Catherine Moore
+44 1481 731 551
Catherine Moore
Counsel | Mourant
OFFICE LOCATION
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Guernsey
England and Wales (non-practising)
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Trusts and Estate Planning
Foundations
Asset Protection
CROSS-BORDER CLIENT EXPERIENCE IN
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Completing a large, complex trust restructuring that had been in the planning stages for a number of years. It was the culmination of a busy year at the end of which I was promoted to Counsel which I was very proud of.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Focus on doing what interests you and do it to the best of your ability – do not compare yourself to others – just work hard and be yourself!
What is your favourite quote?
Focus on doing what interests you and do it to the best of your ability – do not compare yourself to others – just work hard and be yourself!
Lisa Vizia
Lisa Vizia
Director | Saffery Champness
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Guernsey
Cayman Islands
British Virgin Islands
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) since 1997
Institute of Directors (IoD)
I am based in Guernsey so have expertise in Guernsey and Cayman trusts, foundations and companies, however I administer and act and Trustee and Director of trusts and companies from multi-jurisdictions so I have expertise in several other jurisdictions, predominantly in relation to Cayman Law Trusts and Cayman Companies as well as companies in Bermuda, BVI, Bahamas amongst others.
I also predominantly work with Middle Eastern Families in relation to client jurisdictions and also with some Russian Families.
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Working with Family Offices/being trusted adviser
Middle East structures/ Shari’a Law understanding
Non-standard assets and investments
RECOMMENDED SPECIALISMS
Exotic Assets
Multi-National Families
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Following the demise of a Middle Eastern Ruling Family principal, I worked with the Family Office and the principal’s Trusted Adviser to identity, reconcile and report on all assets and liabilities across over 70 companies and 20 jurisdictions for a multi-billion dollar Estate and Trust Structure. This included coordinating legal and tax advice, obtaining Shari’a advice to interface the multiple probates for the Estate assets and also interpreting Shari’a law with the proper law of the Trust being Cayman. Proceedings are being conducted in Cayman to obtain a blessing for a momentous decision for the administration and distribution of assets for the benefit of the Heirs in accordance with Shari’a law. I met all the Heirs and explained the concept of the Trust, interface with Shari’a Law and the Court Application.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
It’s not rocket science; Work hard. You have to love what you do and have passion and enthusiasm to progress. Take advantage of all development opportunities you can, both technical and soft skills, all of this will help you now and in the future. I have worked with great people and my advice would be to surround yourself with excellence – don’t be afraid of people who know more than you, learn from them. Asking for help and learning from mistakes is a strength not a weakness. Share your successes with others, teamwork is everything.
What sets you apart from your peers?
I put this to some of the advisers I work closely with. These are their words, not mine!
“Being able to draw upon over two decades of experience and knowledge of dealing with UHNW families is one of the factors that differentiates Lisa.”
“Unlike many trust company directors Lisa immerses herself in the role, having detailed personal knowledge of the issues, and is confident and experienced enough to deploy it to drive projects and lead the decision-making.”
“Lisa has unparalleled experience with families in the Gulf making her a very safe pair of hands.”
“Whilst having a tremendous overall grasp of the complexity of a matter she is also unfailingly thorough and no detail escapes her eagle eye. Nothing is too much trouble for her to ensure she gets the best answer and provides an excellent service for her client.”
What is your favourite quote?
“Treat others how you want to be treated.”
Plus one that I have stolen from Jean Luc Picard: “Make it so”.
Nick Ford
Nick Ford
Director, Trust & Corporate Services | Moore Stephens
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Guernsey
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Establishment and administration of Trusts
Foundations and Corporate vehicles, including complex and multi-jurisdictional structures
Family office services
RECOMMENDED SPECIALISMS
Exotic Assets
Multi-National Families
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Exploring new business opportunities and building new client and professional relationships (having joined Moore Stephens in 2018).
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Nothing is out of reach if you dedicate enough time to what you want to achieve. Set small targets but with a larger / ultimate goal in mind, in order to help maintain focus along the way.
What sets you apart from your peers?
Being approachable and taking the time to listen.
What is your favourite quote?
There is nothing permanent except change.
Rupert Morris
Rupert Morris
Partner | Walkers
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Guernsey
England and Wales
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Using the statutory Saunders v Vautier provisions in Guernsey to collapse an investment trust structure in circumstances where a power to add beneficiaries existed. Not only did the case provide welcome clarification of statute but it also posed questions on the wider interpretation of the common law 'rule' of relevance to other common law jurisdictions.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
Be responsive. Your technical ability will be quickly forgotten if you cannot deliver on the client's objectives promptly and efficiently.
What is your favourite quote?
"Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." (The Princess Bride)
Elaine Gray
Elaine Gray
Partner | Carey Olsen
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
England and Wales
Scotland
Cayman Islands
Guernsey
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Appearing before the Guernsey Court of Appeal in the first appellate decision considering the rule in Hastings Bass, following the Supreme Court decisions in Pitt and Holt. The bench included judges from Jersey and the Isle of Man and provided a fascinating opportunity to compare how the issue had been approached comparatively before the courts of the UK and Crown Dependencies and whether or not Guernsey should follow their approach.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
There is no substitute for taking the time to get to know and understand your client's drivers in any given situation: only then will you really be able to move matters forward.
What is your favourite quote?
You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.
Ben Havard
Ben Havard
Partner and Guernsey Advocate | Collas Crill
JURISDICTIONS QUALIFIED IN
Guernsey
England and Wales
TOP 3 AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Contentious and semi-contentious trust work,
Contentious regulatory work,
General private client and commercial litigation
What has been the highlight of your practice over the past 12 months?
Acting for Swiss trustees of a Guernsey law trust in relation to a dispute between beneficiaries and a call for the trustees' removal.
Advising a trustee holding significant central London real estate on splitting the trust between two branches of the beneficial class.
Obtaining the Royal Court's approval for a variation to a significant trust structure aimed at addressing changing global family dynamics.
What advice would you give rising stars/new lawyers in the private client world?
What is your favourite quote?