Assets Held Directly With No Structural Protection: Directly held assets are exposed to personal liability, succession disputes, and forced heirship claims.
Trusts, Foundations & Private Wealth Structuring
Trusts, Foundations & Private Wealth Structuring
Protect What You've Built
Private wealth structures require more than legal documentation. They require clarity of intent, the right jurisdictional fit, and governance that can survive the complexity of multi-jurisdictional families, blended assets, and varying succession regimes.
Trust Structuring & Establishment
Control Without Direct Ownership
We advise on the design and establishment of discretionary and fixed trusts, purpose trusts, and hybrid structures suited to the specific objectives of the settlor. Jurisdiction selection takes into account asset types, beneficiary locations, tax exposure, and the regulatory environment governing trustees.
Assets Held Directly With No Structural Protection: Directly held assets are exposed to personal liability, succession disputes, and forced heirship claims.
Trust Established in the Wrong Jurisdiction: A trust governed by laws that do not interact well with beneficiary jurisdictions creates succession and tax complications.
Letter of Wishes That Does Not Reflect Current Intentions: An outdated letter of wishes constrains trustee discretion in ways that no longer reflect your intentions.
Trustee Selected Without Understanding Their Obligations: A trustee who does not understand fiduciary duties creates regulatory exposure for the entire structure.
Foundations & Civil Law Alternatives
The Right Vehicle for Your Jurisdiction
For clients whose assets, residency, or succession planning has a civil law dimension, common law trusts are not always the right vehicle. We advise on foundations in jurisdictions including the UAE, Liechtenstein, and the Cayman Islands.
Common Law Trust Not Recognised in the Beneficiary's Jurisdiction: French, Swiss, and other civil law jurisdictions do not recognise common law trusts without careful structuring.
Forced Heirship Rules Threatening to Override Your Intentions: Civil law forced heirship rules can override trust arrangements for assets connected to civil law jurisdictions.
Foundation Without a Functioning Council: A foundation without properly appointed governance and documented decision-making is legally fragile.
No Protector Providing Independent Oversight: Structures without a protector have no independent check on trustee discretion that sophisticated beneficiaries expect.
Private Wealth Holding Structures
Wealth That Holds Across Generations
Beyond the trust or foundation itself, the underlying holding architecture matters. We design the layers beneath the private wealth vehicle: operating companies, SPVs, family investment vehicles, and the interfaces between them.
Trading Assets Held Directly in the Trust: Holding trading assets and real estate directly in a trust creates tax inefficiency that sub-holding vehicles eliminate.
Family Investment Company With No Governance: A family investment company without documented governance is a vehicle for future disputes, not long-term wealth management.
Personal Tax Not Integrated With the Structure: A structure designed without reference to the settlor's personal tax position creates reporting exposures that undermine its efficiency.
Real Estate Held Without Asset-Specific SPVs: Real estate held directly in a holding structure creates liability contamination and complicates every eventual disposal.
Who We Work With
HNWIs, Families, and Principals
HNWIs and family offices with cross-border asset bases, multi-jurisdictional families, and clients navigating succession across civil and common law regimes.
HNWIs With Multi-Jurisdictional Asset Bases: Clients with assets, business interests, and family members across different legal systems requiring structures that hold together.
Multi-Jurisdictional Families Navigating Succession: Families where assets, beneficiaries, and succession regimes span both civil and common law jurisdictions.
Clients Restructuring Existing Wealth Structures: HNWIs whose existing trusts or foundations no longer reflect current assets, family circumstances, or jurisdictional realities.
Why Bolster Group
We combine deep jurisdiction knowledge with hands-on execution — so structure, banking, and compliance work together from day one.
Mastering Complexity
We navigate intricate global challenges with precision, ensuring your business thrives in any environment.
Confidence in Expertise
Backed by decades of experience, we provide strategic solutions tailored to your unique needs.
Global Reach, Local Insight
Operating across key markets, we bridge international expertise with deep local understanding to drive success.