Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP

Maurice Turnor Gardner (MTG) is a specialist law firm advising private clients, families, trustees and their advisers on complex, high-value matters, from succession and tax to trusts, immigration, philanthropy, real estate and disputes.

Based in London with an international reach, MTG combines technical excellence with measured, responsive service.

Known for discretion, clarity, and for being quietly trusted by those with the most at stake, MTG focuses exclusively on private client work.  It’s not part of what we do, it is all we do.

Types of work undertaken

Personal tax, trusts and probate: The team advises on estate and succession planning to protect and preserve assets ranging from privately owned companies, real estate and liquid assets to racehorses, yachts, planes and art. Owing to the nature of our client base, we have particular experience of complex (often cross border), high-profile and high-value probates which frequently have cross-jurisdictional features. We also advise on the issues surrounding intestacy, post-death variations and the tax implications of post-death arrangements. We are able to help individuals and attorneys with Lasting Powers of Attorney and if necessary, Court of Protection applications. In addition, we provide international clients with advice on pre-arrival planning and on exit strategies, and wealthy individuals and trustees with advice on UK taxation, particularly the treatment of individuals who are not long-term resident. Trustees and beneficiaries also seek advice from us on their powers, duties and rights under all forms of trust structures, both onshore and offshore.

Contentious trusts/dispute resolution:  The team acts for trustees, beneficiaries and members of ultra high net worth families in complex, high-value disputes relating to trusts, estates and divorce, in the UK and offshore. Additionally we advise across the spectrum of contentious work including trustees seeking to avoid litigation, applications for directions, applications for removal of trustees and claims for breach of trust or fiduciary duty.  We assist trustees, family members and others to pre-empt, avoid and where necessary resolve difficulties and disharmony, including family governance/family charters.  Our advice is also sought by commercial/corporate trustees involved in disputes, advising on trustees’ duties and liabilities arising under commercial trusts.

Real estate:  The team advises on high value and complex residential property matters for private clients focusing on high value acquisitions and disposals of prime and super prime residential property (from listed to new build) as well as corporate entities holding high value residential property. The team also provides advice on leasehold enfranchisement and lease extensions.

Philanthropy and charity: The team is often instructed by philanthropists in connection with the creation and funding of charities and the appropriate charitable vehicle (including DAFs), ensuring the fiscal efficiency of the structure and donations, and the benefits of dual-registered charities in an international context. We also advise charities themselves on day-to-day management and governance issues, such as appropriate policies, conflicts of interest, grant-making in both the UK and internationally, tax and trustee protection. We advise trustees on their powers and duties; the regulatory environment within which charities operate and on engagement with the regulators. This includes assisting where things go wrong, ranging from serious incident reporting to statutory inquiries. We also advise on legal issues for banks and corporates entering into contractual arrangements with charity counterparties, and on CSR programmes and charitable giving.

Immigration: The team advises on all aspects of the immigration process for individuals, from assessing and compiling applications through to obtaining the relevant permissions for clients to come to the UK under family routes, the global talent and innovator routes and the student and graduate routes, and consideration of solutions for clients’ whose circumstances require applications to be made outside the rules. The team also has experience of advising clients in relation to visa refusals, including addressing these through administrative review and tribunal appeals, as well as applications for indefinite leave to remain and British nationality issues.  We also advise corporate clients on skilled worker sponsorship licence applications for employers and provide support and advice on sponsor duties.