Overview
Partners Elise McGee and Leigh-Alexandra Basha will present at Northern Trust’s sixth annual Wealth Planning Symposium, which explores outlooks, insights and action items on the most vital planning issues of 2026 and beyond.
From Estates to Ecosystems: The Evolution of Family Office Design
Speaker: Elise McGee
In this session, our panel examines both common and emerging family office structures through the lenses of tax efficiency, governance, fiduciary responsibility and operational practicality. In consideration of recent industry trends and relevant case law, including Lender Management v. Commissioner, the panel examines how families and their advisors evaluate, design and adapt family office structures. Particular attention is paid to ownership, compensation, profit allocation, fiduciary risk and the growing complexity facing family offices today.
Going Global: Cross-Border Trust Planning in U.S. Jurisdictions
Speaker: Leigh-Alexandra Basha
Globally connected families are on the rise. In this session, our experts explore cross-border planning using trusts in U.S. jurisdictions, including Delaware, with a focus on non-U.S. parties establishing trusts in the United States. The discussion addresses planning considerations for such globally connected families and how U.S. trusts are commonly used in international wealth strategies. Additionally, panelists will discuss key issues trustees and advisors need to be aware of in trust administration— both during the lifetime of the settlor and following death.