The Private Client Conference at Scots Law 2024

Murrayfield Stadium is the venue for the next event in our Scots Law Conference Series, exclusively available to delegates in person on the day.

We are delighted to welcome Martin Campbell of Anderson Strathern who will be chairing our new Private Client Conference which will include a range of practical topics from the impact of recent legislation on trusts and executries and how to deal with digital assets to resolving legal rights disputes and how best to support clients experiencing grief.

Martin will be joined by a panel of expert speakers including Sarah-Jane Macdonald of Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie, Stuart Mackie from Thorntons, Lisa Flaherty of Anderson Strathern, Nick Holroyd from Terra Firma Chambers, Title Research's Simon Barber and Daniel Hough of RBC Brewin Dolphin.

Early booking is strongly advised for this popular event.

Questions to be considered will include

• what are the key means of resolving legal rights disputes?
• how do you deal with digital assets in estate administration?
• what are the current pitfalls to avoid when dealing with executries?
• is the Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024 worth the wait?
• what use is genealogy in executries?
• how can you best support grieving clients?

Legal rights - balancing the emotional and the practical

This session will look at some of the key issues that disgruntled parties face when discovering they’ve been left out of a will, balancing the emotional (whether it is hurt feelings, managing expectations or resentment) with the practical resolutions we need to consider. It will look at some of the key means of resolving legal rights disputes and case studies.

Sarah-Jane Macdonald, Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie

Digital assets in succession planning and estate administration

With digital assets becoming commonplace and increasing numbers of clients investing in digital assets, particularly crypto assets, this session will guide you through the main issues that digital assets give rise to in relation to succession planning and provide practical tips for dealing with digital assets in estate administration.

Stuart Mackie, Thorntons

My clients are giving me GRIEF!

The world of private client work rubs shoulders very closely with grief, loss and bereavement. This session will explore and provoke some thinking around how we can best support our clients, with understanding, empathy and compassion, where they are bereaved or life planning in anticipation of death.

Nicola Reed, Cruse Scotland

Executries – the practical considerations

In addition to covering the practical points arising from recent legislation, Lisa will also be covering practical planning points and pitfalls to avoid when dealing with executries. Relevant tax issues that need to be taken into consideration will also be discussed.

Lisa Flaherty, Anderson Strathern

Genealogy and risk management

• What use is genealogy in executries?
• Common issues that a genealogist can help with
• Is genealogy expensive?
• Missing beneficiary indemnity insurance
• How are heir hunters different from probate genealogists?
• The risks associated with commission fees

Simon Barber, Title Research

School fees financial planning

Educating our next generation is a top priority, however funding private education is becoming more difficult. We will discuss long term strategies and solutions together with challenges facing the education sector, particularly with the VAT increase and the upcoming Autumn Budget.

Daniel Hough, RBC Brewin Dolphin

Trusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024: worth the wait?

This session considers some of the key features of the 2024 Act for private client practitioners, including what the 2024 Act covers and what it doesn’t. It refers to some pitfalls for private client practitioners and also mentions some practical tips. Some further possible developments in trust law will also be outlined.

Nick Holroyd, Terra Firma Chambers

This event is sponsored by Title Research