Creating a Robust Family Succession Plan that Embraces Governance, Tax & Compliance

Kate Weiss joined Asiaciti Trust in April 2020. She holds a law degree and a post-graduate certificate in Law and Economics from the Nottingham Trent University, England. Kate has over 15 years of professional experience in trust and fiduciary services across the UK, BVI and Switzerland and has also spent time in private client legal practice. Most recently she was head of a trust and fiduciary services company based in Zurich, Switzerland. Kate is a member of STEP.

John Shoemaker is Senior Counsel with Butler Snow in their Singapore office. John has more than 30 years’ experience in tax, legal & regulatory compliance, and is a common law lawyer with educational emphasis on taxation, trusts & estate planning. He also has extensive experience in ensuring multi-jurisdictional compliance for fiduciary product offerings (working with multijurisdictional outside counsel & adapting products for sale in relevant jurisdictions), including product management skills to direct complex products from concept to fully operational status.

Paul is a Managing Director and Senior Wealth Advisor for the ASIAPAC region of the JP Morgan Private Bank. He is based in Hong Kong and joined JP Morgan 14 years ago from Ernst and Young LLP where he was a Director and head of the Private Client Services group in London. He was also Chairman and founder of the Ernst & Young International Private Wealth Group. He has over thirty five years experience in advising wealthy individuals and families on both domestic and international tax and estate planning as well as family governance and succession issues. He also has wide experience in advising philanthropists on both tax and structuring issues in relation to charitable giving. Paul graduated from Durham University and is a UK Solicitor. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and has served as co-chair of its International Committee as well as being an advisor to its UK technical committee and a member of the Family Business Special Interest Group. He is also Vice Chairman of the UK charity Philanthropy Impact prior to relocating to Hong Kong.

Vivian Kiang is the Head of RBC Wealth Planning and Trust Administration, Asia. Prior to rejoining RBC, Vivian worked as a Vice President and Wealth Planner with Citi Private Bank covering the Philippines and Hong Kong markets. Before relocating to Hong Kong, Vivian has also spent 2 years working for the Royal Bank of Canada in Toronto, Canada. Vivian has nearly 20 years of experience in the financial industry and with majority of her time in the wealth management field. She specializes in advising and structuring various types of wealth and succession planning arrangements for private banking clients. She is particularly familiar with using structuring tools such as trusts, insurance policies and private investment companies for setting up asset holding structures for High Net Worth individuals. Vivian is very experienced in assisting Asian families that have nexus with Canada and USA. Vivian obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The University of Hong Kong, a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (B.Com) from The University of Toronto, Canada and is a member of the Certified General Accountant (CGA) of Canada and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate and Practitioners (STEP) of the United Kingdom. Vivian is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

Markus has been with Trident Trust for the past 12 years, following a 20-year career in private banking, where he specialised in working with Asian and NRI/Indian clients. Initially Managing Director of Trident’s Singapore office, he is now Regional Managing Director for the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa business, with responsibility for Trident’s offices in Dubai, Geneva, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Mauritius, Singapore and Zurich. In addition to leading the expansion of Trident Trust’s business in Asia, Markus is also actively involved in many key client relationships of the Group.

Clifford is one of the co-managing partners of Zhong Lun’s Hong Kong office and a leader in the private client industry in Hong Kong. His practice is focused on complex cross-border transactions, investments and private client matters. Having worked with some of Asia’s leading businesses and families for over 20 years, Clifford provides strategic advice on cross-border transactions and investments, tax, regulatory, estate planning, asset preservation, governance. Clifford is noted for providing innovative solutions to complex issues having worked extensively in multi-jurisdiction transactions and handling a broad range of issues including asset protection investment strategies, trust and estate litigation, securities regulatory issues, family estate battles and creditor claims.

John Shoemaker is Senior Counsel with Butler Snow in their Singapore office. John has more than 30 years’ experience in tax, legal & regulatory compliance, and is a common law lawyer with educational emphasis on taxation, trusts & estate planning. He also has extensive experience in ensuring multi-jurisdictional compliance for fiduciary product offerings (working with multijurisdictional outside counsel & adapting products for sale in relevant jurisdictions), including product management skills to direct complex products from concept to fully operational status.

