Trusts & Wealth
Success Using Trusts For Wealth
De-mystifying Trusts & Trust Planning
30 Years of Global Trust Practical Expertise
The Use and Evolution of Trusts and Foundations is a Special Interest.
Historical Evolution Of Trusts
There are a wide variety of trusts with many common names but the essence of the trust lies in the principles of equity which were developed in the Courts of Chancery. This was a court set up separately from the existing court system by the King.
The court would listen to claims based on fairness or what was equitable. These maxims gradually became to be known as the principles of equity and the concept of a trust was established in England.
Why Successful Clients
Use Goldman Law?
Full Court Finds No Error In An Interim Injunction To Preserve Assets
Keywords: Interim Injunctions; Jurisdiction, Binding Financial Agreements; Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) Background In Teh & Muir [2015] FamCAFC 224 (2 December 2015), the Full Court heard an appeal by a 36-year-old Ms. Tey against an interim
Read time : 3 minutes, 36 seconds
Adjustment in Favour of Wife in Property Proceedings Notwithstanding t
Key Words: property proceedings; contributions; section 75(2) of the Family Law Act; In the recent Family Court of Western Australia case of Telfer [2016] FCWA 2 (4 January 2016), Walters J had to consider a seven-year marriage where there was two
Read time : 2 minutes, 15 seconds
Court Adjusts Contributions in a Long-Term De Facto Relationship where
Keywords: property; settlement; de facto; section 75(2); section 79; initial contribution; financial contribution; other factors. The case of Marks & Xander [2016] FCCA 282 (15 February 2016), was a property settlement matter between separated de facto
Read time : 4 minutes, 15 seconds
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“Tax Disputes Law Firm” (2021)
“International Tax Firm Of The Year” (2018)
“International Tax Law Firm Of The Year” (2017)
OUR Local LEADERSHIP TEAM
Servicing The Greater Sydney Region
Jaswinder (Jas) Sekhon
Senior Lawyer & Principal
Australia | London | Dubai
Jaswinder (Jas) Sekhon
Senior Lawyer & Principal
Australia | London | Dubai
For over 30 years, Jaswinder (Jas) Sekhon has been a leader in international law, delivering outstanding results for private clients and corporations through unwavering dedication, discretion, and excellence. His career escalated when at 27, he was seconded from Sydney to London, gaining invaluable experience in cross-border tax planning for high-net-worth individuals and corporations. This formative experience laid the foundation for Goldman Law, a firm that reflects Jas’s vision of delivering bespoke legal services tailored to the unique needs of clients, prioritizing individuality over wealth or connections.
Jas has an impressive litigation record, excelling in medico-legal matters, patents, and class actions, and is widely respected for achieving exceptional outcomes in high-stakes cases.
His expertise extends across global tax planning, finance, commercialization, cross-border transactions, trusts, estate planning, commercial litigation, and family law. Beyond practice, Jas has co-authored the seminal tax book, Barrett’s Principles of Income Tax and edited or co-authored numerous other international publications on taxation and wealth management.
Jas holds two undergraduate law degrees from the University of New South Wales and a Master of Laws from Sydney University. He is admitted as a solicitor in Australia, England & Wales, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, and New Zealand. Additionally, he has served as a Legal Consultant in the UAE, further solidifying his global influence.
Jas’s career highlights include leading structured finance banking experience with the commercialization of blockbuster films (The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings) and Merck’s world leading drug, Gardasil, as well as co-founding the EU airline start-up Cobalt Air.
Kerry Turner
Senior Manager | Client Liaison & Operations
Kerry Turner
Senior Manager
Client Liaison & Operations
With over 15 years of experience in client relations and operations, Kerry Turner is the cornerstone of our firm’s coordination and client management. Beyond her vital local role, she serves as a key liaison for our London and Dubai offices, ensuring seamless communication and consistent service delivery across jurisdictions.
As the first point of contact for clients, Kerry exemplifies professionalism, practical insight, and genuine care. She handles inquiries with compassion and directs client needs to our senior lawyers, prioritizing tailored, effective solutions. Her steadfast commitment to understanding and addressing client needs has set the “gold standard” for client service within our firm, transforming how our legal team operates to better serve our diverse clientele.
