The word trust travels easily between English and Spanish. The institution it names does not. Colombia has answered the difficulty by statute, most recently by decree in May 2026, while Spain answers it through administrative practice alone. What follows examines why the fiducia mercantil is not a trust, and what a patrimonio autónomo means for a family with a member resident in London.
Continue Reading Neither fiducia nor fideicomiso is a trust. A Colombian and Spanish perspective
Malaysia rewards a second look from internationally mobile clients. A territorial tax system, no estate or general capital gains tax, a foreign-income exemption now extended to 2036, a mature double tax treaty with the United Kingdom, four residence routes and a natural fit with the Gulf, assessed by a dual-qualified barrister and Spanish abogado.
In the High Court in London, or the Audiencia Nacional in Madrid, there is a dress code. It is unspoken, yet strictly enforced by the collective gaze of the bench, the bar, and the public gallery. Most advisers will give you the standard script: “Wear a dark suit.
Continue Reading The Theatre of the Law: Should You Really Dress Like You’re Innocent?
Your life crosses borders. A home in London, another in Andalusia, children settled in the Gulf, a business with operations in three countries, a will that works under English law but not in Spain. You are bouncing between advisers who rarely speak to each other. After twenty-five years between London, Madrid and the GCC, I write here for you — about the human side of cross-border life, and how the law can serve it.
Continue Reading Welcome to The International Private Client
For centuries Colombian emeralds have symbolised status and beauty, adorning the crowns of royalty and the collections of the world’s most discerning connoisseurs. In recent years that perception has shifted. Beyond their aesthetic allure, fine Colombian emeralds are now recognised as a sophisticated investment asset class. Ultra-high-net-worth investors and family
Continue Reading Colombian Emeralds: From Emotion to Allocation to Compliance — A Cross-Border Guide for International Private Clients
When families begin planning for the future, the discussion often starts: and unfortunately ends: with legal documents, tax structures, and asset protection. Don’t get me wrong, these are the essential “bones” of any succession plan. Without them, the skeleton collapses. But they are only part of a much larger, more
Continue Reading Is Succession Planning Just About Legal Documents and Tax?