Vivian Kiang is the Head of RBC Wealth Planning and Trust Administration, Asia. Prior to rejoining RBC, Vivian worked as a Vice President and Wealth Planner with Citi Private Bank covering the Philippines and Hong Kong markets. Before relocating to Hong Kong, Vivian has also spent 2 years working for the Royal Bank of Canada in Toronto, Canada. Vivian has nearly 20 years of experience in the financial industry and with majority of her time in the wealth management field. She specializes in advising and structuring various types of wealth and succession planning arrangements for private banking clients. She is particularly familiar with using structuring tools such as trusts, insurance policies and private investment companies for setting up asset holding structures for High Net Worth individuals. Vivian is very experienced in assisting Asian families that have nexus with Canada and USA. Vivian obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The University of Hong Kong, a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (B.Com) from The University of Toronto, Canada and is a member of the Certified General Accountant (CGA) of Canada and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate and Practitioners (STEP) of the United Kingdom. Vivian is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

Markus has been with Trident Trust for the past 12 years, following a 20-year career in private banking, where he specialised in working with Asian and NRI/Indian clients. Initially Managing Director of Trident’s Singapore office, he is now Regional Managing Director for the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa business, with responsibility for Trident’s offices in Dubai, Geneva, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Mauritius, Singapore and Zurich. In addition to leading the expansion of Trident Trust’s business in Asia, Markus is also actively involved in many key client relationships of the Group.

Clifford is one of the co-managing partners of Zhong Lun’s Hong Kong office and a leader in the private client industry in Hong Kong. His practice is focused on complex cross-border transactions, investments and private client matters. Having worked with some of Asia’s leading businesses and families for over 20 years, Clifford provides strategic advice on cross-border transactions and investments, tax, regulatory, estate planning, asset preservation, governance. Clifford is noted for providing innovative solutions to complex issues having worked extensively in multi-jurisdiction transactions and handling a broad range of issues including asset protection investment strategies, trust and estate litigation, securities regulatory issues, family estate battles and creditor claims.

Paul is a Managing Director and Senior Wealth Advisor for the ASIAPAC region of the JP Morgan Private Bank. He is based in Hong Kong and joined JP Morgan 14 years ago from Ernst and Young LLP where he was a Director and head of the Private Client Services group in London. He was also Chairman and founder of the Ernst & Young International Private Wealth Group. He has over thirty five years experience in advising wealthy individuals and families on both domestic and international tax and estate planning as well as family governance and succession issues. He also has wide experience in advising philanthropists on both tax and structuring issues in relation to charitable giving. Paul graduated from Durham University and is a UK Solicitor. He is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and has served as co-chair of its International Committee as well as being an advisor to its UK technical committee and a member of the Family Business Special Interest Group. He is also Vice Chairman of the UK charity Philanthropy Impact prior to relocating to Hong Kong.

Kate Weiss joined Asiaciti Trust in April 2020. She holds a law degree and a post-graduate certificate in Law and Economics from the Nottingham Trent University, England. Kate has over 15 years of professional experience in trust and fiduciary services across the UK, BVI and Switzerland and has also spent time in private client legal practice. Most recently she was head of a trust and fiduciary services company based in Zurich, Switzerland. Kate is a member of STEP.

Michael is a prominent figure in the financial services industry in Asia. He is the founder and CEO of Hubbis, a renowned provider of intelligence and connectivity for the Asian wealth management industry. With a depth of experience and expertise, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry for over 30 years, becoming a leading industry presence in the events, professional development, and publishing space in the region. Hubbis is a multi-generational family-owned and managed business.

He has been actively involved in the Asia-Pacific region since 1993. And has lived in Asia since 1995, holding positions in Hong Kong, Sydney, and Singapore. 

For over 14-years, Hubbis has established itself as the gold standard media and events brand in wealth management thought leadership in Asia. Each year providing a very large body of cutting-edge editorial and sponsored content, organizing top-flight events. During that time Hubbis has become the platform of choice for many high-profile C-suite leaders to communicate their vision of the Asian wealth management.

Before his involvement with Hubbis, Michael founded Pacific Prospect in 2002, a financial services media company. Under his leadership, the company achieved significant success and was subsequently acquired by global business-to-business publisher Incisive Media in 2006. Michael continued to serve as the CEO of Pacific Prospect until October 2008. Prior to his entrepreneurial ventures, Michael garnered 5 years of experience in financial markets publishing.

His career in this field began in 1993 when he joined Euromoney Publications as the publisher of the quarterly magazine, International Bond Investor. In 1995, Michael joined Thomson Financial Services (now owned by LSEG) and spearheaded the conception and launch of Finance Asia magazine. During his tenure as Managing Director of Finance Asia, he also initiated the Asian Debt Review, Asian Private Capital Magazine, and the Finance Asia Conference Business. In 1997, he founded FIA Limited, further expanding his contributions to the financial publishing industry.

Born in North Wales, Michael served as the head boy of St David's College Llandudno. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Cardiff University. Beyond his professional endeavours, Michael is a family-oriented individual and is happily married with three children: Reanna, Garett, and Tarryn.