Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation

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Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation

Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation

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Wealth planning should preserve and enhance private wealth and safeguard it from risk. Risk arises from factors like business activities, capital and cash constraints, family discord, human vulnerabilities, mortality, economic shifts, natural disasters, taxes, and asset allocation.

Traditional wealth planning practices are necessarily evolving. We are market leaders in wealth planning and pioneers in this evolution. We think holistically to produce clear and effective plans for the intergenerational transfer of wealth and imaginative solutions to the varied issues facing the private wealth sector.

Committed to introducing international best practice, we set ourselves apart by incorporating expertise from mature foreign jurisdictions. We proudly think differently to other advisers. Leveraging Dentons' global platform uniquely equips us to tackle complex cross-border issues arising from the movement of capital and talent.

Our family office clients have access to the Dentons Family Office Hub, an online portal providing curated thought leadership, an exclusive community of peers, and access to deal flow. Our team includes tax and litigation specialists, and we provide a comprehensive suite of services to our clients, including:

designing and implementing strategic wealth plans utilising a range of appropriate tools and structures;
migrant wealth and tax planning, including residency by investment advice and guidance on the Active Investor Plus visa;
expert advice on trust law and governance;
drafting and negotiating relationship property agreements and advocating in related disputes;
advising and advocating in contentious trusts and estates matters;
advising charities, not for profits and philanthropists on structuring, governance, and compliance;
family business governance and succession; and
family office design and governance.

Experience

High Net Worth Individuals and Families: (including athletes and founders) designing and executing strategies and reorganising existing structures to preserve and enhance wealth for future generations through trusts and other fiduciary relationships.
Global Multi-Family Office: reviewing trust service agreements and corporate governance arrangements. Developing a best practice trust administration manual.
Investor Migrants: advising numerous global family offices and investor migrants in relation to residency by investment strategy. Assisting with execution of that strategy and associated immigration, visa, tax, estate planning and commercial advice.
Trustees and Beneficiaries: advising in relation to numerous contentious trusts and estates matters, often in collaboration with our global colleagues in relation to cross-border litigation. Acting in proceedings to declare trusts invalid, remove trustees, review fiduciary decisions, freeze assets, and obtain disclosure orders.
Court Challenges and Approvals: various challenges to certain fiduciary decisions made by trustees and applications for approval of others.
Global Bank: advising in relation to the sale and transition of a substantial fiduciary services business.
Global Family Office: advising in relation to the tax implications of the principal family member changing domicile and residency from one jurisdiction to another.
Protective Trust: advising in complex cross-border litigation relating to a unique trust structure to hold and manage substantial payments for a vulnerable minor beneficiary.
General Counsel and Strategic Advisor to:
- numerous high net worth migrants;
- foreign investors; and
- professional trustees and family offices.
International Wealth Structures: advising foreign law firms, trustees and wealthy families utilising New Zealand foreign trusts and limited partnerships as tax neutral vehicles to hold offshore assets.
Regulation and Compliance: advising financial institutions, professional trustees and service providers in relation to tax and regulatory compliance matters.
Family Businesses: advising on the transfer of family businesses from one generation to the next or advising on business sales and profit distributions to family members. Negotiating a business ownership restructure following a breakdown of the business owners’ marriage.
Strategic Philanthropy: advising philanthropists, grant makers and investors on giving strategies and impact opportunities.

Recognition

Dentons Partner Henry Brandts-Giesen recognised in Who’s Who Legal: Private Client 2023

December 20, 2023

Dentons is proud to announce that Private Wealth Partner Henry Brandts-Giesen has been recognised in the renowned Who’s Who Legal: Private Client Report for 2023.

Dentons Kensington Swan retains coveted Band 1 ranking in Chambers and Partners 2023 High Net Worth Guide

July 24, 2023

Dentons Kensington Swan is proud to announce that our Private Wealth practice has retained Band 1 ranking and is the leading Private Wealth Law firm in the renowned Chambers and Partners High Net Worth (HNW) Guide for 2023.

Dentons excels in Chambers High Net Worth 2022

July 18, 2022

Dentons has earned 18 individual lawyer rankings and 9 practice rankings in the latest edition of Chambers High Net Worth, a well-known annual legal directory that ranks law firms and lawyers serving High Net Worth clients globally. Among these 27 total rankings, 20 were in the top bands (Band 1&2 or higher).

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Insights

Taylor Swift and her Billionaire Era: navigating wealth and relationships

April 17, 2024

New Zealand: This month Forbes released its annual list of the world's billionaires and Taylor Swift made her entry (Taylor’s Version) in what has been a good year for the world's richest people.

Intellectual property assets and how they are treated when relationships come to an end

March 3, 2024

New Zealand: A recent decision from the Court of Appeal has clarified the law on how copyright will be treated in the context of relationships that come to an end.

How to manage and resolve disputes over family wealth

March 1, 2024

Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand: Navigating disputes over family wealth requires an understanding of legal structures, family dynamics, and financial strategies. This guide discusses how to manage these disputes effectively, focusing on both preserving wealth and maintaining familial bonds. It addresses the unique challenges these disputes present, offering practical strategies for professionals and families to avoid issues with strategic planning and resolve conflicts when they arise.

View all insights for Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation