About
Sophie advises on the issues that arise in preserving and transferring wealth across generations and borders. Sophie's practice has two core areas of focus. The first is acting as a trusted advisor and general counsel to individuals, trustees, family offices and owner-managed businesses on succession structuring, governance, lifetime planning and the structuring of private business assets. This work encompasses the creation, maintenance and winding up of trusts and associated structures, as well as navigating family relationship dynamics and next generation integration which accompany long-term wealth stewardship.
The second specialism is cross-border succession and estates. Sophie regularly advises individuals and families on international estate planning and the preparation of complex cross-border Wills, together with associated tax advice. She has particular expertise in both the administration of estates with UK-Swiss-US-European connections, including where there may be disputes, as well as with lasting powers of attorney and helping families plan for the management of difficult decisions.
Sophie is admitted to practice in England & Wales and as a foreign lawyer to the EU list of the supervisory commission of lawyers for the canton of Geneva and the Swiss Federation. She is based in our Geneva office. Sophie is TEP qualified and on the Committee of the STEP Geneva Branch. She launched the STEP Geneva NextGen networking initiative in 2024.
Experience
- Establishing and implementing trust and family governance structures
- Advising on global succession issues concerning cross-border estates
- ‘Health-checking’ structures, particular on transitions of management, to ensure they are fit-for-purpose for globally mobile families across multiple generations
- Preparing a range of Wills and other testamentary documents, particularly with Anglo/Swiss connections
- Advising on matters of jurisdiction, applicable law and recognition of succession matters
