Joe Donohoe
Joe Donohoe
Director | Asset Risk Consultants
OFFICE
JURISDICTION
UK
Channel Islands
Ireland
Switzerland
USA (to a lesser extent)
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
The twin focus of my career has been on trusts and investments.
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Helping our clients to navigate their way through a dramatically turbulent year in the investment markets.
How did you get into private client?
Having qualified as a chartered accountant in Ireland I joined the trust department of C&L in Jersey and have been working with private clients ever since.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Technical skills will only get you to the table. Your ability to build relationships by being nice to people will determine how long you stay there.
What is your favourite quote?
“Everybody has a plan until I punch them in the face” – Mike Tyson
Do you have any outside interests or hobbies?
Music (mostly the Bs – Bach, Beethoven, Beatles, Bowie, Billy Bragg…), Sport (especially football, cricket and NFL) and crime fiction.
When the restaurants reopen, where would you like to go?
Le Cirque at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and Green Island in Jersey.
What is the main area of growth you predict for the next 12 months?
A continuing and growing focus on ESG and sustainable investments, especially amongst the emerging generations.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Planning has its place but always embrace change and be prepared to adapt.
What are three top tips for dealing with your clients remotely?
1. Use their choice of medium not yours
2. Prepare for and attend a virtual meeting with the same thoroughness as you would a physical one
3. Always be available
John Gill
+353 1 232 2159
John Gill
Partner | Matheson
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Ireland
TOP AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Trust and Estate Planning
Private Client
Tax Relocation
Keith Robinson
Keith Robinson
Partner | Carey Olsen
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Ireland
Northern Ireland
England and Wales
Bermuda
TOP AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Trust restructuring
Trust litigation
Offshore trusts
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Building a reputation in the Bermudian market as the best trust and estates litigator and the only true specialist.
How did you get into private client?
The honest answer is that I loved trusts at Oxford. I didn’t set out in my career to be a trust lawyer!
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Put client service above all else and subject to this, make every effort to write for publications as often as possible and no less than twice per year.
What is your favourite quote?
“To err is human; to forgive, divine." Alexander Pope.
Do you have any outside interests or hobbies?
I am a keen runner. I ran 100 miles in April 2020 during lockdown.
When the restaurants reopen, where would you like to go?
Harry’s in Bermuda.
Paraic Madigan
Paraic Madigan
Head of Private Client | Matheson
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Ireland
TOP AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Asset holding structures
Personal and estate planning
Residency and domiciliation
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
I acted for the branch of family concerning the restructuring of offshore trusts, which involved a complex application for court approval. It was a highlight because it involved significant commercial and family sensitive issues in relation to a multi-generational structure. The court approved the proposal supported by our clients, in the face of trenchant opposition from another part of the family.
I acted for the board of a Lichtenstein foundation in negotiations with Irish Revenue concerning its treatment for Irish purposes. The historic funding of the foundation gave rise to complex issues of Swiss succession law, Lichtenstein law of foundations, and relied heavily on recent English case law which considered similar issues. The case was technically demanding and an acceptable outcome was reached.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Be active in industry organisations. So many transformative developments are transnational in their origins and participation in these bodies, in addition to benefiting from the experience of colleagues in other jurisdictions, offers the best insight into emerging trends that quickly become accepted principles which affect client families.
Patrick Harney
Patrick Harney
Partner | Mishcon de Reya
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Ireland
England and Wales
TOP AREAS OF EXPERTISE
US/ UK Tax and Estate Planning
Tax planning for UK Resident Non-Domiciles
Asset structuring
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Moving to Mischon de Reya in December 2019. A superb firm who understands how to take care of the needs of sophisticated high net worth families.
How did you get into private client?
When I was in Ireland, I did the Irish Institute of Taxation exams (the equivalent of the Chartered Tax Adviser exams) and decided I needed to use it or lose it. I joined a large private client group in Matheson Ireland. I found the challenges of acting for private clients fascinating and something I decided to stay in.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
To be a rising star, it is imperative that at the earliest stage in your career you choose an area of specialism to gain recognition. To build a successful network, you must become known as an expert in your field.
What is your favourite quote?
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." Henry Ford.
Do you have any outside interests or hobbies?
I like riding horses, horse racing, diving, skiing and travelling.
When the restaurants reopen, where would you like to go?
The Greenhouse, Mayfair in London.
Jeffrey Elkinson
Jeffrey Elkinson
Director | Conyers
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Ireland
England and Wales
Hong Kong
Australia
United States (NY, MA)
TOP AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Trusts
Arbitration
Telecoms
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Not working from home.
How did you get into private client?
Junior Counsel in the Thyssen-Bornemisza litigation which started in the late '90s.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Be patient and enjoy your work.
What is your favourite quote?
“You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Wayne Gretzky.
Do you have any outside interests or hobbies?
Playing soccer, water-skiing , mechanics and reading.
When the restaurants reopen, where would you like to go?
FourWays, Bermuda.
Siobhán Jey Laighléis
Siobhán Jey Laighléis
Associate | Conyers
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Ireland
England and Wales
Bermuda
TOP AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Asset holding structures
Asset protection
Personal and estate planning
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
In the past year I have become quite involved with contentious trust work, which is not an area I had expected to be attracted to. But looking at things from that perspective is helpful when I cross back over to “the bright side” to advise clients on planning and structuring their affairs.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
First: Trust in your own judgment and have confidence that your opinion counts.
As Associates we tend to work behind the front line, but deep in the trenches of a case. It can be intimidating to voice contrary opinions when senior and prestigious colleagues are involved. I find it helpful to remember that trust advisory work, and strategies around potential or actual litigation, can be quite subjective and there is no solitary ‘perfect’ solution.
Secondly: Maintain strong collegial relationships - not least because it will make your working day more pleasant! It is invaluable to have reliable colleagues who are willing to make time when you reach out for pointers or a second opinion. It’s also a really gratifying feeling when the same happens in reverse.
What is your favourite quote?
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it,” Goethe.