Welcome & Introductions
Geoff Kertesz - Partner - Stewarts
Charlotte Fraser - Partner - Farrer & Co
Contentious Trusts Circle Europe
24 April 2025
to 25 April 2025
Le Mirador Resort & Spa, Vevey, Switzerland
The Private Client Contentious Trust Circle Europe is an exclusive TL4 Circle event and is by invitation only. The event is chaired by Geoff Kertesz of Stewarts and Charlotte Fraser of Farrer & Co. Curated by our Advisory Board, this Circle brings together key practitioners focusing on contentious private client work. We have been working with the Co-Chairs and Advisory Board to invite the guests and have put together an agenda entitled: Beyond the Headlines: The Untold Stories of Trusts, Estates, and Litigation. Designed to be interactive and as inclusive as possible, there are no set-piece presentations or panel sessions with the focus on being open discussions.
This exclusive invitation only event, involves facilitated discussions across one and a half days of content.
We have been working with the Co-Chairs and Advisory Board to invite the guests and have put together an agenda entitled: Beyond the Headlines: The Untold Stories of Trusts, Estates, and Litigation. Designed to be interactive and as inclusive as possible, there are no set-piece presentations or panel sessions with the focus on being open discussions.
Introducing the Co-Chairs for 2025: Geoff Kertesz (Stewarts) and Charlotte Fraser (Farrer & Co).
Meet the Advisory Board for 2025: Peter Goddard (IMG Trust), Jonathan Arr (Macfarlanes), Juliet Young (Schillings), Robert Christie (Bedell Cristin) and Jutta Gangsted (Lenz & Staehelin).
The event will run in roundtable formats for interactive discussions whereby we are expecting all attendees to be involved throughout. There will be assigned topic leaders for each session to get the conversation amongst all attendees started.
Given the format this is very much fluid, and we are keen to take suggestions from attendees up until the event itself as to what you would like to have covered.
This Circle is kindly supported by IMG Trust and our chosen charity partner is bigmoose, a mental health charity that provides fast and effective therapy for people who are struggling.
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The event will take place at Le Mirador Resort & Spa, Vevey, Switzerland during 24th - 25th April 2025.
Your attendance includes one night's accomodation on day one, access to all sessions, meals, accommodation and beverages during the dates of the Circle.
Confirmed attendees to the Contentious Trust Circle 2025 are below.
Delegates
Charlotte Fraser
Partner
Farrer & Co
Geoff Kertesz
Partner
Stewarts
Jonathan Arr
Partner
Macfarlanes
Juliet Young
Partner
Schillings
Jutta Gangsted
Senior Associate
Lenz & Staehelin
Bobby Christie
Partner
Bedell Cristin
Felix Neri
Partner
Schifferli
Gemma Willingham
Partner
Baker McKenzie
Sandrine Giroud
Partner
LALIVE
Carlos Ferrer
Partner
Cuatrecasas
Robert Avis
Partner
Charles Russell Speechlys
Francesca Gibbons
Partner
Harneys
Marta Cenini
Partner
Maisto
Natalie Peter
Partner
Blum & Grob
Claire Yorke
Partner
Mishcon de Reya
Abel Lyall
Partner
Mourant
Andrea Mirabella
Senior Associate
GBPL
Caroline Tayler
Partner
Taylor Wessing
Elliott Phillips
Partner
Signature Litigation
Peter Goddard
Head of Private Clients
IMG Trust
Abigail Goddard
In-house Counsel
IMG Trust
Audrey Bertolotti
Partner
Ogier
Guillaume Grisel
Partner
Schellenberg Wittmer
Ruth Hughes KC
Barrister
5 Stone Buildings
Nick Williams
Partner
Ogier
Rachael Mowle
BD & Partnerships Director
TL4
Chloe Lomas
Operations Manager
TL4
Michael Nueber
Partner
NueberKonzett
Monika Byrska
Partner
Howard Kennedy
Jonathan Hilliard KC
Barrister
Wilberforce Chambers
Peter Unwin
Head of Private Wealth
IQ-EQ
Paul Barford
Founder
TL4
Sue Medder
Consultant
TL4
Tracey Neuman
Executive Director
Ocorian
Janice Callander
Director
IQ-EQ
Matthew Brown
Partner
Conyers
David O'Hanlon
Partner
Collas Crill
Zac Hanley
Associate Director
Saffery Trust
Marina Mauger
Director
HFL
Agenda
10:00AM
10:10AM
Session 1: What actually keeps clients up at night? Is what concerns your clients what’s in the headlines? Or is there more to it? Is it simply too early to see any trends, or do trends even exist anymore? Does the answer differ depending on whether you are a non-contentious lawyer or a litigator?
