A personal and practical perspective on responding to political instability, protecting family interests and preparing for sudden change

• How families need to respond to an ever-changing political climate, regulatory landscape and global alliances
• How to pivot, restructure and make momentous change in trust structures and what changes should we be looking at to ensure we are prepared for the unexpected
• The appeal of 'alternative' v 'traditional' trust jurisdictions
• Global mobility and relocation: exit taxation and the mechanics of actually severing a residence and the gap between where the structure sits and where the family now lives, and how quickly that gap becomes a tax problem

A debate looking at whether the changes playing out in North America mean that international families can no longer rely on it as a politically stable option.

Proposed motion: This house believes that the United States can no longer be relied upon as a politically stable home for international family wealth

• Political, immigration and regulatory unpredictability, and how families are pricing it
• Protectionism and changing international relationships
• Evidence of movement: are assets and families actually leaving, or is this adviser anecdote?
• Estate tax exposure on US situs assets as the standing objection, and how well it is managed in practice
• Whether the alternatives are genuinely safer or merely differently risky

Breakout A: Private equity and the fiduciary industry 
How longer lives are reshaping estate planning, trusts, succession and generational wealth transfer. As life expectancy increases, particularly among wealthy families, traditional estate plans face new pressures. Trusts may need to operate for decades longer than intended, wealth transfers can create unexpected dependency risks, and long-term capacity planning becomes increasingly important. This session explores how advisers can adapt strategies designed around death to meet the realities of longevity. 

Breakout B: Intergenerational change and wealth transfer 
Regional political and economic developments, relocation trends and lessons from families accustomed to navigating instability. 

• Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Colombia: what changed in the last 24 months that actually affects planning
• Brazil’s Law 14,754/2023 as a case study in unilateral domestic change reaching existing offshore structures and trusts
• Uruguay, Paraguay, Panama, the US, Portugal, Spain and Italy as receiving jurisdictions: tax holidays, substance, and the second move
• Splitting a family across three jurisdictions: tax residence, forced heirship exposure, governance and who signs what

Breakout C: Modern Families, Parentage and Succession 
How evolving family structures are reshaping succession and trust planning across jurisdictions. As concepts of parentage, gender, surrogacy and family continue to develop, traditional definitions of heirs and beneficiaries are increasingly being tested. This session explores the legal and practical challenges these changes create for estate planning, trust structures and cross-border succession. 

Rachael Reynolds KC, Partner, Ogier
Humberto Sanches, Managing Partner, Humberto Sanches + Associados

Rachael Reynolds KC, Partner, Ogier
Humberto Sanches, Managing Partner, Humberto Sanches + Associados

• Divorce and prenups
• Succession without clear or accepted heirs
• Capacity, illness or death
• Kidnapping, theft and personal security
• Reputational crises and family scandals
• Building the right advisory team before a crisis occurs

• Fraud and cyberattacks
• AI, deepfakes and data breaches
• Insolvency
• Corporate governance and regulatory enforcement
• Litigation
• Protecting critical assets and information
• Maintaining continuity when a key institution or adviser fails

An application to amend a trust in light of unforeseen political events in North America

Breakout A: Private equity and the fiduciary industry 
The fiduciary sector is experiencing increasing private equity investment, market consolidation and evolving ownership models. While some view these developments as a source of innovation, capital and growth, others have concerns about independence, client service and long-term stewardship. This session explores the opportunities and risks of private equity involvement in the trust and fiduciary industry, and examines the practical impact on families, trustees and advisers. 

Breakout B: Intergenerational change and wealth transfer 
How the priorities, values and expectations of younger generations are reshaping wealth transfer strategies. From changing attitudes towards taxation, philanthropy and family businesses to differing views on ownership, succession and stewardship, families are increasingly navigating competing priorities across generations. This session explores the practical challenges and opportunities these shifts create for estate planning, trusts and long-term family governance. 

Breakout C: Forced heirship and cross-border succession 
A comparative discussion of forced heirship, undue influence and succession disputes across Latin American, US and offshore jurisdictions. 

Option One - Mexican Cooking Class
Option Two - Tequila Tasting

Breakout chairs to relay key points from their discussions

• Important recent cases from around the globe
• Legislative and regulatory developments
• Emerging cross-border private client issues
• Practical implications for families and advisers

• Where families and advisers are seeing positive change
• New opportunities created by technology and global mobility
• How thoughtful planning can increase resilience
• What the private client community can take forward from the conference

Rachael Reynolds KC, Partner, Ogier
Humberto Sanches, Managing Partner, Humberto Sanches + Associados