News

In conversations with South African clients, I’m often surprised at how many assume that an offshore trust is simply a “copy and paste” version of a local trust — just in another jurisdiction. It isn’t. The components may sound similar — but the mechanics and legal positioning are very different. Let’s unpack the core structural…

💼 A Family Office serves as a dedicated platform for high-net-worth families to manage their wealth, protect assets and plan for future generations 📝 By offering services like investment control, succession planning and family governance, it provides financial stability and long-term growth 📊 In simple terms, it is a great option for wealthy families to…

There’s a hidden secret in the Gulf that almost no one tells fund managers about. Many of my clients already run sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional fund platforms – Luxembourg, the UK, Channel Islands, BVI, Cayman… you name it. What they don’t have is a credible, boots-on-the-ground presence in the Gulf. And that’s where the classic dilemma starts: If you…

𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Periods of political transition often prompt entrepreneurs and families to review existing wealth and succession structures. In the current context in Hungary, we are observing increased reflection among clients and advisers around long-term asset protection, governance, and succession planning, particularly in light of potential regulatory and tax changes. From an intermediary perspective, cross-border…

Cyprus provides a maximum tax rate of only 3% on income earned from IP assets, which is the lowest when compared with its nearest competitors like Belgium 3.75%, Hungary 4.5%, Luxembourg 4.99%, Lithuania 5%, Poland 5%, Ireland 6.25%, Netherlands 9% and lastly France and UK with…

In recent months, geopolitical tension, shifting trade alliances, elections across major economies, and ongoing conflicts have reminded us how interconnected (and fragile) the global economic system truly is. Political decisions made thousands of kilometres away can trigger immediate market volatility, currency swings, capital flow restrictions, and regulatory change. For South African business owners and families,…

1. Why is Switzerland Such an Attractive Location for Corporates? Switzerland is considered an attractive location for corporates for several reasons: Strategic Location: Centrally located in Europe with excellent transport links, including multiple international airports and efficient rail networks, making it an ideal hub for businesses aiming to access EU markets. Innovation and Research: Home to prestigious universities,…

There’s a moment many exceptional crypto investors hit; usually right after their track record becomes impossible to ignore. They’ve generated outstanding returns. They’ve built a sharp process. They’ve survived volatility that wipes out “tourists”. And yet, when they sit across from serious allocators—family offices, professional investors, even smaller institutions—the conversation stalls for one reason: “Where’s the…

Reflecting on SuperYacht Times’s GSS 2025, one question has stayed with me: Is the Gulf’s superyacht sector primarily growing from within, or is it increasingly shaped by internationally travelling yachts? A single statistic from the event captures the current dynamic remarkably well: 39% of yachts in the Gulf fly local flags. Globally, that figure is…

Mauritius continues to stand out as one of the most complete and credible international finance centres. Not because it’s the cheapest, but because it strikes the right balance between robust regulation and commercial practicality. A recent client example highlights why the Global Business Company (GBC) structure remains such a powerful tool. I assisted…

As South African mining houses and mining-services companies push further into the continent, one trend has become increasingly clear: the right corporate and fiduciary structuring is no longer a “nice to have” — it’s a strategic requirement. Expanding into multiple African jurisdictions introduces layers of regulatory, tax, operational, and geopolitical complexity. This is where well-established…

Over the past weeks we had the opportunity to travel across the Gulf region – with meetings in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – speaking with families, investment advisors, tax consultants and legal professionals. Each country has its own vision, pride and rapidly evolving ecosystem. There is a strong sense of national identity and self-reliance: every jurisdiction in the Gulf wants to stand…