Kerry’s empathetic nature shines particularly in her interactions with elderly or distressed clients requiring special care. Drawing on her extensive background in human resources, international experience, and the hospitality industry, she brings a unique, human-centric perspective that elevates the standard of our client management. Despite not holding a legal qualification, her ability to connect with clients on a deeply personal level fosters trust and ensures every client feels valued and respected.
In addition to managing client relationships, Kerry fosters seamless collaboration across our legal team, promoting efficiency and unity in daily operations. Her personalized approach ensures that every client’s legal experience is not only stress-free but also positive and productive.
Through her integrity, dedication, and pursuit of excellence, Kerry has become an indispensable leader at the firm. Her compassionate and tireless approach truly embodies the “Goldman Lawyers standard,” inspiring both colleagues and clients alike.
Zeinab Elzein
General Counsel | Senior Lawyer
Zeinab Elzein
General Counsel
Senior Lawyer
With over a decade of legal experience, Zeinab Elzein (“Zee”) is a highly regarded General Counsel and senior lawyer specializing in family and commercial law.
She has extensive expertise in Australian family law, including complex international matters, and is known for her meticulous approach, unwavering dedication, and deep compassion.
Zee’s commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes has earned her a reputation as a trusted advocate who provides unparalleled support to her clients during challenging times.
While family law is her primary focus, Zee’s background in commercial law sets her apart. Her expertise spans commercial dealings, civil litigation, property law, debt recovery, and even some criminal law matters. Zee has extensive courtroom experience, appearing in the Federal Courts, the Supreme Court of NSW, the NSW Court of Appeal, and the Local and District Courts of NSW.
Zee’s commercial law experience is particularly valuable in family law property settlements, where she excels in uncovering hidden or undisclosed assets.
Her sharp investigative skills have repeatedly delivered successful outcomes. Additionally, her criminal law background has been critical in contested parenting matters involving clients with criminal records or Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs).
While Zee is an experienced litigator, she prioritizes negotiated settlements, believing they often serve her clients’ best interests by reducing conflict.
Outside of work, Zee describes herself as a fearless competitor who enjoys boxing and running—reflecting her drive, determination, and commitment to excellence in every area of her life.
Mathew Nott
General Counsel | Senior Lawyer
Mathew Nott
General Counsel
Senior Lawyer
Mathew joined Goldman Lawyers in 2020 as an experienced solicitor, bringing with him years of high-level legal expertise and exceptional communication skills that benefit both clients and colleagues alike. Since his admission to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2017, Mathew has dedicated his career to providing outstanding legal representation across a broad range of practice areas.
His primary focus lies in criminal and commercial law, as well as estates and trusts, where he works tirelessly to deliver the best possible outcomes for his clients. Mathew’s expertise also extends to property law, medical disputes, family law, and other critical areas, demonstrating his adaptability and depth of knowledge. His ability to think critically and communicate effectively ensures his clients are always informed and empowered throughout the legal process, no matter the complexity of their case.
Before pursuing law, Mathew enjoyed a diverse professional career as a journalist and editor, honing his communication and analytical skills. He also spent over a decade as a senior public health executive in New South Wales and Queensland, experiences that have enriched his perspective and enhanced his ability to connect with clients on a human level.
Mathew holds a Diploma of Law (LPAB), a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Journalism), and a Certificate of Business Skills from the College of Law Sydney. His varied background and academic achievements underscore his commitment to excellence.
As General Counsel at Goldman Lawyers, Mathew’s unique combination of skills, life experience, and legal expertise positions him as a standard-bearer for client advocacy and legal excellence. His pragmatic and well-rounded approach makes him an invaluable asset to the firm and its clients.
Contact Our Senior People
Jaswinder (Jas) Sekhon
Snr Int’l lawyer
Managing partner
20 yrs+ exp, Australia+++
Global awards recipient, diverse and strategic client focus. Commercial, tax finance, litigation, offshore, tax planning, trusts estates, assets, IP, AI , medical, family law and mediation.
Zeinab
Elzein
Senior family lawyer
General counsel
10 yrs+ exp Australia
Elzein
Mathew
Nott
Snr criminal lawyer
General counsel
Australia, NSW.
Nott
Outstanding on his feet, a criminal expert with a 99%+ success rate! Pragmatic commercial life experienced. Client outcome laser focus.
Kerry
Turner
Snr Client Relations Manager
Australia, NZ, Int’l
(UK, Dubai, Caribbean)
Turner
Client and customer experience expert.
Expert in diverse cultures and specialist client needs
Operations and para-legal support.
