Richard Lewis
Richard Lewis
Director | FFP
JURISDICTION
Cayman Islands
TOP SPECIALISMS
Dispute Resolution or Arbitration
Insolvency
Trusts: Contentious
Office Location
Cayman Islands
Short Biography
Richard Lewis is an experienced independent director, trustee, receiver and liquidator providing governance to a variety of offshore structures that have found themselves in contentious circumstances with active litigation, stakeholder dispute or regulatory investigation. Richard is regularly involved in managing litigation and illiquid assets, resolving valuation and investor disputes, as well as asset recovery and investigations regarding fraud, regulatory and white-collar issues. Richard is highly experienced in private client matters including trust and family office services and management of privately held investments including real estate and operating businesses. He is well-versed in all stages of the life cycle of a structure, from initial setup and operation through to termination. With his in-depth knowledge and skills, he advises on a wide range of structures and has an extensive network of trusted advisors and legal counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
Morgans Harbour, Cayman Islands
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Never stop learning - the world is ever changing and evolving so we need to be prepared to change our approach to fit each situation.
What was your first job?
Tractor driver on the family farm
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
Traction by Gino Wickman
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?
Increases in and harmonisation of regulations, changes in the needs of families as they grapple with the aging older generations along with new opportunities and pressures facing investment strategies.
Richard Wilson KC
Richard Wilson KC
Barrister | Serle Court
JURISDICTION
TOP SPECIALISMS
Estates: Contentious
Trusts: Contentious
Trusts: Planning
Office Location
London, United Kingdom
Short Biography
Described by one of the legal directories as "... the all-around superstar of a barrister" Richard Wilson KC has an extensive multi-jurisdictional practice in trusts and estates matters, frequently acting for large professional trustees and UHNWIs. He has appeared in many of the leading cases in these fields, including the Wang dispute in Bermuda. He also advises on high value trust and succession planning.
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
Oswald's
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Do not pretend to know that which you do not
What was your first job?
Barman / waiter for a catering company (I can still do silver service!)
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?
Probably an increasing number of trusts and estates disputes!
Rachael Reynolds
Rachael Reynolds
Global Senior Partner | Ogier
JURISDICTION
TOP SPECIALISMS
Commercial Litigation
Estates: Contentious
Trusts: Contentious
Office Location
Cayman Islands
Short Biography
Rachael is Global Senior Partner at Ogier, based in the Cayman Islands Dispute Resolution team. She has particular expertise in contentious trust matters, fraud, asset recovery and fund disputes and is a part of Ogier's multi-disciplinary Restructuring and Corporate Recovery team. Rachael has been awarded Offshore Litigator of the Year at the Citywealth IFC Awards and Advisor of the Year in the Wealthbriefing European Awards. Rachael also regularly acts as an expert on Cayman Islands law in international court and tribunal proceedings. Rachael took silk in August 2021.
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
Yoshi in Cayman - a fantastic sushi place
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Listen more than you speak, and treat everyone you work with with as much respect and understanding as you would want to receive
What was your first job?
Shop assistant in my school holidays
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
the Bible
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?
Inter-generational disputes are on the rise, and disputes coming out of the extensive restructuring of the Covid years
Paul Beale
Paul Beale
Head of Family Office and Private Client | KPMG
JURISDICTION
Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, The Bahamas, Cayman Islands
TOP SPECIALISMS
Family Office
Relocation and Cross-Border Advisory
Tax Advisory
Office Location
Guernsey
Short Biography
I lead the Family Office and Private Client team for KPMG Islands Group offering UK and international support to global families and their structures.
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
Red
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Value yourself, or what chance do you have.
What was your first job?
Cashier at McDonalds
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
Legacy - by James Kerr
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?
Opportunities arising from challenges in the global tax and regulatory environment.
Naro Zimmerman
Naro Zimmerman
Deputy Head of Caribbean | JTC
JURISDICTION
TOP SPECIALISMS
Family Office
Fiduciary
Trusts & Trusteeship
Office Location
Cayman Islands
Short Biography
Naro is the Deputy Head of Private Client Services for JTC’s Caribbean offices. Prior to this, he was the Head of JTC’s Dubai and Abu Dhabi offices, and he originally joined JTC as an Associate Director based in Guernsey. Having grown up in Guernsey, Naro started working in the fiduciary industry in 2004 and has remained in the industry ever since. His experience has been gained in both independent and bank owned fiduciary companies, with most of his career being spent looking after Middle Eastern clients with a particular focus on structures holding real estate. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a Chartered Manager under the Chartered Management Institute (CMgr MCMI).
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
Grand Old House
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
This too shall pass.
What was your first job?
Trust administrator at Fairbairn Trustees (now Suntera)
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
I prefer to learn their recommendations so I can understand why or what they learnt from that book.
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?
Increased regulation and transparency initiatives
Matthew Paton
Matthew Paton
Barrister, Counsel & Attorney | 5 Stone Buildings
JURISDICTION
England and Wales, The Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands
TOP SPECIALISMS
Dispute Resolution or Arbitration
Estates: Contentious
Trusts: Contentious
Office Location
United Kingdom, Bahamas
Short Biography
Matthew's practice encompasses all aspects of traditional and commercial chancery in the areas of trusts and estates, related company matters, insolvency (including cross-border issues), and civil fraud and he regularly appears in the higher courts in the UK. He is recognised as a Leading Individual in Private Client (Legal 500) and Top Ranked in Chambers UK Bar for all Trusts & Estates related matters. Matthew is also ranked as a Leading Individual (Legal 500) and Top Ranked in both Chambers UK Bar for Offshore and Chambers Global (The Bahamas), regularly advising and appearing on matters from all of the principal offshore jurisdictions, including The Bahamas (where he is also called), Bermuda, BVI, Cayman, the Channel Islands, and the Privy Council (acting as the highest appellate court for those jurisdictions). More recently he has done work in St Kitts & Nevis and Grenada. He has also acted as an expert on Bahamian law in the English and US courts (Florida and NYC).
