Nick has more than 30 years’ legal experience, including over 20 years offshore. He has significant expertise advising on the full range of legal, commercial and regulatory issues relevant to the establishment, operation and financing of Jersey vehicles ranging from companies and partnerships through to trusts and foundations.
He brings not only his legal expertise but also a practical viewpoint having also acted as a director of several asset holding and financing vehicles.
Nick graduated from Durham University in 1991 with a first class degree in Russian, Italian and Philosophy. He qualified as an English solicitor in 1996. He was sworn in as an advocate of the Royal Court of Jersey in 2006 and became a solicitor of the Eastern Caribbean Court (British Virgin Islands) in 2008.
Nick joined Collas Crill in January 2024.
Awards
Nick was named as a leading individual and consistently ranked by Legal 500 for banking and finance and has been recommended in the categories of corporate and commercial and private client, trusts and tax.
A well-respected adviser.
Legal 500
First rate.
Legal 500
Able to cut through the issues.
Legal 500
Proactive and to the point.
Legal 500
Nick has second-to-none technical knowledge.
Legal 500
An erudite individual with a pragmatic approach.
Legal 500
A high performing individual who is responsive and always owns his part of the transaction.
Legal 500
Expertise
The importance of managing risk across all types of banking and financial transactions has never been more apparent. International and multi-jurisdictional activity, particularly in new and emerging markets, is driving creativity in structuring and transactions which requires a team of lawyers who know how to get the optimal results from each deal.
Private trust companies (PTC) and private trustee foundations (PTF) are an ideal solution for clients wanting to divest themselves of ownership while still retaining a level of control. A PTC, or its most recent incarnation, the PTF, is a corporate vehicle which is used by a family in place of a professional trustee so that the family themselves can control the board of the trustee and thereby control the underlying assets.
Whether set up for asset protection purposes, as part of succession or tax planning, or for family governance or confidentiality reasons, offshore private wealth structures are common and often large and complicated.
We assist wealthy individuals, family offices, family-controlled businesses and entrepreneurs, often working alongside their trustees, bankers, tax advisors, accountants and other professional advisers, with the legal support needed within private wealth structures. We work with a broad range of vehicles including family investment companies, family limited partnerships, trusts and foundations.
We can assist with all legal aspects of establishing, operating, restructuring, funding/leveraging, relocating and winding up such vehicles.
Successfully navigating the modern global business environment, taking advantage of opportunities as they arise while avoiding legal and regulatory pitfalls, is a challenge for any entrepreneur, business or corporation, during all phases of the corporate life cycle.
Regulation and legal risk management are placing increasing burdens on companies and businesses in terms of time, costs and resources, and the consequences of getting this wrong can be severe.
We can assist with all regulatory and compliance issues in Jersey, Guernsey, BVI and Cayman including:
anti-money laundering and proceeds of crime legislation
FATCA and CRS reporting
licensing
economic substance
beneficial ownership
sanctions
tax information exchange requests
AIFMD
Additionally we can help with regulator investigations and visits, enforcement and remediation including representation before regulators, tribunals committees and courts. We have an excellent record in defending corporates and their directors and officers in regulatory proceedings.
Please view our Regulatory page for more information.
Offshore vehicles are used for a huge range of purposes either standing alone or as part of large multi-jurisdictional structures.
Our highly commercial team specialises in advising clients on the most effective uses of such vehicles and their on-going operation, including normal and cellular companies as well as foundations, unit trusts, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, segregated portfolio and restricted purpose companies.
We are able to advise what jurisdiction among the 'Big Four' that we advise on will best suit our client's needs and regularly advise on solvent restructuring by way of merger, consolidation, continuation or balance sheet optimisation as well as court based corporate procedures such as schemes and plans of arrangement.
With our mix of non-contentious and litigation restructuring specialists, Collas Crill offers the unique advantage of having being able to provide a team to seamlessly take a transaction from start to finish.
It is a fact of life that all regulated businesses today face ever increasing pressure in the areas of compliance, regulation and risk management. Not only are our businesses required to comply with regulations and laws imposed within each jurisdiction, we need to be alert to impending changes in the UK, EU and elsewhere which could have an impact on the way we operate.
Directors are legally obliged to act in good faith, exercise independent judgment, and promote the best interests of the company.
Our offshore regulatory lawyers regularly provide expert legal guidance to directors as to their duties in offshore jurisdictions and corporate governance frameworks, as failure to comply with these expected duties potentially results in significant personal liability for directors.
Our experienced team advises on fiduciary responsibilities, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance to ensure directors meet their obligations with confidence. Whether you're forming an offshore entity or navigating complex corporate challenges, we can offer trusted, practical solutions tailored to your needs.
Regulation and legal risk management are placing increasing burdens on companies and businesses in terms of time, costs and resources, and the consequences of getting this wrong can be severe. We can assist with all regulatory and compliance issues in Jersey, Guernsey, BVI and Cayman including:
Anti money laundering and proceeds of crime legislation
FATCA and CRS reporting
Licensing
Economic substance
Beneficial ownership
Sanctions
Tax information exchange requests
AIFMD
Additionally we can help with regulator investigations and visits, enforcement and remediation including representation before regulators, tribunals committees and courts. We have an excellent record in defending corporates and their directors and officers in regulatory proceedings.
At Collas Crill Trust, we combine the personal and responsive service you’d expect from a boutique with the expertise and reach that a global firm provides.
As the global legal and regulatory landscape becomes ever more complex, managing wealth across generations, succession planning and transferring control of assets has never been more challenging. That's why it's important to work with lawyers who can offer solutions that are tailored to your unique circumstances.
Tailored solutions for families seeking greater control over their wealth through private trust companies, enabling direct involvement in the governance and administration of family trusts while maintaining confidentiality.
