Design and verifyBefore establishment
Compare the legal form, tax consequences, governance and costs with the advisers and providers involved.
03Establish and fundAfter scope and documents are agreed
Coordinate provider onboarding, establishment documents and the separately agreed transfers and banking steps.
04Handover and maintainAfter the agreed setup milestones
Confirm record ownership, administration, filing responsibilities, fees and review triggers.
Trust or foundation? Start with the design
The governing law and the precise terms matter more than the label. For example, a Jersey foundation is a separate legal person with a charter, regulations and required governance roles. A trust has a different ownership and administration framework; the UK government’s introduction distinguishes the settlor, trustee and beneficiary. Other jurisdictions and structures require their own analysis.
| Decision | Questions to resolve |
|---|---|
| Governing law and form | Which arrangement can support the assets, beneficiaries and purposes in your plan? |
| Authority and oversight | Who administers the assets, who can make distributions, and how are those people replaced or supervised? |
| Your continuing involvement | Which decisions do you want to retain, and what are the consequences in the relevant jurisdictions? |
| Assets and funding | What can be transferred, which consents are needed, and how will banks and other institutions implement the change? |
| Administration | Who holds records, submits filings, maintains accounts and communicates with the family? |
What the engagement can include
The written scope identifies which work our team coordinates and which professional services are supplied by other providers. We confirm available providers and responsibilities before the engagement begins.
- A review of your objectives, assets, family circumstances and jurisdictional connections.
- Comparison of suitable structures and a written explanation of the recommended approach.
- Coordination with the local legal, trustee, foundation, corporate and other providers identified in your scope.
- Preparation and coordination of the establishment file and agreed governing documents.
- Banking and asset-transfer coordination where expressly included.
- A handover covering providers, responsibilities, records, recurring costs and agreed review points.
Costs and timing
We quote for the agreed scope. Government charges, professional-provider charges, banking work and our service fee are identified separately. There is no single setup price that describes every family or asset structure.
| Stage | What drives cost and timing |
|---|---|
| Planning and design | The number of jurisdictions, assets, beneficiaries and technical questions. A wider analytical engagement commonly takes four to eight weeks. |
| Establishment | The legal form, professional drafting, due diligence and any registration or provider onboarding. We confirm a route-specific estimate. |
| Funding and banking | Asset valuations, consents, transfer formalities and the receiving institution’s requirements. Establishment and funding can have separate completion dates. |
| Ongoing administration | Trustee or council services, accounts, filings, administration of assets and any separately agreed technical reviews. |
Make the ownership change deliberately
An effective engagement must examine the consequences of funding and operating the structure, as well as establishing it. We ask about existing debts, disputes, obligations, previous advice and the tax position of the people involved so the relevant specialists can assess the proposed steps.
A trust or foundation should not be presented as a universal tax exemption or a guaranteed barrier to claims. We document what the proposed arrangement is intended to do, the assumptions on which it depends, and the responsibilities that continue after setup.
Start with a focused conversation
Tell us where you and the intended beneficiaries live, the broad types and values of the assets, any existing structures, and what you want to accomplish. You do not need to send sensitive documents with the initial inquiry.
Tijana and the team will assess the fit and establish the next step. Michael works with the advisory team on the strategy, review and approval where that forms part of the engagement.
Sources & research notes2 references
Sources supporting this guide. Research draft awaiting editorial review.