Guernsey Trusts and Private Wealth Forum 2024

Registration is now open for the Guernsey Trusts and Private Wealth Forum on Thursday 4 July.

Widely recognised as the leading trusts and private wealth event in the Guernsey calendar, it consistently delivers the latest insights on key topics and trends in the sector.

This year's programme will feature topical panel discussions delivered by experts in their fields, on issues including:

• De-coupling mental capacity: the essential toolkit for a trustee
• Beneficial Ownership Registers, and the ongoing balance to be found between transparency and confidentiality
• A tax update relevant to the jurisdictions Guernsey trustees are typically connected to
• Jurisdictional Update: GCC clients and their planning
• Trusting trusts: a continental perspective
• An update of the latest trust cases, among other topics

As always, we will close the day with a keynote address, followed by a networking reception with drinks and canapés.

Event pricing

Tickets for the full day conference are £180pp.

Colleagues of our sponsors and speakers receive a 20% discount - please get in touch with Eleana Miller for the discount code.

For half-day ticket options please also get in touch with Eleana Miller.

Forum Agenda

9:00am - 9:25am | Registration and coffee

9:25am - 9:40am | Welcome from Mourant Chair's Opening Remarks

• Gilly Kennedy-Smith | Mourant

9:40am - 10:30am | De-coupling mental capacity: the essential toolkit for a trustee

A trustee's guide to mental capacity: how is it determined; why is it an increasingly central feature of private wealth disputes; and what practical steps should trustees and professional advisors be taking to mitigate risks?

Speakers

• Ben Manchak | Mourant
• Simon Goldring | Fladgate LLP

10:30am - 11:10am | In the front line: the latest trust cases

From blessing applications to removal applications, and from mistake applications to disclosure of information to and from beneficiaries, our expert panel will traverse the most up-to-date developments arising from recent case-law, as they relate to trusts and trustees.

Speakers

• Jeremy Wessels | Mourant
• Gordon Dawes | Mourant
• James Price | Stewarts Law LLP

11:10am - 11:35am | Coffee Break

11:35am - 12:15pm | Guernsey's place in the World: engaging on anti-money laundering, beneficial ownership and tax conduct

Jo is usually found leading the delivery of the Guernsey government’s response on external, international and constitutional issues, whilst Rebecca is usually engaged representing the interests of the Channel Islands in Europe and to the EU institutions. During this session Helen will be asking them to share an update on the challenges facing the crown dependencies in relation to matters of interest to the financial services industry.

Speakers

• Helen Wyatt | Mourant
• Sally Rochester | Mourant Consulting
• Rebecca Millar | Head of Brussels Office - Govt. of Jersey
• Jo Reeve | Director of International Relations and Constitutional Affairs - Govt. of Guernsey
• Elaine Kennedy | Zedra

12:15pm - 12:55pm | A tax update relevant to the jurisdictions Guernsey trustees are typically connected to

Speaker

• Mark Savage | BDO

12:55pm - 1:55pm | Lunch

1:55pm - 2:35pm | Jurisdictional discussion on planning considerations for Middle Eastern clients

Gilly, Hannah and Jon will take you through a case study of a GCC resident client, to discuss the planning and structuring options available to them and the pros and cons of each.

Speakers

• Gilly Kennedy-Smith | Mourant
• Hannah Wailoo | Withers LLP
• Jon Shankland | Weightmans

2:35pm – 3:15pm | Trusting trusts: a continental perspective

A discussion on the perception and recognition of trusts in civil law countries such as Switzerland.

Speaker

• Sandra Duerden | Mourant 
• Alexander Greter | Lenz & Staehelin

3:15pm – 3:40pm | Coffee Break

4:20pm - 5:10pm | Keynote Speaker

The former NATO Commander and British military chief has served on the front-line and in the corridors of international military power. He speaks about leading small teams as well as large, diverse groups with competing priorities, negotiating and resolving complex problems, working with others as well as the big, global geopolitical and security issues.

Speaker

• Sir Richard Shirreff (Former NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe)

5:10pm - 5:20pm | Chair's closing remarks

• Gilly Kennedy-Smith | Mourant

5:20pm - 6:30pm | Drinks & Canapés Reception