Testamentary Trusts
What are They?
Many People Use Testamentary Trusts as
Part of Their Succession & Wealth Planning.
A testamentary trust is a discretionary trust established under a Will. The testamentary trust does not come into operation until your death.
Instead of assets passing directly to an individual, they pass to the trustee of the testamentary trust.
The most underrated use of trusts is in our view are will trusts or testamentary trusts. Doing a simple will does not make sense with the amount of intergenerational wealth transfer. It is easy to establish a testamentary trust as part of your will & wealth plan. Ask us how?
Typical Clients in Trust &
Wealth Law Matters Include...
Discretionary Trusts-Assets, Wealth or Tax Planning?
Over the last 30 years, successive Governments and the taxation office have moved against the use of trusts for income splitting.
Therefore, you have extraordinary and complex rules that prevent say professionals or those with personal exertion income, using discretionary trusts. The use of discretionary trusts is to move assets away from an individual who may be in a high-risk occupation or subject to litigation threats, to a trustee.
Our clients to use them to hold assets for asset protection purposes. The trust is established to benefit their children in the future and as a wealth protection and wealth accumulation tool. Professions such as architects, engineers, doctors, lawyers use of discretionary trusts for this purpose.
Hybrid Trusts
Combining Discretionary &
Fixed Trusts
We have drafted a number of hybrid trusts whereby we take advantage of fixed entitlements to say for example, a residential home to take advantage of tax exemptions.
The trust also has discretionary beneficiaries as well as units which entitle a fixed interest.
We draft bespoke trusts to suit particular client needs so as to avoid the pitfalls of a discretionary trust and yet have the benefits of the ability to stream income to low tax beneficiaries.
Suited to Australian property assets, considerations such as home exemptions, stamp duty and land tax make this area a minefield.
Considerations such as the CGT home exemptions, stamp duty and land tax make this area a minefield that is suited to hybrid trusts.
Offshore Wealth Protection Trusts and Offshore Foundations
Whilst trusts are a creature of equity, civil law jurisdictions typically use foundations. However there is no restriction on a foundation and all trust being used in say jurisdiction such as Dubai. An offshore foundation can also establish a discretionary trust or any other type of trust.
These more complex structures but ultimately provide for the ultimate flexibility and sometimes influence over assets, inheritances, and investments without having any beneficial control over the funds.
These substructures typically suit high net worth individuals and generally are located robust jurisdictions as part of a family office structure.
We Expose Global Trust Planning!
30 years Practical Experience
With Trusts & Foundations
25 of the Most Common Uses & Types of Trusts.
Our Experience Extends to On-shore & Off-shore trusts.
In reading the table below, please note that many jurisdictions in the United States offer revocable trusts. The trust you have when you don’t have a trust. Some of these features are not recognised in other countries but are fantastic to use within that jurisdiction.
We have not listed foundations which are civil law (European) creatures and are based on a charter with no particular beneficial owner. This is important when we look at control and beneficial ownership in terms of taxation and asset protection.
Experience & Trust
With deep local and international expertise for over 30 years.
Growing and protecting successful individuals, family offices and business.
Experience & trust built through sheer hard work
Trusts & Wealth FAQ's
| No. | Name | What is it? | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Asset Protection Trust
|
Ring fences your assets from creditors and insolvency risk
|
Prevents clawback of assets transferred to the trust using say the Cook Islands law or by limitation periods via the effluxion of time.
|
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2
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Bare trust
|
The most simple type of trust With one beneficiary and one trustee
|
Where the trustee is usually just a nominee of the beneficiaries. For example, X holds this asset in trust for Y and there is no deed or property owners written obligations. Commonly used to split income or assets.
|
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3
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Charitable trust
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A trust where the capital or income is to be used for a charitable purpose
|
Charities are usually the residual beneficiaries of many trusts, but maybe used to obtain a charitable registration
|
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4
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Constructive or Implied trust
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Imposed by law – typically a court order
|
A court may find that it would be unconscionable to deny one party a beneficial interest in an asset held by another. Origins in dishonest trustees.
|
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5
|
Discretionary trust
|
A trust where the trustee has discretion to distribute capital or income and the beneficiaries have no right to receive anything, but it is enough to be simply to be considered for a distribution from the trust.
|
Used for tax and asset protection purposes, whereby a beneficiary is considered not to have any entitlement. However, the trustee can decide to distribute all or nothing to one beneficiary or a class of beneficiaries and can also segregate in separate types of income streams.
