Charles Russell Speechlys announces its new Head of Private Office

Charles Russell Speechlys today announces the appointment of Marcus Yorke-Long as Head of the Firm’s Private Office. Marcus joins Charles Russell Speechlys from Barclays Private Bank and will be based in the Firm’s London office. His appointment is a further marker of the Firm’s strategic intent to cater for the changing demands of its private capital clients and their businesses ahead of the official launch in September.

Charles Russell Speechlys' Private Office is a direct response to the Firm’s client listening project, which demonstrated its clients’ need and desire for the Firm to be strategically aligned with them and their businesses.

The premise of Charles Russell Speechlys' Private Office is centred around a highly sophisticated team focusing on new and existing clients' private and business aspirations and how the Firm can best service their global assets. The team’s collective expertise, across multiple sectors, provides a different perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing clients.

Once established, Charles Russell Speechlys’ Private Office has a growth plan to recruit a wider team from differing sectors and jurisdictions, including Real Estate and Luxury and expand in Asia to enable the team to hold the broadest client conversations.

Marcus has over 15 years of industry experience in the finance sector, advising large family offices, with structures valued in the £500m+ region, on how to best service their global assets and corporate exposures. His previous experience is entrenched with financial principles and his strength lies in his existing relationship management excellence and understanding of the nuances of working with clients on a long-term, intergenerational basis.

At Charles Russell Speechlys, Marcus will lead the Private Office team’s strategic development and oversee the Firm’s market-leading network of support for global Family Offices, alongside the wider Private Office team, which includes Lord Andrew Hay, Chairman of the Private Office and Camilla Sadler, Head of Global Family Relationships, Private Office.

Simon Ridpath, Managing Partner at Charles Russell Speechlys, comments:

"I am delighted to welcome Marcus to the Firm. Charles Russell Speechlys’ Private Office will attract new global families to the Firm who value broad conversations across sectors, territories, and generations. It's an exciting time of growth for the Firm and adding Marcus's skillset to our relationship expertise will be a fantastic fit within the team."

Lord Andrew Hay, Chairman of Charles Russell Speechlys' Private Office, comments:

“I am excited that Marcus Yorke-Long has joined us as Head of Charles Russell Speechlys' Private Office.  A key progression in the development of Charles Russell Speechlys’ global Private Office network.  A new enterprise for a UK law firm in response to our clients, many of whom seek strategic conversations beyond law as they grow and evolve their Private Capital strategies across territories and generations. 

“With over 15 years in Financial Services and Banking, Marcus brings a wealth of expertise which complements the Corporate, Real Estate, Investments of Passion and Philanthropic aspirations of many of our global Private Capital clients. Marcus has an impressive track record and has the EQ so important to the Firm, enabling us to truly understand and guide our clients, with a strong sense of excellent service.”

Marcus Yorke-Long, Head of Charles Russell Speechlys' Private Office, adds:

“I am thrilled to be joining as Head of Charles Russell Speechlys' Private Office and look forward to working alongside Andy, Camilla, and the wider team to execute the Firm’s Private Capital strategy. The Firm’s values align with my own principles and client proposition, and together with the support of the team, I look forward to furthering the private and business aspirations of Charles Russell Speechlys' global clients and raising the bar of what is expected from traditional services in this sector.”

Related coverage:

EPrivateClient (paywalled), New Law Journal, International Adviser, Solicitors Journal (paywalled)