Charlotte Fraser - Partner - Farrer & Co
Geoff Kertesz - Partner - Stewarts
Robert Christie - Partner - Bedell Cristin (Jersey)
11:00AM
Refreshment Break
11:30AM
Interactive Roundtable - Round 1: Global families and dealing with cross-border estates: With UHNW families becoming ever more globalised and spread out across countries, setting up for the next generations has become more complex than ever. In this session, we will examine certain issues and consequences of succession planning for clients who deal with multi-jurisdictional assets and heirs, with a focus on Switzerland, Italy and Liechtenstein.
Michael Nueber - Partner - NueberKonzett
Jutta Gangsted - Associate - Lenz & Staehelin
Marta Cenini - Of Counsel - Maisto
12:20PM
Interactive Roundtable - Round 2: Airing Dirty Laundry: Unpacking Smear Campaigns, Litigation, and Public Perception: In today’s connected world, smear campaigns are a powerful tool for shaping public opinion and pressuring opponents to settle. We examine how these campaigns target reputation to influence perception, with a focus on three key factors: Motive, Means, and Opportunity.
Juliet Young - Partner - Schillings
Sandrine Giroud - Partner - LALIVE
13:10PM
Lunch
14:30PM
Alternative Dispute Resolution (‘ADR’): Debate; does it work or is it just gobbledygook?
Ruth Hughes KC - Barrister - 5 Stone Buildings
Claire Yorke - Partner - Mishcon de Reya
15:20PM
Refreshment Break
15:40PM
It's Not You, it's Me: Denial, anger, and bargaining feature heavily in the complex decision to part ways with a trustee (or advisor!). Are these breakdowns in trust and confidence real, or are they sometimes contrived? Breaking up can be hard to do, and this session takes a practical, hands-on approach to the emotional journey of trust litigation.
Geoff Kertesz - Partner - Stewarts
Charlotte Fraser - Partner - Farrer & Co
16:30PM
Closing remarks from the Chairs - end of day 1
18:00PM
Drinks Reception
19:30PM
Dinner
09:30AM
Morning Refreshments
09:50AM
We Can Work It Out: After loneliness and reflection, there can follow acceptance. How does a new trustee get a fiduciary relationship back on track? Can it ever truly be saved or is the new trustee simply the next head on the chopping block? What are the perils of over-promising? Getting back together may not always be the right choice.
Peter Goddard - Principal - IMG Trust
Peter Unwin - Head of Private Wealth & Family Office, ME - IQ-EQ
10:40AM
Refreshment Break
11.00AM
No Contest Clauses: How do you balance personal freedom against legal safeguards? Are they enforceable – are they a good idea?
Jonathan Arr - Partner - Macfarlanes
Jonathan Hilliard KC - Barrister - Wilberforce Chambers
11.50AM
What actually keeps trustees and advisors up at night? Is it what lawyers and LinkedIn think keeps them up at night? Is there more to life than the Autumn Budget?
Led by the Trustees in the room
12:40PM
Closing remarks from the Co-Chairs & Lunch
Geoff Kertesz - Partner - Stewarts
Charlotte Fraser - Partner - Farrer & Co
Essential Information
Venue
Le Mirador Resort & Spa, Vevey, Switzerland
Chem. de l'Hôtel Mirador 5,
1801 Chardonne,
Switzerland
Accommodation
Accommodation is included in the ticket price for Thursday 24th April only.
Should you not require accommodation please let us know ASAP.
To extend your stay please contact us
Dress Code
Business Casual
Location
Event Location
Contact
Attendance, Booking & Partnership
For enquiries please contact
Rachael Mowle on +44 (0) 20 3398 8560
or email rachael@thoughtleaders4.com
General Queries
For enquiries please contact
Maddi Briggs on +44 (0) 20 3398 8545
or email maddi@thoughtleaders4.com
Partnership
For partnership enquiries please contact
James Baldwin-Webb on +44 (0) 20 3398 8546
or email james@thoughtleaders4.com
Venue & Logistics
For venue & logistics enquiries please contact
Chloe Lomas on +44 (0) 20 30384513
or email chloe.lomas@thoughtleaders4.com