Family Office service

Russell-Cooke’s Family Office service recognises that families, their wealth and their business interests are inextricably linked. We understand the wide range of legal, financial and emotional issues that families face, especially at times of transition.

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About our Family Office services

Offering clear, practical advice on anything from wills and pre-nuptial agreements to business and property portfolios via philanthropic aims and reputational issues, Russell-Cooke’s Family Office recognises that families, their wealth and their business interests are inextricably linked.

We understand the wide range of legal, financial and emotional issues that families face, especially at times of transition. With the experience to anticipate challenges before they arise and an empathetic approach to helping individuals and families make informed decisions about their future planning, Russell-Cooke’s Family Office provides families seamless access to the specialist advice they need, when they need it, and helps navigate the difficult conversations that might otherwise lead to conflict.

Wealth management and succession

Often working closely with a family's other advisers, we offer guidance on all legal aspects of wealth planning and protection and family relationships.

Succession planning – we specialise in everything from wills, powers of attorney and estate administration to trusts and Family Investment Companies.
Tax advice – we are able to advise on all areas of tax in relation to wealth and succession planning, including inheritance tax, capital gains tax and stamp duty.
Entrepreneurs and family businesses – key areas we offer guidance on include business property relief and entrepreneurs' relief.
Cross-border – where assets straddle multiple jurisdictions, we can work with our private international law team and firms in our global network to provide clear, practical advice.

Family relationships

For any family, relationship changes will often have significant immediate and long-term consequences – both emotionally and financially. Expert, empathetic advice is vital to ensure you are taking the right course and the process is sensitively and constructively handled.

We have a large team with numerous specialisms. Our services include drawing up pre-nuptial, post-nuptial and cohabitation agreements. We also advise on the end of relationships (whether married or not) and help structure financial settlements.

Other specialisms include advising on family creation – including adoption and surrogacy, our specialist children advisers for arrangements for children after divorce or separation and all issues relating to education, from early years through to university and beyond.

Generation Game report and blog series

The great wealth transfer and the outlook for families. Welcome to our Family Office Generation Game report and blog series.

Read the report View the blog series

Dispute resolution and risk management

We understand that family dynamics and business needs can sometimes can have the potential to cause tension. We have a wealth of experience in providing holistic and practical advice to try to resolve or at least mitigate these tensions.

It may be a disagreement over the way the family trust is being run, challenging the validity of a will or defending an attack on a trustee. We have significant experience in dealing with disputes involving multi-jurisdictional estates and individuals with multiple international connections. Whatever the nature of the dispute, we can help to resolve it in the most sensitive and efficient way, whether through negotiation, mediation or hard-fought litigation.

We can also advise on asset protection and risk management strategies in conjunction with the larger Family Office team in the context of wealth management and succession planning. This may take the form of stress testing succession plans or trusts.

Commercial interests

Whether your commercial interests include a family business or stakes in other companies, we can advise on issues such as ownership structures, commercial agreements and corporate transactions.

Real estate

Whether it be in relation to a specific transaction or providing strategic advice, our leading real estate team has extensive experience dealing with family offices and their real estate portfolios. Our services range from simple conveyancing to managing the family estate and developing your investment portfolio.

Our expertise is in all areas of property law including acquisitions and disposals, development, planning and construction, investment, landlord and tenant, property management and property finance. We also deal with sale and purchase of high value residential properties and landed estates.

Philanthropy

We work with individual philanthropists, families and businesses who want to use their wealth to help others and create a better world. We can assist you to structure your charitable giving in line with your values and support the causes you care about. This might mean creating your own foundation, donating to a particular cause or an existing charity, or leaving a legacy in your Will.

Reputation management

The past year has emphasised the fast changing society that we all, from individual through to multinational corporate organisations, inhabit and how hard earned reputations can be damaged through the spread of misinformation or others seeking to exploit perceived weaknesses about you or your business.

Get in touch

If you would like to speak with a member of the team you can contact our family office solicitors by email or by telephone on +44 (0)20 3826 7550.

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