David Cooney > Walkers > St Peter Port, Guernsey > Lawyer Profile
Walkers Offices
12-14 NEW STREET
ST PETER PORT
GY1 2PF
Guernsey
- Firm Profile
- Go to...
David Cooney
Work Department
Private Capital & Trusts
Position
David Cooney is a Group Partner in Walkers’ Guernsey Private Capital & Trusts team specialising in complicated wealth planning structures spanning multiple jurisdictions.
David’s practice focuses primarily on advice to trustees in relation to private client structures with a BVI, Cayman or Guernsey connection. For several years he has also been advising in relation to foundation, trust and company structures holding crypto-currency assets, along with the associated related regulatory issues.
He has almost 20 years’ experience in private practice in Guernsey, Switzerland, England and the Cayman Islands, and is recognised for the quality of his work by Chambers and Partners, Chambers HNW and Legal 500.
David advises trustees, HNWIs and families, family offices and charitable organisations on the use of trust, foundation and private trust company structures for asset protection and succession planning purposes.
David is a UK Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and is also currently a member of the STEP Guernsey Council. He has previously served on the STEP Council in England, the Cayman Islands and Switzerland.
Career
Prior to joining Walkers’ Guernsey team in 2022, David practised with another offshore firm in Guernsey for two years. Before that he was a partner with Charles Russell Speechlys in Zurich for three years, and prior to that he was a partner in an offshore firm in the Cayman Islands, where he worked for five years as head of the Private Client and Trusts Team, for the Caribbean region.
David trained and qualified as an English Solicitor in 2003, and worked for leading regional firms in the UK before moving offshore.
Admitted In:
BVI – 2014
Cayman – 2012
England & Wales – 2003
Lawyer Rankings
Guernsey > Private client, trusts and tax
The team at Walkers advises HNWIs on the structuring of trusts and family offices, with its strong offshore network complementing its Guernsey practice. The firm has also advised on the creation of a number of novel decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO) trusts, which hold digital assets, including cryptocurrencies; this effort is being led by practice head and structuring specialist Rupert Morris, who also handles contentious matters. Rajah Abusrewil advises on all issues related to wealth structuring, and leads the firm’s Jersey private clients team alongside her Guernsey practice. David Cooney advises clients on trust matters, including where cryptocurrency assets are held in trust, and associated regulatory matters.