Former Head of Tax & Trusts at Wilsons, Matthew Bennett, joins Fladgate

As part of the strategic plan to further expand its tax and private capital practice, Fladgate has announced the appointment of private client specialist, Matthew Bennett.  Matthew joined in January from Wilsons, where he was head of the tax and trusts group and had been a partner since 2006.

Matthew specialises in advising business owners and entrepreneurs on the management of their wealth and personal affairs.  He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and has previously sat on the Camelot panel advising National Lottery winners.

Matthew’s expertise is recognised by the Legal 500 and the Citywealth Guide and he was included in the 2012 Top 50 of the most influential private client practitioners, published by Private Client Practitioner magazine.

Private capital is a significant contributor to Fladgate’s business, with the firm’s income stream split approximately 50:50 between private wealth and institutional stakeholders.  The firm’s private capital client base comprises: individuals and families with significant personal assets, domiciled and non-domiciled; entrepreneurs and family businesses; international trust companies; fund managers; trustees of family and charitable trusts; and personal representatives of substantial estates.

Commenting on the appointment, Fladgate’s chairman Charles Wander said:  “Many of our private capital clients are first and second generation entrepreneurs who instruct us on their commercial affairs and also look to us for advice on tax, estate planning, cross-border succession and a range of other issues including disputes arising over family wealth and matters such as structuring the ownership of family businesses.  Matthew’s appointment, which takes the number of partners in the group to six, will add strength and depth to the range of services we are able to offer and we are delighted to welcome him to the firm.”

Matthew added: “In addition to joining a thriving private capital practice, Fladgate’s considerable expertise in complementary areas offers an exciting opportunity for me to further develop my client base.”

Experience

• Advising the trustees of a UK family trust holding trading assets worth approximately £50m on their duties and responsibilities.
• Advising non-domiciled individuals regarding valuable London residential property, and implementing holding structures.
• Advising in connection with the migration of three Liechtenstein Foundations to Jersey.
• Acting in relation to the estate of a UK resident and domiciled property entrepreneur and advising the family on executors’ trading responsibilities, reorganisation of the family company and the use of trusts to protect the family’s wealth.
• Advising the majority shareholder of both a substantial private trading and an investment company on strategies for transferring his interests down the generations.
• Advising a non-resident individual on the use of the UK/Swiss double tax treaty.