Guernsey Trusts and Private Wealth Forum 2025
Registration is now open for the Guernsey Trusts and Private Wealth Forum on Thursday 3 July.
Shifting Horizons: Embracing Change and Finding New Opportunities
In this era of rapid change, the Trust and Private Wealth sector is evolving like never before. This year’s programme is designed to help you navigate these shifts and uncover new opportunities in a transforming landscape.
Keynote address
This year's keynote address will be delivered by Tom Grogan, CEO of the global tech consultancy firm MDRx - part of one of the world’s leading law firms, Mishcon de Reya LLP.
Tom will share compelling insights on opportunities and threats posed by artificial intelligence, as well as its transformative impact on private wealth management, legal practices and client engagement.
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 - 10:20am | Case update
We kick off this year's Forum with our annual round up of the most noteworthy trust litigation cases from the last 12 months.
Speakers
- Gordon Dawes | Mourant
10:20am - 11:10am | Guarding the brand in Litigation: Reputation management strategies for high-net-worth families and family offices
Our speakers will delve into the critical role of reputation management for high-net-worth individuals, families, and family offices, especially when facing legal disputes. Discussions will focus on proactive steps legal counsel can take to protect privacy, minimise reputational damage, and navigate the complexities of family wealth and other sensitive situations in the context of litigation.
Speakers
- Abel Lyall | Mourant
11:10am - 11:35am | Coffee Break
11:35am - 12:15pm | Safe harbours in times of tumult
Gilly will be joined by advisors from Saudi, Switzerland and the US to talk about private client trends, what's going on in each of their jurisdictions in terms of movement of money and clients and how they are impacted by the current global and political instability
Speakers
- Gilly Kennedy-Smith | Mourant
12:15pm - 12:55pm | The intersection of fiduciary duties with AML and information requests
The fiduciary duties placed on trustees are well known. But, in a world of ever increasing transparency and regulation, how do they interact with obligations imposed by tax and money laundering authorities. This session will explore how best to navigate that tightrope, considering also other questions such as what a trustee can and can't charge for, what you can and can't say, and how to avoid being sued or prosecuted (or both!).
Speakers
- Christopher Edwards | Mourant
12:55pm - 1:55pm | Lunch
1:55pm - 2:35pm | Smart tax Planning: Preserving wealth and securing future generations
The panel will share insights into tax planning opportunities and strategies for high-net-worth families in light of recent global events and legislative changes, and discuss broader approaches to preserving wealth, managing tax liabilities and ensuring the smooth transfer of assets across generations.
Speakers
- Alexander Hawkins | Mourant
2:35pm – 3:15pm | Future-proofing wealth: Building resilient trust structures and navigating complex challenges
A discussion of the key strategies for future-proofing wealth, focusing on the diversification of assets across classes and geographies, and building flexible trust structures that can adapt to evolving circumstances.
Speaker
- Jeremy Wessels | Mourant
3:15pm – 3:40pm | Coffee Break
3:40pm - 4:20pm | Keynote address: Opportunity and threat - AI and future of everything
Tom will speak about artificial intelligence, how to conceptualise the opportunities and challenges it poses to our most fundamental human behaviours and business practices, and how to prioritise change when seemingly everything is either on fire or obsolete. He will draw on his experience as the author of nation state-level technology strategy, a digital board member at the National Theatre, and executive leader with large on-shore and now off-shore law firms.
Speaker
- Tom Grogan
4:20pm - 4:30pm | Chairman's closing remarks
4:30pm - 6:00pm | Drinks & Canapés Reception
