Private wealth
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Private wealth

Stephenson Harwood has been looking after the legal needs of wealthy individuals and their families for nearly 200 years. We have always understood that our private clients require a wide range of services, beyond that which is offered by the traditional ‘private client’ firms. This is because our clients are typically entrepreneurial, international and with complex, frequently international, interests.
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As a truly international firm, with a wide range of legal capabilities, our award winning private wealth team is ideally positioned to service all the needs of high net worth individuals. We can help you with:

  • advice on residency and domicile
  • UK and international personal tax planning, including planning for UK resident and non-domiciled individuals
  • tax and succession advice for shareholders, directors and employees
  • advice on tax efficient inward investment into the UK, including real estate
  • creating and advising upon offshore trusts, foundations, companies and other wealth preservation vehicles
  • creating and advising upon overseas pensions schemes and other remuneration trusts
  • representing clients in tax enquiries and investigations instigated by HMRC and where criminal proceedings have been commenced
  • creating asset protection structures

Our private wealth team works closely with our renowned corporate tax team, which provides the full range of tax services – both direct and indirect taxes (including VAT) - to businesses in the UK and internationally.

“Fantastic industry knowledge, practical experience of the sector. Great combination of deep technical knowledge and formidable litigation skills. The firm I always choose for the tricky cases.”

The Legal 500 UK 2022

UK property

We regularly advise clients on the most tax efficient means of acquiring and holding UK property, both for personal occupation and investment, taking into account CGT, IHT, ATED, SDLT and VAT.

Residency planning

We recently advised a prominent Italian family on their relocation to the UK, looking at their personal assets and those in various offshore trusts.

Tax investigations

We represented a client in an HMRC investigation generated by their receipt of his leaked foreign bank account details and we settled the case for less than one-tenth of the amount of tax originally claimed.

Philanthropy

We advised a prominent Hong Kong billionaire on his proposed bequest to a US charity and created two charitable trusts in the UK and Hong Kong.

International succession planning

We recently advised a UK national resident in Belgium on estate planning for his worldwide estate, including considering the interaction between UK and Belgian death taxes.

Foreign pensions

We are renowned for our expertise in foreign pensions and we have advised a large number of individuals and institutions on the UK tax treatment of IPPs, QROPS and QNUPS.

Jets, yachts and art

As well as being able to provide tax advice on the acquisition of these assets, we can also provide advice on all legal matters including build/purchase contracts, disputes and finance.
Lawyer

Jonathan Conder Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2015
M:  +44 7941 100 381 Email Jonathan | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Suzanne Johnston Partner

T:  +65 6622 9649
M:  +65 9648 1475 Email Suzanne | Vcard Office:  Singapore

Lawyer

Kevin Lee Partner

T:  +852 2533 2843
M:  Email Kevin | Vcard Office:  Hong Kong

Lawyer

Jenny McKeown Practice group leader

T:  +44 20 7809 2172
M:  Email Jenny | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Emily Osborne Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2433
M:  +44 7525 896 899 Email Emily | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

James Quarmby Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2364
M:  +44 7958 776 759 Email James | Vcard Office:  London

Latest news & insights

20 Mar 2023

From Insights

Wealth management updates: Take with one hand and give with the other! Changes to residency routes in Singapore

To attract more highly skilled foreign investors, professionals, and talent, Singapore has introduced a range of initiatives to boost foreign investment and complement..

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01 Feb 2023

From News

Leading private wealth specialist Beatrice Puoti joins Stephenson Harwood as partner

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has strengthened its global private wealth practice with the addition of Beatrice Puoti. She joins as a partner based in the firm's Lon..

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16 Jan 2023

From News

James Quarmby included in eprivateclient's 50 most influential advisers list

Stephenson Harwood partner and head of private wealth, James Quarmby, has been named one of the '50 Most Influential' advisers in 2023 by eprivateclient.

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19 Dec 2022

From Insights

Luxembourg Business Registers and Sovim: the CJEU brings EU’s transparency journey to a shuddering stop

In a recent Tax Journal article, partner James Quarmby discusses the CJEU's judgment in the joined cases of Luxembourg Business Registers and Sovim, and how its decisi..

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14 Dec 2022

From Insights

The Register of Overseas Entities: public disclosure of interests in UK land held by non-UK entities

This practice note is relevant to UK and non-UK persons who have a direct or indirect interest in or administer overseas entities which own an interest in UK land.

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30 Nov 2022

From Insights

Amendment bill introduced for the reform of the foreign-sourced income exemption regime in Hong Kong

The bill to amend the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap.112) in relation to the reform of the foreign-sourced income exemption regime was gazetted on 28 October 2022 and i..

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04 Nov 2022

From News

James Quarmby wins tax and trust lawyer of the year award

Stephenson Harwood partner James Quarmby has won the tax and trust lawyer of the year award at the Spear's Awards 2022.

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03 Nov 2022

From Insights

Changes to corporate disclosures in Singapore

On 4 October 2022, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority announced the implementation of new corporate disclosures under the Companies Act 1967 of Singapor..

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01 Nov 2022

From News

Stephenson Harwood named one of the 2022 eprivateclient Top Law Firms

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has been named one of the 2022 eprivateclient Top Law Firms. The firm was ranked tier 1, alongside 15 other law firms.

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28 Oct 2022

From Insights

CAPITAL talk – private wealth in a podcast

CAPITAL talk – private wealth in a podcast; hosted by James Quarmby, who examines the important topical issues facing the private wealth industry by way of searching i..

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26 Sep 2022

From Insights

Nothing 'mini' about it...

If the Summer seemed to drag on with the nation anxiously awaiting answers to the many pressing economic issues whilst the Conservative party decided who was going to ..

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26 Sep 2022

From Insights

Proposed reform to Hong Kong's foreign-sourced passive income taxation regime - how will it affect you?

In October 2021, the European Union included Hong Kong in the list of Non-Cooperative Tax Jurisdictions (or the watchlist) due to the concern over double non-taxation ..

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01 Sep 2022

From Insights

Global Investor Programme and residency in Singapore

This article aims to provide an overview of the Global Investor Programme ("GIP") and the Professional/ Technical Personnel & Skilled Worker scheme and will also furth..

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22 Jul 2022

From News

Success at Chambers High Net Worth Awards

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has won the 'Private Client Team of the Year' award at the Chambers High Net Worth Awards 2022.

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15 Jul 2022

From Insights

Sanctions: UK to introduce new sanctions targeting Russian connected trusts

Following the EU's introduction of sanctions against EU trust and company service providers ("TCSPs") in May 2022, the UK government has now announced that it will fol..

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24 Jun 2022

From Insights

"Common Prosperity" In China: What does it mean for philanthropy 浅谈“共同富裕”与中国公益事业

Since the announcement of the "Common Prosperity" policy in China we have seen billions donated by the country's leading entrepreneurs.

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© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.