Welcome to the first edition of Private Perspectives, a new publication bringing together insights and commentary from across Mishcon Private and the wider firm on the issues shaping wealth, business, reputation and legacy.
Politics has a way of arriving uninvited in the boardroom, the family office and the living room. Our Public Law & Politics team saw this up close at this year's Labour Party Conference, where our meetings with business leaders returned to the same theme: uncertainty, driven as much by AI as by events on the world stage. It is a fitting backdrop for this inaugural edition, which explores how political change and uncertainty are reshaping the decisions of families, founders and family offices.
Across the issue, we examine how political, regulatory and geopolitical change is influencing the way wealth is structured, protected and transferred, from the impact of tax reform on internationally mobile individuals to the growing importance of residency, contingency and cross-border planning. We also explore how policy developments are affecting residential property decisions, proposed reforms to cohabitation law, and why London continues to be a jurisdiction of choice for resolving complex international disputes.
Beyond wealth preservation, we reflect on the role of philanthropy, culture and purpose. From educational philanthropy and freedom of speech on university campuses to the effect of geopolitical events on art collections and cultural institutions, we examine how wider societal shifts are creating new opportunities and challenges for wealth holders and their advisers.
I hope you enjoy this first edition of Private Perspectives.