David Dorgan

• Advised a Jersey foundation with family business assets valued at over US$1billion and a family net worth of over US$6billon where the founder wished the next generation to lead the family business but ensuring a structured interaction between the foundation and family members.
• Advised fiduciaries acting for Middle Eastern Royal Families as to their bespoke personal asset protection and wealth succession planning involving private trusts but also in relation to the structuring of a national infrastructural project valued between US$20- US$25billion involving commercial trusts and companies.
• Advised a UK and Saudi based family on the establishment of a private trust company family trust structure for asset protection and wealth succession planning encapsulating six branches of the family and the subsequent restructuring of the structure to meet changing family requirements and business expansions.
• Advised the proposed fiduciary of an Israeli family for asset protection and wealth succession planning including the options of trusts, foundations and companies and assisted in the creation of their family foundation structure, including provisions addressing certain events including the possibility of family assassinations.
• Advised the trustee of a Middle Eastern client as to difficulties in the drafting of two Jersey trusts (prepared for his relocation to the USA), holding a billion-dollar realty empire, meant to be for dynastic succession purposes, but after his demise the trusts could easily be ended by his two adult children who could determine the trusts to the detriment of future generations.
• Advised a Kuwaiti family in the establishment of their family trusts for asset protection and wealth succession planning of the family business in the Middle East and realty investments in the UK, valued at over US$1billion, in relation to six branches of the family but constructing bespoke provisions as to the permitted and restricted sale of family assets owned across the six trusts.
• Advised the trustees in the establishment of a Kuwaiti family’s private trust company structure containing multiple trusts for asset protection, investment, lifestyle and wealth succession planning of the family’s business (valued at US$9billion) and personal assets, the trusts containing provisions for prescribed directions, reserved powers, different sub-funds for investment and distinct asset holding purposes to balance control between the professional trustee and family members.
• Advised a private trust company as trustee of a series of Royal Family trusts in the sale of a sizable private jet to another Royal Family involving a number of high-risk sale factors offering a commercial and pragmatic advice on a risk-based approach.
• Advised a USA bank in the purchase and lease financing of Gulfstream Jets for private clients using Jersey trust/company structures.
• Advised fiduciaries of trust/company structures in the sale, purchase and financing of super and mega yachts and of commercial shipping vessels held in Jersey trust/company structures.
• Advised three Japanese banks in the establishment of an off-balance sheet purpose trust structure to relation to holding failed joint investments into businesses valued at GBP125million.
• Advised a Hong Kong based fiduciary in the restructuring of existing trusts holding the family businesses in Japan having a net income of over US$10 billion.
• Advised a Hong Kong family office of a Chinese family on several complex legal issues, communicating complex legal issues in a manner that lay persons (some with limited English) would understand.
• Advised global PLCs, private companies and fiduciaries in connection with the establishment and administration of employee incentive structures (share plans and international retirement plans).
• Advised Barclays, Citibank, Santander and Standard Chartered in relation to their Jersey pension structures.
• Acted for Digital Jersey in the creation of the first “data trust” under Jersey law, believed to be the first of its kind in the world where the trustee is subject to fiduciary duties and financial regulation to FATF International Standards.

David has been ranked by the Legal500 and Chambers & Partners since 2010 and 2012 respectively and has been ranked by the Legal500 as a leading partner for many years.

Directory comments include:

• “He is very knowledgeable and experienced, especially around different cultural matters, which can make all the difference when working with international high net worth clients.”
• “He is a very talented draftsman, he’s very strong on trust and company law, and he has a very considered and commercial approach to transactions.”
• David Dorgan has “excellent technical knowledge” of Islamic finance, which is applied to the establishment of shari’ah-compliant trusts.”
• “David Dorgan is an excellent draftsman. David’s excellent technical knowledge, attention to detail and considered nature make him a pleasure to work with.”
• “Pragmatic and consistently good advice and willing to go the extra mile.”
• “Very professional yet approachable. In-depth knowledge and excellent service.”
• “David Dorgan has great skills to help foreign clients reach a clear and actionable plan.”
• “David Dorgan – leads from the front, very knowledgeable and personable.”
• “stellar adviser” having “a practical outlook and good commercial sense”
• “He is an excellent trust lawyer who gives sound, pragmatic advice.”
• “He is our go-to person if we have a query as we know we will get an early response and very sound and clear direction as to the route to follow.”
• “He is an excellent trust lawyer who gives sound, pragmatic advice.”

Comments from clients and counsel include:

• Opposing counsel commented: “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your assistance with this matter.  As mentioned, it was not straight forward matter but you have handled it incredibly well and I am sure [our client] also appreciate the practical approach you have taken on various issues, while not losing sight of the technical details as well.”
• Client’s in-house counsel commented: “David has done a hell of a job… I’m not sure my guys at DLA could have done the job to that standard in that time.”
• Friendly counsel commented: “Adviser of the highest calibre, vast depth of knowledge, extraordinarily technically proficient and able to deliver advice in a clear, concise, seamless and easily understood manner.”

David has previously been nominated by his peers in Legal Week’s Private Client Global Elite, by Citywealth as one of Jersey’s Future Private Client Leading Individuals and IFC Partner, Lawyer of the year, has been awarded Mondaq’s “Contributor for most popular article in Jersey” (Wealth Planning for Sharia Law – September 2018) and also awarded “deal of the month” by Lawyer-Monthly in July 2010.

He has been a regular contributor of articles on trusts and foundations issues in the professional press, is the co-author of the ICSA Guide to Jersey Foundations, the author of the LexisNexis PSL Private Client Guides to Jersey trusts and foundations, the author of Tolley’s Guide to Jersey and the author of Tolley’s Mobility Guide to Jersey.

David graduated with a Master of Laws degree, trained with a global offshore firm in Jersey and qualified as a Jersey Solicitor in 2006, as a Jersey Advocate in 2008 and as a Jersey Notary Public in 2011.

• The College of Law of England and Wales
• The University of Buckingham (England) and The University of Maine (USA) (Law Exchange)

Victoria College, Jersey

• The Law Society of Jersey
• The Jersey Society of Notaries
• The Notaries Society of England and Wales
• The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
• Jersey Finance’s Working Groups for Trusts, Charities and Foundations
• Digital Jersey’s Working Group for Data Stewardship