|
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6
|
Family Trust
|
The trust with the beneficiaries are family members
|
Used to protect assets within the family or bloodline where the class of members may include even unborn children. Sometimes refers to a discretionary trust set up for tax planning purposes or asset protection purposes in Sydney and New Zealand.
|
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7
|
Fixed trust
|
A trust where the entitlements are the beneficiaries are fixed
|
Fixed entitlements commonly used in high net worth family situations where the rights of the family members are fixed.
|
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8
|
Grantor trust
|
Commonly used in the USA whereby the person who transfers the assets of the trust retains control over the trust and not the trustee
|
If the grantor retains control over the trust and the assets of the trust, then the grantor is still considered the owner and may be taxable for estate duty purposes in the USA. In other jurisdictions, the grantor is also known as the settlor.
|
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9
|
Hybrid trust
|
A trust that combines various elements of fixed entitlements and discretionary entitlements
|
A combination of a fixed unit trust whereby beneficiaries have fixed entitlements for say land tax purposes, but discretionary entitlements for streaming of income. Can combine various aspects of all other types of trusts.
|
|
10
|
Life interest trust
|
A trust that gives an interest to a beneficiary for their lifetime.
|
For example, X may live in this house rent-free for life, but it is granted in ownership to Y. A life interest is a interest and even though the house may be unwise name, it is a lifetime interest trust.
|
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11
|
Next Gen Trusts
|
Estate planning trusts for future generations of family
|
Common in New Zealand and may be implemented via wills or whilst the settlor law is alive.
|
|
12
|
Listed property trust
|
Listed on the stock exchange and the structure used. Is a unit trust with units of entitlement as opposed to shares
|
Common used or commercial and other properties to be held via such a structure as unit holders have beneficial interests in the property which does not arise if they have shares, ie. allows for depreciation write-offs for example.
|
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13
|
Non-resident trust
|
A trust where the trustees are non-resident
|
The general principle is that the residence of the trust is usually determined by the residence of the trustees. The structure commonly used in the UK. Where there are multiple trustees, then ae the majority of them non-resident?
|
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14
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Philanthropic trusts
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Trust established for charitable purposes
|
May qualify as a charity with tax and other benefits or as a non-profit. Interchangeable with charitable trusts, although the purpose of philanthropic trust may be more directly a charitable purpose.
|
|
15
|
PTC
|
Private trust company , as opposed to a public trustee company
|
The company that specifically acts as a trustee for your trust that is but not a public trustee company.
|
|
16
|
Resulting trust
|
A trust that comes into operation by operation of law or court order, i.e., the result is a trust
|
There is a presumption that a trust exists by virtue of the nature of the transaction; for example, the money is provided by one person, but the property is put in another person’s name. A rebuttable presumption on evidence.
|
|
17
|
Revocable trust
|
A trust that may be revoked by the grantor settlor
|
This type of power usually negates the purpose or intention of the trust, however, certain US states allow for this power to exist within a valid trust for inheritance tax and other purposes, such as Nevada. This effectively allows you to say you don’t own the assets and then reclaim them later on. By revoking the trust. Considered ineffective in many other jurisdictions.
|
|
18
|
Service trust
|
A trust that provides services to another trust
|
Commonly used to split income, for example, personal exertion income is not considered transferable to another, but if you set up a service trust which provides you with desks and property for a mark-up over cost. This effectively allows some of your income to be transferred to a service trust as it now becomes income from property. Common in Sydney for lawyers and other professionals.
|
|
19
|
SMSF
|
A superannuation trust which accumulates retirement benefits for family members
|
The trustee is essentially a company of the family members themselves, who can then manage their own funds for retirement as opposed to having a public trustee or third-party do this on their behalf. May be used to leverage, or invest in art of crypto assets.
|
|
20
|
S.T.A.R. Trusts
|
STAR trusts – A Cayman Islands regime for trusts
|
Gifting your assets to a trustee but allowing you to maintain control over the trustee via an enforcer or protector or with the trust deed. Very useful but may be seen as an ineffective transfer of rights over the assets from the viewpoint of other jurisdictions
|
|
21
|
Testamentary trust
|
All will trusts – trusts that are created for beneficiaries of your assets or a your will
|
Clauses in your will create the trusts and these are very effective for estate planning purposes; for example, my children to inherit once they are 25 or for my grandchildren to inherit and my children only to be able to have the income.
