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Gilly Kennedy-Smith

Gilly Kennedy-Smith

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Mourant

Mourant

Guernsey

1

Private client, trusts and tax

Mourant fields ‘one of the top offshore private wealth teams’ in Guernsey, overseeing the structuring, restructuring and termination of trusts and advising trustees on their administrative and fiduciary duties, while working alongside the firm’s disputes team to tackle contentious trust matters, including attempts to remove trustees or vary trust instruments. Practice head Gilly Kennedy-Smith is well versed in the structuring of trusts and succession plans in addition to related tax matters. Lorcan Higgins joined the team from Australia’s Mills Oakley in September 2024, handling the formation and restructuring of Guernsey trusts. Alexander Hawkins departed the firm in March 2026.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
mourant.com

Profile

Work Department
International Trusts and Private Client
Position

Gilly heads up Mourant's award winning Trusts and Private Client team in Guernsey and has nearly two decades of experience in both London and offshore.

Gilly advises international high net worth families, trust companies and family offices on the establishment, restructuring and management of family asset holding vehicles as well as estate and succession planning, with a focus on achieving private wealth objectives by thoughtful planning and governance. While her clients are global she has particular experience working with Middle Eastern, Swiss and UK connected clients. She frequently works with advisors in other jurisdictions to build coherent succession solutions for clients, that work for successive generations of the family.

Gilly is individually ranked in the Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide in Offshore: Trusts, listed as a Global Elite - Lawyer in the Private Client Global Elite Directory and ranked as a Leading Individual in Legal 500 UK.

She is a regular speaker in Guernsey and beyond, as well as having published a number of articles for international publication.

In 2024, Gilly was appointed International Correspondent for Private Client Business, the leading journal for those involved with private client work.

Career

Gilly has been on two secondments to trust companies, giving her practical experience of the issues facing the advisory team. She has been a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and sit on the Guernsey branch technical committee.

Memberships
  • Law Society of England & Wales, (currently non-practising), 2006
  • STEP member, since 2011
  • ATT member, since 2018
  • STEP Guernsey Branch Committee Member, since 2022
  • Guernsey Bar, 2023
Education
  • Solicitor in England & Wales (currently non-practising), 2006
  • STEP (Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners - diploma), 2011
  • STEP Advanced Offshore Certificate in Company Law & Practice, 2014
  • STEP Advanced Certificate in UK Tax for International Clients, 2015
  • Tax Technician (Association of Tax Technicians - diploma), 2018
  • Advocate of the Royal Court of Guernsey, 2023

Content supplied by Mourant

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The team is thorough, approachable, and are largely happy to explain things in granular detail. They take great efforts to get to know the clients, and also the people they are working with. They are excellent at communication and set realistic time frames for results.’

    ‘Gilly Kennedy-Smith exudes confidence in herself and the team around her.’

    ‘Gilly Kennedy Smith is very friendly, connects the person with the correct expertise, has good knowledge on the subject matter, strives for results and is a good positive role model.’

    ‘The team is approachable, articulate and has an understanding of the commercial implications of its advice, which is always appreciated.’

    ‘They are excellent - one of the top offshore private wealth teams operating internationally. Led by Gilly Kennedy-Smith, you can expect a superb technical team and brilliantly well connected with incredible clients.’

    ‘Gilly Kennedy-Smith is best in class in the Channel Islands. Simple as that, she is a superb private wealth lawyer and unlike many competitors' leading partners, she has a very strong technical tax background given her previous UK domestic career. In my view, Gilly is the best private wealth lawyer that you can get in the Channel Islands, that is no understatement.’