- Address: 123 Anywhere Street
- hello@watsontax.com.au
SYDNEY · MELBOURNE · CANBERRA · AUSTRALIA
Lawyers for Intergenerational Wealth Transfer & Succession Planning
Senior legal & tax counsel on passing wealth, control & responsibility between generations.
ABOUT WATSON Tax LAWYERS
Who We Are
Watson Tax Lawyers advises families, private groups and family offices on the legal, tax and commercial issues involved in transferring wealth and control between generations.
Intergenerational wealth transfer is rarely just a question of documents. It involves decisions about succession, control of entities, expectations within the family, governance and the avoidance or resolution of disputes. The practice is focused on helping families make these decisions deliberately and in a commercially sensible way.
What We Do in Intergenerational Wealth Transfer & Succession Planning
01
Succession Planning for Family Wealth & Businesses
Advising on how ownership, control and responsibility for family wealth and businesses will pass from one generation to the next.
Work includes structuring successions for companies, trusts and operating businesses so that control and benefits move in a way that reflects the family’s objectives and risk appetite.
02
Wills, Estates & Testamentary Structures
Advising on wills and estate arrangements where substantial business and investment assets are involved, often across multiple entities and jurisdictions.
The focus is on aligning testamentary structures – including testamentary trusts – with existing group structures and the family’s long‑term plans.
03
Family Trusts, Control & Beneficiary Expectations
Advising on family trusts, including who controls them, how control passes, how distributions are approached and how beneficiary expectations can be managed.
This often involves clarifying or reshaping appointor, trustee and related powers to reduce the risk of future disputes.
04
Pre‑Dispute Structuring & Dispute Risk Management
Helping families identify and address potential sources of dispute before they crystallise – for example, where roles, entitlements or expectations are unclear.
The aim is to put in place structures and arrangements that reduce the likelihood of damaging conflict or, where disputes are already emerging, to manage them in a way that preserves value as far as possible.
WHO WE ASSIST
The Clients & Advisers We Act for.
01
High‑Net‑Worth Families & Principals
High‑net‑worth families and principals whose wealth spans businesses, real estate and investment portfolios, and who want to plan for how that wealth and control will pass between generations.
02
Family Offices & Private Groups
Family offices and private groups responsible for coordinating structures, governance and succession across multiple entities and family branches.
03
Founders & Senior Generation Controllers
Founders and senior generation controllers of family businesses and private groups who wish to step back, bring in successors or otherwise change their role while preserving the integrity of the group.
04
Next‑Generation Family Members
Next‑generation family members who are taking on greater responsibility and need clarity on governance, control and their own position within structures.
05
Executors & Prospective Executors In Complex Estates
Executors and prospective executors dealing with, or planning for, estates that involve complex private group structures and significant family dynamics.
06
Accountants, Lawyers & Family Advisers
Accountants, lawyers and other family advisers whose clients are approaching succession decisions or intergenerational transfers and who require specialist legal and tax input.
Discuss Your Matter in Confidence.
If you are facing a serious tax, commercial, private wealth or whistleblower issue, contact Watson Tax Lawyers for a confidential discussion about your position and the options available.
BY THE NUMBERS
40+
Years advising on tax, commercial and private wealth matters
28
Years as a partner at Greenwoods & Herbert Smith Freehills
100+
Significant transactions, projects and disputes.
150+
Private groups, family offices and high-net-worth clients advised
Solicitor & Chartered Accountant | 35+ years’ experience in family wealth & succession
founder of watson tax lawyers
Meet Anthony Watson
Anthony Watson is the principal of Watson Tax Lawyers. He is both a solicitor and a chartered accountant, with more than 35 years’ experience advising private groups, family offices and high‑net‑worth families on succession, control, trusts and intergenerational wealth.
His work includes wills and estate issues, family trusts and other entities, control of private groups, business and investment succession, dispute risk management and the tax consequences of different pathways for passing wealth and control.
CLIENT CONFIDENCE
01 / 05
HOW THE PROCESS WORKS
How the Process Works for Intergenerational Wealth & Succession
01
Confidential Discussion & Family Map
We begin with a confidential discussion about the family, the current structures, who is involved and what the senior and next generations are hoping to achieve.
02
Assessment of Structures, Risks & Options
Anthony reviews the existing arrangements – including companies, trusts, wills and constitutions – identifies key legal, tax and governance issues, and outlines realistic options for succession and transfer.
03
Design of Succession & Governance Framework
We design and document a framework for how ownership, control and benefits will pass, and how decisions will be made, drawing on wills, trusts, company documents and governance arrangements as needed.
04
Implementation & Ongoing Counsel Across Generations
Implementation is handled with care and discretion, with Anthony remaining involved as ongoing counsel so that arrangements can adapt as family circumstances, relationships and the law change over time.
Discuss Your Matter in Confidence.
If you are facing a serious tax, commercial, private wealth or whistleblower issue, contact Watson Tax Lawyers for a confidential discussion about your position and the options available.
WHY CHOOSE US
Why Watson Tax Lawyers for Intergenerational Wealth & Succession
I
Senior Counsel on Sensitive Family Issues
Succession and intergenerational issues are handled personally by Anthony, reflecting the sensitivity and long‑term consequences of these decisions.
II
Integrated View of Tax, Law & Family Dynamics
Advice reflects tax, legal structure and family dynamics together, recognising that documents alone do not determine how wealth and control will in fact pass.
III
Experience with Complex Private Groups & Families
Anthony has substantial experience acting for private groups and families where trust structures, companies, estates and family expectations all intersect.
IV
Collaborative with Family Offices & Advisers
Watson Tax Lawyers regularly works alongside family offices, accountants, lawyers and other advisers, adding specialist legal and tax judgment while respecting existing relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions about Intergenerational Wealth Transfer & Succession
When should we start planning for succession?
Ideally well before any transition is imminent. Early planning allows options to be considered calmly, structures to be adjusted carefully and expectations to be managed before pressure points arise.
Do you only act where there is already a dispute?
No. A significant part of this work is pre‑dispute — identifying and addressing potential sources of disagreement before they crystallise. Where disputes have already emerged, we help clients understand their position and options, and seek to protect value as far as possible.
How do you work with our existing family office and advisers?
We usually work alongside your existing family office team, accountants, financial advisers and lawyers. Our role is to provide specialist legal and tax input on structures, governance and succession, while those advisers continue to play central roles.
Do you act for multiple family members in the same matter?
We conduct conflict checks at the outset and are clear about who the client is. In some matters we act for the family as a whole; in others, only for particular members or entities. Where we cannot act for more than one party, we will explain that position and, where appropriate, suggest alternative arrangements.
DISCUSS YOUR MATTER IN CONFIDENCE
Begin a Confidential Conversation.
If you are facing a serious tax, commercial, private wealth or whistleblower issue, contact Watson Tax Lawyers for a confidential discussion about your position and the options available.
- Watson Tax Lawyers will review your enquiry and respond as soon as practicable. The firm will confirm separately whether it is able to act and, if so, the applicable terms of engagement.