|
|
22
|
Unit trust
|
A trust where the beneficiary’s rights and entitlements comprise of units which may be tradable or quantifiable
|
Commonly used in commercial situations where you may have a number of beneficiaries that come together as opposed to shareholders and where the units are redeemable or transferable; i.e. a commercial property that is divided into 100 units and held by a unit trust is then sold or provided to beneficiaries in terms of the proportion of contribution to the 100.
|
|
23
|
VISTA trusts
|
Virgin Islands special trust arrangements – unique features
|
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) by law allows these trusts and the trustee to have as trust assets operating businesses, which typically is against the nature of the trust as the trustee should only be there to protect trust assets and not do business with them. Removes the trustee from responsibility in this area and where there are commercially operated activities, this is extremely useful.
|
|
24
|
Will trust
|
A trust that is set by operation of the will – once you die – also known as testamentary trusts
|
These trusts are created in your will and operate the same way as trust that may be considered via a deed of trust while you are alive – contrasted with living trusts
|
Companies and individuals can be beneficiaries of a trust, and they’ll fall into one of the following categories:
Primary Beneficiaries | The primary beneficiaries are those whom the trust names explicitly. In a trust set up for a family, this will most often be the husband and wife, de facto partners, etc. The relationship with the primary beneficiaries will typically define the classes of the beneficiaries (see below). |
General Beneficiaries | These are the people that fall within a particular class of beneficiaries depending on their relationship with the primary beneficiaries. For example, if a trust deed states that general beneficiaries include brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren or other descendants, whether a person falls into the class of general beneficiaries depends on their relationship with the primary beneficiaries. |
Income Beneficiaries | Money that the trust generates, for example, through interest earned on trust money in a term deposit or rent earned from a residential property owned by a trust, can be distributed to a beneficiary. |
Capital Beneficiaries | Capital beneficiaries may receive capital from a trust but not any income earned by trust assets. |
Default Beneficiaries | Distributions are made by default to these beneficiaries unless the trustee decides they would like to distribute them to others. |
Approximately 5% of all businesses in Sydney operate through a trust structure. If you are going to run a business through a trust, you will require a Australian Business Number. As with all trust property, the trustee will own the business’ assets.
Legally this is an interesting question.
You will need to speak to us to get all the answers.
The primary duty of the trustees is to protect trust assets.
Consider how a trustee may then be breaching its obligations by engaging in trading?
And what if the trust trades through a wholly owned company? who will be the directors of the trustee as a director of the trading company, is that a conflict of the trustee’s duties?
Don’t be fooled into thinking that this simple.
This is why the British Virgin Islands created “Vista trusts” that provide a legislative authority trustees to engage in trading, without breaching the duties of the trustee.
Watch this space when insolvencies happen.
Another frequently asked question about trust concerns whether the beneficiaries of trust all have to be from the same family. A family trust and a discretionary trust are essentially the same. The trustee maintains the discretion to distribute income as they see fit. It is more likely, however, that the beneficiaries are all members of the same family. A family trust is simply a commonly used term, rather than a requirement that the beneficiaries all be from the same family. Therefore, there is no restriction on you listing people outside your family as a beneficiary.
However, if you do list people outside your family, you may not be able to make a family trust election for tax purposes. This means you will lose access to certain concessions and benefits you would otherwise get if you made the family trust election. Further, if you make distributions to people outside your family, the trustee might need to pay tax on these distributions at the highest marginal tax rate. This is if you have made a family trust election to the Australian Taxation Office for that trust.
Leaving aside the tax obligations, you can have unborn beneficiaries and it all depends on your definition of “family” within the trust deed.
- trust and confidence placed in a person;
- an undertaking by that person to act on behalf of another;
- the other person is vulnerable as a result; and
- there is an inequality in bargaining power between the two parties.
- The trustee must not enter into transactions which give rise to a conflict of interest between the trustee’s personal interests and their duty owed to the beneficiary.
- Example: The manager of a share portfolio must buy and sell those shares which will be of the most benefit for the trust and its beneficiaries, not just those from which the manager might earn a bigger commission.
- The trustee must account to the beneficiary for any improper gain obtained as a result of a conflict of interest. Such as proceeds gained by the trustee as a result of selling a car held on trust for the beneficiary; and
- knowledge or opportunity gained as a result of their position.
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