What we do for our clients
Swiss Expertise Supporting International Family Structures.
At Capital Trustees, we support international families and entrepreneurs in protecting their legacy, preserving the long-term stability of their structures and developing their businesses through tailored Swiss solutions.
Our Swiss‑based Private Client services combine trust and wealth‑planning expertise with an integrated set of corporate and personal solutions, from relocation and tax advisory to family office set‑up and the establishment of bespoke Swiss structures.
Professional Trust Services
Trust Structuring and Advisory Services
We specialise in private wealth structuring and estate planning for high‑net‑worth individuals and their global families.
Through the establishment and administration of international trust structures for asset protection and estate planning, we help clients develop and implement intergenerational and cross-border strategies to preserve and grow their wealth in line with their objectives and values.
We administer trusts across a wide range of asset classes and under all major legal frameworks, providing flexible, practical solutions tailored to each client's needs.
We can establish new trust structures or assume trusteeship and administration of existing ones.
Asset classes we administer
Financial
Assets
managed by banks or EAMs under discretionary or advisory mandates.
Real
Estate
in Switzerland, where we are Lex Koller compliant, and abroad
Art &
Collectibles
trusts holding single-artist or multi-artist collections, including artists’ own works.
Holding
Companies
trusts owning holding companies or serving directly as holding vehicles for operating companies.
Other
Assets
e.g. intellectual property rights, loans and receivables, registered movable assets and digital assets.
Governing laws
- We manage trusts governed by the laws of established trust jurisdictions, including the Channel Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, England and Wales, and New Zealand.
- Our trust portfolio covers a wide range of governing laws, often reflecting historic structures, where we either preserve the existing legal frameworks or, when appropriate, restructure them, including, in some cases, reviewing the chosen governing law.
- During the establishment phase, we determine the most suitable governing law to align with Clients' objectives taking into account factors such as beneficiaries' disclosure rights, reserved powers, and the potential inclusion of arbitration clauses.
- Where relevant, we also consider jurisdiction-specific factors such as statutory firewall protections, beneficial-ownership reporting requirements and applicable confidentiality rules.
Swiss Structures
Swiss Structures for Private Clients
Our in-house tax, legal and corporate specialists have extensive experience in establishing and administering Swiss structures, including single-family offices and Swiss charitable foundations. Drawing on strong relationships with leading Swiss banks, Capital Trustees provides comprehensive support throughout the life cycle of these structures.
Our Family Office solution provides comprehensive, long-term wealth management services, either from the initial set-up phase or on an ongoing basis, ensuring sustainable growth, absolute confidentiality, dedicated advisory support, and the preservation and structuring of family wealth.
Capital Trustees provides efficient administration of Swiss charitable foundations, drawing on particular expertise in their establishment and management to safeguard founders’ objectives and ensure compliance with all applicable legal, tax, regulatory and supervisory requirements.
Swiss Tax Advisory
Personal Swiss Tax Advisory*
We offer comprehensive advisory services on Swiss personal tax matters, including tax return preparation, fiscal representation and liaison with the authorities, negotiation of lump-sum taxation agreements in Ticino, resolution of VAT and customs matters, and assistance with the application of double taxation treaties (DTTs).
In addition, we provide advisory and support services to individuals on a broad range of Swiss-related matters, including private investment guidance, real estate management, banking services, and strategic planning for long-term personal and family objectives.
Relocation Services
Relocation Support to Switzerland*
We provide comprehensive, end-to-end support to individuals relocating to Switzerland, including assistance with the establishment or relocation of their corporate structures, securing accommodation, opening bank accounts, obtaining the necessary licences and insurance coverage, and coordinating the import and export of registered goods.
Swiss Corporate Solutions for your Business*
We provide comprehensive corporate services through our offices in Zürich, Altdorf and Lugano, covering company formation and structuring, licensing, business planning, reorganisations, cross-border advisory, M&A transactions and financial due diligence.
We also offer Swiss directorship and corporate domiciliation services, accounting set-up, assistance with bank account opening, ongoing corporate administration and regulatory compliance.
Sister Company
(*) Selected services are provided through METRIKA, an independent Swiss fiduciary based in Zürich, Lugano and Altdorf.