Mark Pearce

Private Wealth

Mark advises individuals and trustees on all aspects of UK tax and private client legislation that may be relevant to them.   Mark’s niche area of specialism is advising clients with international elements (whether these be work, family or assets), clients holding or creating  digital assets or clients seeking to structure digital asset businesses.

While there are certain, common actions most clients should take, such as preparing wills and lasting powers of attorney, more complex scenarios require bespoke planning. Such planning may mean the establishment of domestic or international trusts and companies or ascertaining the UK classification and tax treatment of digital assets such as NFTs. Mark works with clients to help them understand the ownership, management and tax aspects of such structures.

Mark’s work often involves considering a client’s future and how they would like to hold and eventually devolve their assets. With digital assets, even ‘simple’ activities, such as gifting a cryptocurrency, can give rise to a number of issues. 

Internationally, it is often necessary to consider laws outside those of the UK, whether they be domestic laws of a particular country of religious legal systems such as Shari’a. With digital assets the lack of legislation in many jurisdictions often requires an analysis of international standards and best practice.  Mark’s experience with a number of international jurisdictions is often useful to clients when considering their own jurisdiction of residence and the jurisdiction for their businesses and assets.

In July 2022 Mark completed a course from the University of Oxford – Said Business School on Blockchain Strategy.  This enables Mark to better understand the nature of digital assets and businesses involving digital assets.