David Russell KC speaking at the Wealth Planning & Structuring Forum – Dubai 2025

David Russell KC will be speaking at the Wealth Planning & Structuring Forum – Dubai 2025 on Wednesday 10th September at Shangri-La Dubai.

This full-day forum will bring together leading minds in wealth planning, structuring, and private client advisory. David Russell KC will discuss ‘Wealth Structures for Islamic Business Families’ alongside Zac Lucas of Spencer West, Ella Moldoveanu of Hourani & Partners and Richard Catling of Al Tamimi & Co from 11:30am to 12:00pm.

This session will provide an in-depth examination of how Islamic business families can navigate the intersection of Shari’a principles and modern wealth structuring tools. The panel will discuss practical strategies for succession planning that respect faith-based requirements while utilising frameworks such as DIFC trusts and foundations. The discussion will address scenarios where founders wish to retain control or include heirs outside strict Shari’a rules, as well as the legal implications for non-resident families with UAE assets. With cross-border complexities and evolving legal precedents, this panel offers critical insights into creating compliant, effective, and future-proof structures for Islamic business families.

For more details on the event, and to view the full agenda, click here.

To register for the event, click here.

Find out more

David is admitted to practise in England and Wales, Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, New York (as a legal consultant) and the Courts of the Dubai International Financial Centre . He was first appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1986. He was President of the Taxation Institute of Australia from 1993 to 1995, and of the Asia Oceania Tax Consultants’ Association (“AOTCA”) from 1996 to 2000. He has been appointed an AOTCA Honorary Adviser for life, an Honorary Member of the Taxation Institute of Hong Kong and an Advisor of the Global Tax Advisors Platform. He was a co-chair of the UAE Chapter of the International Section of the New York State Bar Association, an Academician and Council Member of The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law and since 2016 has been a member of Legal Week’s Private Client Global Elite. In 2016 and 2017 he chaired the DIFC’s Wealth Management Review, has contributed to the drafting of the DIFC Trust and Foundations Laws, and is the Executive Editor of the Laws of the DIFC.

To find out more about David, contact Lexie Johnson on + 44 (0) 207 427 0801 for a confidential discussion.

News 4 Sep, 2025