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Private Client

As global legislation, regulation and taxation constantly change and become more complex, it has never been more important to make long-term plans to secure your future, the future of your family or your business.

For wealthy individuals, family-controlled businesses and entrepreneurs 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 not only have the highest standards of legal knowledge and expertise, but also the ability to find unique solutions tailored to your unique circumstances.

Our advice is not ‘one size fits all’. We build long term relationships with our clients which allows us to truly understand their, and their family's, needs and priorities as they change and develop over time. We act and advise with care, ensuring their best interests are protected in every decision.

We cut through the legal jargon to provide clear, practical advice when you most need it and anticipate the challenges you are likely to face so that you can rest assured you and your family are in safe hands at every step of the way.

  • The approach received was a team approach, with all relevant members of the team involved to deliver a solution. The business was potentially contentious and the extra attention to detail was very much appreciated.
    Legal 500 2022
  • The team are very responsive and not only technically good, they also understand the commercial and family aspects that underlie many family wealth structures.
    Legal 500 2022
  • Easy to work with, friendly, responsive, highly motivated and extremely competent.
    Legal 500 (UK) 2023
  • The quality and service delivery are outstanding and they work well with counsel in other firms.
    Legal 500 2022
  • The team is one of very few that can deliver Cayman Islands law advice in the European time zone. It provides very practical and commercially orientated advice that is notable by being decisive and conclusive, not fence sitting.
    Legal 500 2022
  • The team throughout the Channel Islands worked seamlessly to ensure we connected with the right person. They were all very approachable and knowledgeable.
    Legal 500 2022
  • Very dynamic team, always responsive and on top of the cases. The team has a strong ratio of female representatives, which can be acknowledged in a time where this still remains a challenge in many firms.
    Legal 500 2022
  • They have a very quick turnaround, are client-oriented and have been a safe pair of hands.
    Chambers and Partners 2020
  • Collas Crill are my go-to firm. Not only do they make doing business together easier but they have the diversity of legal practice in house to provide the holistic services our private client structures need. It really is such a pleasure to work with
    Legal 500 2022
  • I found the team at Collas Crill very responsive, all it took was one phone call, and I was signposted to the relevant partner who called me back to take some details to ensure there were no conflict of interest and made us fully aware of the terms.
    Legal 500 (UK) 2023
  • This is a team dedicated to client services.
    Legal 500 2022
  • Collas Crill is known for its expertise in all things offshore and I have no hesitation in referring to them if we need private client and corporate expertise in the relevant jurisdiction.
    Legal 500 (UK) 2023
  • Strong support of the team to diversity especially gender as female are leading especially in private practice. Very committed and always available teams with strong capabilities to identify and address clients needs in most efficient and speedy way.
    Legal 500 (UK) 2023
  • They are a very experienced team of motivated employees. They think outside the box and are a pleasure to work with.
    Legal 500 (UK) 2023
Private Client services
Contentious Trusts
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We represent trust corporations, HNWIs, individual trustees and beneficiaries, often dealing with novel points of law and creating new and innovative solutions to fit the needs of our clients. Given the international scope of settlors, investments and assets, we often co-ordinate advice from our multi-jurisdictional teams, meaning that our clients benefit from the knowledge and depth of experience of our people around the globe.

Contentious Wills, Estates & Probate
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We provide fast, cost-effective and sensitive advice on all manner of will related disputes during what is often an extremely upsetting and distressing time for those concerned. We regularly act on multi-party actions for both plaintiffs and defendants.

Family Limited Partnerships
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Many individuals think of the traditional trust as being the best way to manage their estate planning needs. However, there is a growing client base from civil law jurisdictions unfamiliar with the trust concept launching alternative structures. Recent examples include foundations, private family funds and, increasingly, the Family Limited Partnership (FLP). While initially developed onshore, the concept of FLPs was also harnessed and developed offshore in the Channel Islands as a flexible investment structure and a viable alternative to the traditional trust due to its ability to transmit wealth to younger generations while allowing patriarchs to retain a sensible level of control. This is particularly important for clients using the FLP to transfer the family business or “golden egg”, where a loss of control is so unpalatable. As the name implies, an FLP would be ideally suited to the wealthy family, as it is flexible enough to allow a very bespoke agreement to be put in place to cater for the often very detailed and prescriptive demands of clients who can afford and are used to having something tailor made.

Family Trusts & Foundations
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Alongside companies and wills, Family Trusts are still a very popular tool for estate planning and asset protection – perhaps even more so in the light of the envisaged changes to the UK non-dom regime. Family Foundations are proving to be a popular new tool for families looking to ensure their wealth and assets are protected for future generations. We establish trusts and foundations for local and international families to preserve family businesses and ensure appropriate succession planning. We work closely with tax advisers in order to ensure that any new Family trust or foundation fits with a family's overall tax position and will be a workable long term, cost efficient structure. Discretionary trusts are still the most popular but we can also advise on fixed trusts, will trusts and pension trusts.

Guardianship, Delegates & Power of Attorney
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Depending upon your jurisdiction, guardianship, delegates and powers of attorney are useful tools in helping a party to deal with the financial affairs of another, whether that is paying bills, managing bank accounts or otherwise. If you need assistance dealing with your own affairs then a power of attorney may be appropriate. This will enable you to choose who can carry out any actions, and the extent to which they can take those decisions, on your behalf. If, however, it sadly becomes the case that an individual cannot handle their own affairs any longer then a guardian or delegate will be need to be appointed by the court to look after that individual's affairs. Whether you are choosing to give someone power to deal with your affairs, or you have a relative who can't deal with their own any longer, careful consideration needs to be given, and advice sought, to decide what route is most appropriate.

