My name is Anthony Markham and I am a partner at Maitland where I head up the firm’s private client group. I have more than 20 years’ experience as an international lawyer and five year’s experience as a legal counsel to a multinational family office. I first joined Maitland in 1983, becoming a partner in 1986 and was a founding member of our Isle of Man office in 1990. I moved around with Maitland, spending time in the London office before joining the E Oppenheimer & Son Family Office in 2001, returning to Maitland in 2005. I have been back as partner in the Isle of Man since March 2009.
I originate from Devon in the UK and obtained a first class degree in politics, philosophy and economics from Balliol College, Oxford and a B Proc from the University of South Africa. I am an English solicitor (admitted 1980) and a South African attorney (not practising, admitted 1983). I am a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and the International Tax Planning Association.
Monday
My week begins with a hint of jet lag as I returned on the weekend from Orlando where I was acting on behalf of a patriarch deciding on how he should distribute his wealth to his family members. It was a busy trip but it still afforded me a couple of hours to tour Universal Studios. Back to work. Tomorrow is Budget Day in the UK and I am helping a couple of clients head off any anticipated rises in Capital Gains Tax. As it turns out, it proved to be a good call as we are able to save them quite a bit of money.
Tuesday
Due to spend the day at Maitland’s London office so I am up at 4am. Pick up a work colleague on Douglas seafront before catching the early flight to Gatwick. Spend most of the day in various investment committee meetings in connection with a Family Trust for which I have had responsibility for the last 20 years. Back to the island on the late flight.
Wednesday
In the office by 8am. Tied up a few loose ends on the previous day’s Family Trust situation, including the buying of a property for their gardener. Because most of my work is of an international nature for wealthy families, much of my work days are structured around teleconference calls. Today the focus is on a family with various issues. One has marital problems, another is migrating from one jurisdiction to another and a further area concerns the imminent deadline on their US filings. In the afternoon we have a company arranged barbecue at Cronkbourne Cricket Club attended by a number of Maitland clients. Very successful and helped by great weather.
Thursday
Each Thursday the lawyers at Maitland normally arrange a lunchtime get together. Today we have an external team of lawyers who’ve come to the island to discuss setting up a private trust company and they want to see if we can help. Later I deal with UK and South African tax matters for clients and then receive an update on a contentious matter about copyright infringement of a website in which we represent the Complainant.
Friday
I am very keen on art and have in the past spoken at Bonhams events and advised a number of top European art galleries. Spoke to one such client today. Also assisting an international entrepreneur who is very keen on green investments. His latest venture is investing with a consortium in a company specialising in water purification. Get away from the office around 5.30pm. As usual, I have enjoyed a stimulating and varied week at home.