Andrew Vergunst is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP, based in its
As a member of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners, Andrew co-founded the South African branch in Cape Town. He is a member of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law, as well as a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (UK).
Andrew is co-author of the chapter on South Africa in the treatise International Estate Planning, authored by Terry Christensen. He has also led a number of seminars in the UK and South Africa on pre-migration planning for high-net-worth-individuals and executives relocating for business and personal reasons.
Andrew has been recognised in Legal 500 UK 2010 as "undoubtedly the first choice in London for any complex South African queries".
Representative Experience
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Advising weathly families and individuals on their international tax, trust and migration planning, particularly in relation to the UK, the US and South Africa.
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Acting as lead international advisor on complex international trust and corporate restructuring of family interests
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Representing clients in respect of enquiries and disputes with revenue services/authorities
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Advising trustees on trustee powers and fiduciary obligations
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Advising on and drafting various forms of international trust deeds
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Advising on contentious trust matters
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Advising trustees and beneficiaries on trust and tax matters relating to the establishment and administration of offshore structures and the funding of multinational beneficiaries
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Advising on the use of private trust companies, choice of trustees and other fiduciaries, and choice of jurisdictions
- Advising family offices and families on the establishment of family offices, family office management and ownership structures, family governance and family agreements, the involvement of family members in the family business, generational change, family philanthropy, custody and reporting, risk management, and investment approaches and philosophies
Education
- University of Cape Town, LLB, Law Degree, 1993
- University of Cape Town, LLB, 1991
Languages Spoken
- Afrikaans
- Dutch
- English
