- Address: 123 Anywhere Street
- hello@watsontax.com.au
SYDNEY · MELBOURNE · CANBERRA · AUSTRALIA
Lawyers for Family Offices, Private Groups & Intergenerational Wealth
Senior legal, tax & commercial advice on preserving, transferring & controlling family wealth.
ABOUT WATSON Tax LAWYERS
Who We Are
Watson Tax Lawyers advises family offices, private groups and high‑net‑worth families on the legal, tax and commercial issues involved in preserving, transferring and controlling family wealth.
These matters often involve more than documents. They require judgment about succession, control, family expectations, governance and the avoidance or resolution of disputes within complex private groups.
What We Do for Family Offices & Private Groups
01
Intergenerational Wealth Transfer & Succession
Advice on succession planning, wills and estate issues, family trusts, control of private entities and the orderly transfer of business and investment assets.
The focus is on helping families make decisions before disputes emerge, and structuring arrangements so that wealth, control and responsibility pass in a deliberate and commercially sensible way.
02
Private Groups & Family Businesses
Advising large private groups and family businesses on ownership, control, governance, family company and trust structures, business succession, asset protection, tax risk and disputes or potential disputes between family members.
Matters are approached with an understanding that the family’s commercial interests, personal relationships and long‑term wealth strategy often need to be considered together.
03
Family Entity Control, Governance & Disputes
Assisting where control, authority or expectations within a family group are unclear or contested, or where disputes have already arisen.
Work includes clarifying roles and powers, identifying legal and commercial risks, and developing strategies directed to resolution, preservation of value and protection of the client’s position.
04
Estate Administration & Estate Disputes for Private Groups
Advising on the administration of estates where significant private group interests, trusts and companies are involved, and on disputes or potential disputes in that context.
The aim is to bring clarity and structure to matters that can otherwise become sensitive, complex and commercially challenging.
05
Family Office Structuring & Governance
Assisting families to establish or refine the legal and governance architecture of a family office or private group – including holding structures, trustee arrangements and decision‑making frameworks.
The goal is to align governance, control and tax outcomes with the family’s long‑term objectives and to reduce the risk of gaps that invite dispute.
06
Working with Family Offices & Advisers
Watson Tax Lawyers works directly with families and private groups, and also with family offices, accountants, lawyers, financial advisers and business advisers.
Anthony is often engaged to provide senior legal and tax judgment where existing advisers remain closely involved but the matter requires additional specialist input.
WHO WE ASSIST
The Clients & Advisers We Act for.
01
Family Offices & Private Groups
Family offices and private groups responsible for significant business and investment assets held through companies, trusts and other entities, where control, tax and governance questions arise together.
02
High‑Net‑Worth Families
High‑net‑worth families whose wealth spans operating businesses, real estate and investment portfolios, and who need to plan for succession, control and distributions across generations.
03
Founders & Family Business Principals
Founders and family business principals preparing to hand control to the next generation, bring in new principals, or reshape ownership and management structures.
04
Trustees, Directors & Controllers Of Family Entities
Trustees, directors and other controllers of family companies and trusts who carry legal responsibilities, and who need advice on how best to discharge those responsibilities in difficult or contested situations.
05
Executors & Estate Administrators in Complex Estates
Executors and administrators of estates involving substantial private group interests and complex family dynamics, where estate administration and related disputes intersect with ongoing business and tax issues.
06
Accountants, Lawyers & Family Office Advisers
Accountants, lawyers and family office advisers whose clients are facing succession, control or dispute issues within private groups, and who require specialist legal and tax support for those matters.
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 with private groups & family wealth
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 tax, commercial and wealth‑related matters.
His work includes succession and intergenerational wealth planning, family company and trust structures, governance frameworks, disputes or potential disputes within family groups, and the tax and commercial issues that arise when wealth, control and family dynamics intersect.
CLIENT CONFIDENCE
01 / 05
HOW THE PROCESS WORKS
How the Process Works for Family Offices & Private Groups
01
Confidential Discussion & Mapping
We start with a confidential discussion about the family, the entities involved, the current arrangements and what is at stake – commercially, personally and across generations.
02
Initial View & Scope of Work
Anthony sets out an initial view of the issues, the range of viable options and the level of work required, so you can decide whether and how to proceed.
03
Structure, Governance & Succession Strategy
We design and document a clear path forward – whether that is restructuring entities, clarifying governance, planning succession, or addressing emerging or existing disputes within the group.
04
Implementation & Ongoing Counsel
Implementation is handled with care and discretion, with Anthony remaining involved as ongoing counsel so that structures and arrangements can adapt as circumstances and family dynamics change.
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 Family Offices & Private Groups
I
Senior Counsel on Sensitive Matters
Family wealth, succession and control issues are handled personally by Anthony, bringing senior legal and tax judgment to matters that are both commercially and personally significant.
II
Integrated Tax, Legal & Commercial View
Advice reflects tax, legal and commercial considerations together, recognising that decisions about entities and governance sit within a broader family and business context.
III
Deep Experience with Private Groups & Families
Anthony has substantial experience acting for private groups, family interests and high‑wealth clients where tax, control, succession and family dynamics intersect.
IV
Collaborative with Family Offices & Advisers
Watson Tax Lawyers is used to working alongside family offices, accountants, lawyers and other advisers. The aim is to add specialist judgment while maintaining and respecting existing advisory relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions about Family Offices & Private Groups
When should we involve Watson Tax Lawyers on family or private group matters?
Typically when the issues go beyond routine documents and become questions of succession, control, governance or potential disputes within a family or private group. Many engagements begin when existing advisers recognise that sensitive or complex issues are emerging and want senior legal and tax input.
Do you only act for very large or ultra‑high‑net‑worth families?
No. The focus is on complexity and sensitivity rather than a specific asset threshold. Watson Tax Lawyers acts for a range of private groups and families where the structures, relationships and issues involved require senior judgment.
How do you work with insolvency practitioners and other advisers?
In most cases we work alongside your existing family office team, accountants, financial advisers and lawyers. They remain deeply involved; Anthony is engaged to provide specialist legal and tax input on particular structures, governance questions or disputes.
Do you act for multiple family members in a dispute?
We run proper conflict checks at the outset and are clear about who the client is in any given matter. Where we cannot act for all parties, we will explain the position and, where appropriate, suggest alternative arrangements or firms.
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.