Family offices

At Forsters, we understand that family offices require bespoke solutions that cater to the unique needs and ambitions of affluent families. A well-structured family office can be a cornerstone for preserving substantial personal wealth across generations, whilst achieving business and philanthropic goals and maintaining privacy.

We have extensive experience advising both single and multi-family offices on a wide range of matters. Working seamlessly across our Private Client, Corporate, Employment, Dispute Resolution, Real Estate and Family teams, we help family offices across all aspects, including:

• Strategic structuring and succession planning advice
• Tax advisory and planning
• Governance, regulatory compliance and risk management
• Investments, expansion and mergers
• Employment strategies including staff incentives and remuneration
• Philanthropy and charitable giving
• Resolving disputes

We assist clients in establishing trusts, private trust companies, FCA-authorised private open-ended investment companies, limited partnerships, and both onshore and offshore corporate vehicles. These vehicles are designed to invest in diverse asset classes such as real estate, private equity, hedge funds, and other specialised investments.

With extensive experience of cross-border structures, we frequently collaborate with advisers in various jurisdictions. This global approach ensures our clients have a comprehensive understanding of local regulatory, tax, and asset protection issues in offshore environments.

Each family office is unique, and so is our approach. Recognised for our deep understanding of the complexities involved in managing family wealth, we take pride in offering personalised legal advice that is attuned to the specific needs of your family and that aligns with your long-term goals.

Nadine Gibbon
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Nadine Gibbon

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Asia

Our award-winning Asia team has been advising individuals, families, and businesses across the region for over 30 years. Pioneering private wealth services to the wealthiest families in Asia, we have been at the forefront of devising cutting-edge wealth structuring and succession planning solutions to ensure the successful transition of wealth from one generation to the next and to protect assets from divorce and litigation.

In addition to our succession planning and structuring work with local families, we work with clients in the region who wish to make the most of investment opportunities in the UK and we advise on the UK tax implications of relocation to the UK.

Deep roots and blossoming results across Asia

With the initial roots of our practice established in Hong Kong and Singapore in the 1990s, demand for our bespoke succession planning services and asset protection advice has grown over the years as more families recognise the importance of governance to ensure the sustainable transmission of wealth. We travel to the region every month, seeing clients based in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and other jurisdictions. With such an eclectic and ever-changing blend of cultures and customs across the region, we recognise the importance of taking time to get to the heart of what really matters to the families that we support, both as individuals and as a whole family unit, including spending time with family members on an individual basis and together to understand their concerns, their goals, and their aspirations.

Many of our clients have established international businesses, with assets and family members spread across the globe. Renowned for our ability to coordinate cross-border advice, this is facilitated by our trusted connections with local professionals across jurisdictions, built up over many years.

Investing and moving to the UK

With strong historic ties between the UK and many countries in the region, the UK is an appealing destination for many, both for investment and as a place to live. Our specialist commercial real estate, residential property, and corporate teams advise Asian individuals, businesses, and institutions on investing in UK real estate and businesses. We also help those moving to or from the UK to navigate the relocation process and the wider long-term impact of their move on their estate and succession planning.

World-class reputation

Our reputation as leaders in advising Asian clients has been recognised by the industry, as award winners of the 2024 Wealth Briefing’s Estate Planning Team of the Year for Greater China, whilst Partners Nick Jacob and Daniel Ugur are two of only three lawyers in the world ranked as ‘Foreign Experts for Singapore’ in the Chambers HNW Guide.

Nadine Gibbon
Media contact

Nadine Gibbon

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