Probate & Estate Administration
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When executors, family or friends of a deceased need to get access to assets held by their loved one, they may be asked to produce a document commonly referred to as a 'grant of probate'. A grant of probate means that an individual is given the right, by the relevant court, to deal with a deceased's estate. The deceased may have left a will or may have died intestate (without a will). It might be the case that probate has already been obtained in another jurisdiction and that a separate grant of probate needs to be obtained in Guernsey or Jersey. This can be an unfamiliar and stressful process. At Collas Crill we have many years' experience in making these types of applications. We are able to assist in simply obtaining the grant of probate, can arrange release and payment of the Channel Island assets to the relevant person, or deal with the full administration of an estate depending on your requirements.

Residential Property
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Property law can be a complex, daunting and emotional experience for many individual buyers and sellers. Feeling an emotional tie to your new or prospective property, your 'home', is inevitable. When buying or selling property you need a strong, dependable team that knows the market inside and out. We offer top quality advice and successfully anticipate the unique challenges and opportunities you are likely to face. We believe that communication and responsiveness is the key to a stress-free experience which is why we're always on hand to listen, offer assistance and pick up the phone to keep you informed at every stage of a transaction.

Wills & Estate Planning
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Planning for the future is something that people often don't like to think about however it is one of the most important things that you should do during your lifetime. Whether you need simple Wills put in place or more complex estate structuring, our experienced and approachable team can help you organise and plan your affairs for the immediate and longer term future. We work hard to guide you through any issues of concern to ensure that you reach a position where you feel reassured that you are clear as to what will happen to your assets, and the ones you leave behind, in the future.

Life & Careers 28 Sep 2023

Newly qualified lawyers in the CI

Collas Crill is proud to announce three newly qualified lawyers in the Channel Islands.  Jessica Burgess and Laura Smith from Guernsey and Millie Thompson from Jersey have...

Insight 11 Sep 2023

UAE New Family Business Law

Family businesses hold a prominent and important role in the UAE economy and, prior to this year, have done so without a flexible and robust legal framework within which to...

Insight 21 Aug 2023

Victoria Grogan in the hot seat

Group Partner in our Jersey International Private Client and Funds team Victoria Grogan found herself in the PCD Hot Seat when she sat down with Group Founder David...

Life & Careers 21 Jul 2023

Chambers HNW Guide 2023

Collas Crill's Private Client teams in the Channel Islands have once again featured in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide, the guide for go-to individuals and firms in the...

News 26 Jun 2023

Collas Crill makes STEP shortlist

Collas Crill has been shortlisted for the Contentious Trusts and Estates Team of the year (mid-size) and the Private Client Legal Team of the Year (mid-size) as the STEP...

Life & Careers 9 Jun 2023

Secondment strengthens relationship

Trainee Solicitor Jessica Burgess is completing a three-month secondment with Withers LLP in London in the private client team. She will be working under Private Client and...

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Guide 3 Feb 2022

Collas Crill contributes to Guernsey chapter of International Succession Laws 2020

This article was originally published by Bloomsbury Professional G8: Guernsey Fixed rights of inheritance Statement of succession laws and rights of...

Guide 20 Jan 2022

Collas Crill explains... Termination of a trust

This is part of a series of guides in which we examine areas of law that frequently arise in practice. Further guides will be released weekly; click here to subscribe to...

Guide 23 Sep 2021

Collas Crill explains… Changing the proper law of a Guernsey trust

This is part of a series of guides in which we examine areas of law that frequently arise in practice. Further guides will be released weekly; click here to subscribe to...

Guide 14 Sep 2021

Resealing foreign grants of probate in the BVI – new Act brings welcome clarity

The Probates (Resealing) Act, 2021 (the Act) has been in force in the British Virgin Islands (the BVI) since 9 July 2021, repealing The Probates (Resealing) Act (Cap. 60)...

Guide 4 Aug 2021

Collas Crill explains... Reserved powers

This is part of a series of guides in which we examine areas of law that frequently arise in practice. Further guides will be released weekly; click here to subscribe to...

Guide 2 Jun 2021

Collas Crill explains… Duties of a trustee under Guernsey law

This is part of a series of guides in which we examine areas of law that frequently arise in practice. Further guides will be released weekly; click here to subscribe to...

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Event 18 Jan 2024

TL4 Practitioners' Forum

Partner Ben Havard will be speaking at the Thought Leaders 4 Private Client 2024 Practitioners' Forum on 'Stress Testing Trust Structures' in London on the 18th...

Event 15 Feb 2024

TL4 HNW Divorce forum

Partner Ben Havard has been invited to speak at the Thought Leaders 4 HNW Divorce first annual Practitioner's Forum on 'Trusts in Divorce', the only event to bring together...

Event 7 Nov 2023

HNW Advisor launch event in Riyadh

Collas Crill is a proud partner of HNW Advisor for its launch event in Riyadh on 7 November. HNW Advisor is the thought leadership and content hub for PCD Club, an...

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