International family and private client capital

With over 60 years of experience in the Middle East, we have a deep understanding of the needs of our private clients in the region and also of the growing importance of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) as alternatives to the traditional international financial centres. Our clients include high profile SFOs, affluent families and foreign sovereigns.

We also have particular expertise in working with families from the USA looking to invest in or relocate to the UK, offering tailored support through our experienced private wealth lawyers.

We are pioneers in our field of expertise and are always looking to draw on our experience to find creative solutions for our clients. By way of example, we were the first law firm to design and implement a structure to allow our Shari’ah-compliant clients to co-invest in international funds alongside conventional investors.

Under the leadership of a dedicated partner, our agile team offers a coordinated and seamless international service across Private Client, Corporate, Funds and Regulatory, Real Estate Finance, Dispute Resolution and Real Estate.

What our lawyers can do for you

• Advising on and preparing robust family governance frameworks, constitutions and charters that work in tandem both with family succession plans and with the complex ownership and strategic plans for the family’s corporate and private assets.

• Tailoring and setting up coordinated private international ownership structures, often across several international financial centres, to protect and manage the private wealth and capital of the family (both onshore and offshore), including:

- Private trust companies and foundations
- Onshore and offshore corporate vehicles
- FCA-authorised private open ended investment companies
- UAE (DIFC / ADGM) private funds, as well as Jersey private funds
- Associated tax advice

• Advising and supporting families and family offices on the deployment of private wealth into, the management of and the exit from capital investments, whether directly or through funds and whether individually or by co-investment.

• Advising on the appropriate jurisdiction for hosting private capital, with a particular emphasis on regulatory and risk aspects for each jurisdiction.

• Providing expert guidance on Shariah-compliant structuring of onshore and offshore capital, Shariah finance and ensuring that family offices and private client individuals can confidently navigate and adhere to Islamic financial principles whilst meeting long term strategic objectives for the benefit of future generations.

• Providing comprehensive, customised and efficient advice for tax efficient structuring, compliance and safeguarding of assets.

• Resolving disputes impacting the family’s corporate and private interests.