FIDUCIARY MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

The team is split between our offices in Switzerland and the Isle of Man. CM Skye is therefore free to select the right legal jurisdiction for the client’s needs, without compromising on our core operational support standards. We operate our own trust companies and corporate service providers and/or we work with other service providers in all of the main offshore and onshore financial centres around the world to ensure timely and professional execution of client business.

The primary legal forms with which we work are set out below. These are the building blocks of a strategy which, when used in the right way, create the overall ownership environment delivering the desired benefits, whether tax mitigation, asset protection, succession planning or otherwise.

Trusts: there are several types of trust each with its own tax or other planning benefits, the main ones being: discretionary, life interest, fixed interest, charitable and purpose trusts, life insurance trusts, trading trusts, asset protection trusts, private unit trusts and pension trusts. We work with them all, acting as trustees and as protector or enforcer as required.

The trust concept has evolved under principals of English common law and equity over hundreds of years and carries great certainty of treatment under jurisdictions following English law principles. It is a proven and established mechanism for owning, holding and protecting assets internationally and through which to engage in tax and estate planning as part of a broader wealth ownership strategy. For further information please ask for "CM Notes – Trusts for Private Clients".

Companies and Partnerships: again, these legal forms take many shapes and include: private and public companies, limited liability and limited life companies, guarantee and hybrid companies, international companies, IBCs, corporations, holding companies, non resident and dual resident companies, investment fund companies and general partner companies, private trust companies, general partnerships, limited partnerships and LLPs structured both as investment funds and as private trading partnerships.

These legal forms can be created in a vast number of jurisdictions each with its own twist or difference and can be moulded to each specific situation which commonly includes:

Investment Holdings: whether shares in operating businesses, financial portfolios, real estate, works of art or otherwise.

Joint Holdings: the use of a company provides a flexible method for two or more individuals or corporates to own a single asset or group of assets.

International Trading: where cross border activity opens up opportunities such as to act as intermediary service providers, paying or collection agencies, financing arrangements or the purchase and leasing of capital investments.

Management Advisory/Consultancy Services: passing the contractual relationships for such services through legal structures, isolating legal rights and obligations and the revenues that go with them.

Aviation and Shipping: using general purpose vehicles for on or off balance sheet financing, lease back or charter of private craft or commercial craft, and for employing crew and other support infrastructure, including ship and aircraft management.

Royalty and Licensing Fees: planning for revenue flows arising from intellectual property, such as copyrights, patents, designs, computer software programmes and technical know-how, including the exploitation of "image rights" by international celebrities.

Finance and Insurance: using legal vehicles for routing loan financing and providing collateral, as well as for holding and managing credit rights and insurances of all kinds.

Captive Insurance: using legal vehicles to act as captive insurance providers where risks can be efficiently insured either on a self assured basis or under re-insurance arrangements, with additional tax and business efficiency benefits to the client.