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
Holborn Dining Rooms at the Rosewood (London)
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Breathe...
What was your first job?
Not sure it classifies as a job, however it was a (non-taxable - I was 10) income generator - washing cars!
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
Sapiens - a Brief History of Humankind byYuval Noah Harari
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?
a growth in multi-jurisdictional instructions with a Caribbean focus
Matthew Howson
Matthew Howson
Counsel | Harneys
JURISDICTION
TOP SPECIALISMS
Estates: Planning
Probate
Trusts & Trusteeship
Office Location
United Kingdom
Short Biography
I specialise in BVI and Cayman trust law, general private client and estate planning matters. My clients include individuals and families, trust companies and family offices, as well as institutional clients such as banks. My current practice includes creating, administering and advising on often complex trust structures. I also draft wills covering BVI assets, and administers BVI estates. My work invariably has an international and multi-jurisdictional dimension. I am a full member of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP). I regularly speak to small and large audiences worldwide about succession planning, and also assists in developing new BVI legislation. I have contributed to publications such as the STEP Journal, Trusts & Estates Law & Tax Journal, Private Client Adviser, and LexisNexis Seminars. Prior to joining Harneys in 2016, I worked at leading London private client firm Penningtons Manches LLP.
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
When based in the BVI I had a couple of favourite jerk chicken stands that my UK visitors enjoyed very much! These days, probably Hazev Canary Wharf.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
To juniors, don't feel you have to spend your whole career in an onshore law firm if you don't want to. You can practise your private client law by Caribbean beaches or Asian skyscrapers. My offshore career has given me lifetime friends and many memories.
What was your first job?
Cinema popcorn selling which taught me a few skills transferrable into law.
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?
One interesting aspect of offshore Private Wealth is that we follow events round the world. Every year we see different jurisdictions and different client bases finding new uses for offshore structures.
Lisa Vizia
Lisa Vizia
Director | Saffery Trust
JURISDICTION
Guernsey, Cayman Islands
TOP SPECIALISMS
Family Office
Fiduciary
Trusts & Trusteeship
Office Location
Guernsey
Short Biography
Lisa joined Safferys in 2010 and heads up a Family Office Team in Guernsey, managing offshore structures for ultra-high net worth families. Lisa works in partnership with clients’ family offices, providing a proactive and tailored support service focused on individual client needs. She has particular expertise in Middle Eastern structures, with an essential understanding of Shari’a Law and the devolution of Middle Eastern Estates in conjunction with complex trust and company structures. In addition, Lisa also specialises in dealing with the acquisition and complexities of luxury assets, and exotic investments. Lisa is the co-lead for the firm’s Cayman offering that launched in 2020 and also heads up the principal Corporate Social Responsibility initiative in Guernsey. Lisa has over 35 years’ trust industry experience and is a Member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and Institute of Directors.
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
In Guernsey it would be Hook for the sushi and in Cayman it would be Luca as it is a fabulous Italian
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Lead by example, don't ask anyone to do anything you wouldn't be willing to do yourself.
What was your first job?
Working at the local stables during the school holidays where my pony was stabled. I had the best time!
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?
More complex trust related structures being established particularly for Middle Eastern families for succession planning in the transfer of wealth to the next generation
Laura Parkes
Laura Parkes
Director | Crestbridge Family Office Services
JURISDICTION
Jersey, Cayman Islands, England and Wales, United States
TOP SPECIALISMS
Family Office
Fiduciary
Trusts & Trusteeship
Office Location
Jersey
Short Biography
Laura has over 20 years’ experience in the private client trust industry dealing with multi-jurisdictional fiduciary and corporate structures holding various assets including externally and client managed private companies, investment portfolios, residential and commercial property, development projects and aviation. At Crestbridge Laura is the Client Service Director lead on several family office structures administered in Jersey for clients based in Americas, Canada and UK. Laura also supports business development efforts in the Americas including working with Crestbridge Fiduciary LLC, our US joint venture partner with Willow Street to help grow our fiduciary offering to both US domestic and international clients with an US focus. Laura holds a Certificate of Offshore Administration, CMI Certificate in Management and Leadership, a full STEP member and formed part of a select group of industry individuals to be part of the first Jersey based Build Back Better programme in Sustainable Finance
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
A good Japanese restaurant for Sushi
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Don't be afraid to fail, its how you learn and grow from it that counts
What was your first job?
A Saturday job at a locksmith working as a key cutter. I was 15 years old and wanted to save up for my first motorbike
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy - how to effectively manage time and stop procrastinating
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?
With the support of intermediaries, we will continue to serve wealthy families with their structuring needs ultimately providing intergeneration planning and strong corporate governance.
Julie Yacyshyn
Julie Yacyshyn
Client Director | Highvern
JURISDICTION
TOP SPECIALISMS
Accountancy
Fiduciary
Trusts & Trusteeship
Office Location
Cayman Islands
Short Biography
Julie joined HIGHVERN (then known as Genesis Trust & Corporate Services Ltd.) in 2009. Her primary areas of practise include the setup, administration and management of trusts (both traditional and STAR), companies and foundation companies for a variety of private and institutional clients. The structures in her portfolio own a wide range of assets including traditional investments, real estate, operating companies, aircraft, yachts, art/antiquities and digital assets. Julie qualified as a Chartered Accountant in Canada in 2007 prior to her move to the Cayman Islands.
What is your favorite restaurant to take a client or colleague to?
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
What was your first job?
What is the book you recommend to everyone?
What changes do you expect to see in your practice over the next year?