Protecting and preserving assets for generations to come

How to protect international assets for children and grandchildren was uppermost in the mind of an hotelier who came to Charlotte Thornton-Smith and her corporate team for help in establishing a Family Investment Company (FIC).

The family owns assets around the world but are based in the East Midlands – with considerable wealth to protect and preserve for generations to come, they were referred to Charlotte by a fellow professional who knew the team’s expertise in this area.

Charlotte said: “This is quite a complex situation, with a number of FICs and discretionary trusts, all of which are set up to ensure that the family’s assets will pass eventually to their grandchildren; the mother and father hold the shares in trust for the children, and the grandchildren will eventually benefit from those.

“This is quite a long-term arrangement with a valuable asset base; it is a good way to minimise tax and ensure that assets are passed on. For us, it brings together our corporate expertise and our considerable strength in private client law, and is an excellent example of how that combination can support family enterprises.”