We are living through an era of profound geopolitical disruption, and its effects are increasingly shaping the planning strategies of both individuals and businesses. Plans that once seemed secure can be overturned overnight, raising the question: are there still reliable geopolitical anchors for structuring personal and corporate futures? This session explores flexible, cross-jurisdictional planning, including strategies for relocating assets, managing tax implications, and structuring plans for both temporary relocation and eventual return. Advisers will learn where assets should be held, how to maintain continuity amid political upheaval, and how to help clients protect wealth and corporate interests while remaining agile in a rapidly shifting global landscape. 

Trusts and foundations are under increasing attack, from spousal claims in divorce and beneficiary actions to forced heirship challenges and creditor claims. At the same time, courts (particularly those less familiar with trust planning) are recasting standard provisions as suspicious or extraordinary. Cross-border exposure adds further risk, with mismatches in legal frameworks, public policy, and tax regimes across jurisdictions. This area of law is evolving rapidly, and not for the better. The risks extend beyond outcomes to the litigation process itself, including expansive disclosure obligations, the fiduciary exception to privilege, foreign discovery tools such as Section 1782, and stark differences in privilege regimes - especially in civil law systems. 

While this is not a litigation forum, it is critical for advisers to understand these risks early. This session brings a litigation-informed perspective to the planning table, highlighting where challenges are arising and why. 

Some families don’t just preserve wealth: they have to rebuild it. Whether from business failure, relocation, asset loss, divorce, or personal tragedy, setbacks often carry financial, reputational, legal, and human costs, with impacts that can ripple across generations. This session explores how planning can help families withstand shocks and recover. We will examine family governance frameworks, constitutions, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, liquidity planning, and emergency response strategies. 

Every major art collection presents some level of provenance, condition, or documentation challenge. This session provides practical guidance for trusted advisors on identifying and addressing common issues before they derail planned sales, charitable gifts, estate distributions, or other collection-related transactions. 

Protector powers have evolved, raising key questions for modern trust drafting. What are the implications of wide versus narrow powers? Does silence in the trust deed imply broad authority? How should deadlock scenarios be managed, and should protectors now be treated as fiduciaries? This session explores the practical and legal consequences of these developments. 

How many wills are enough? This session explores the challenges of planning across jurisdictions, including local versus foreign assets and the complexities posed by civil law systems such as Roman law. 

As trusts, foundations, and hybrid structures evolve, this session explores their comparative advantages, emerging trends, and the rise of alternatives such as the Dubai foundation. 

We are seeing a lot of talk of the rise of socialism and the failures of capitalism worldwide. This session sees the return of our popular debate, this time examining how these issues affect our clients and practices.  

The AI debate may feel repetitive, but its implications for legal practice are profound. This session goes beyond theory to explore how lawyers can harness AI ethically and efficiently, improving client service, embracing technological change, and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape. At the same time, we will examine the new risks AI introduces: clients checking advice on tools like ChatGPT, questions around privilege and confidentiality, and emerging issues that many have yet to anticipate. This is a practical discussion about balancing opportunity, responsibility, and professional protection in the age of AI. 

When capacity is challenged, the stakes can be high. This session explores how influence can be misused, from undue influence and gaslighting to fraudulent calumny, elder abuse, and the coercive impact of cults on mental capacity. Drawing on real-world war stories and highlighting differences between common law and civil law approaches, we examine how advisers can spot, prevent, and respond to attempts to weaponize vulnerability. 

In a world reshaped by conflict, sanctions, and political uncertainty, jurisdictions are competing aggressively to attract wealthy individuals and families. This session explores how newer jurisdictions (from New Zealand to the Cook Islands and beyond) position themselves through lifestyle offerings, tax incentives, legal frameworks, and the perceived strength of the rule of law. We will examine the strategies driving this “race for the wealthy,” the opportunities these emerging jurisdictions present, and the practical risks advisers need to navigate. From privacy and asset protection to regulatory compliance and reputational considerations, this session provides insights to help clients move, and thrive, safely in an increasingly complex global landscape. 

This session explores how parties may attempt to limit full disclosure in divorce proceedings, with a focus on trusts, foundations, and cross-border issues. We will examine asset protection strategies, heirs’ rights, and approaches in key jurisdictions such as Italy and France, including clawback risks and the treatment of foundations. 

We often ask clients how they want to use their wealth, and they frequently have no idea. When wealth exceeds need, what are they creating? Many turn to philanthropy not purely out of altruism, but to avoid spoiling their children, bypass family tensions, or navigate forced heirship rules. This session explores how giving is shaped across jurisdictions, from cultural norms to legal constraints, and how advisers can guide clients toward meaningful impact - even when motives are mixed. 

Tax and personal planning can be upended by family disputes that spill into litigation. Inheritance rifts or clashes over family wealth management often force disclosures that catch the eye of tax authorities, turning a private conflict into audits, assessments, and potential erosion of family wealth. The Bettencourt affair (also the subject of a Netflix series) is a cautionary tale: once intimate facts go public, control is lost. Even when you are convinced you are in the right, it is essential to consider the potential tax repercussions before initiating legal action. In some cases, avoiding litigation may be the wisest choice to prevent collateral damage that could ultimately prove more harmful than the dispute itself.