Bringing clarity and stability to complex estates and cross-border succession

      Across jurisdictions and generations, assets rarely rest in one location. From active businesses to passive investments, families build wealth across complex structures over time. When death or incapacity occurs without clear estate planning in place, uncertainty doesn’t appear with notice: it arrives all at once.

      For individuals, families and business owners, the consequences can be immediate. Company controls and family wealth management get disrupted as governance blurs. Tax exposure can crystallize overnight. And the differences between jurisdictions and their legal regimes can create confusion, precisely when stability is needed most.

      At KPMG Law, our succession and estate lawyers work alongside KPMG tax, accounting and corporate specialists to help design and implement frameworks that make a meaningful difference. From lifetime planning through to estate administration, we aim to provide a single, trusted point of contact across legal, tax and accounting matters, delivering the support you need to navigate what comes next.


      How we help

      The KPMG Law Succession practice supports private individuals and business families in planning for incapacity and death, and in administering complex estates for continuity. Working with our global organization of tax and accounting professionals, we help ensure that planning is clear and actions are coordinated, before and after life-changing moments.


      International succession and incapacity planning

      Our global practice designs robust succession structures for complex estates and interests across jurisdictions. From planning for death and incapacity to establishing wills, trusts and governance arrangements, we help create control mechanisms designed for the long term.

      Business and corporate succession

      Whether transferring ownership or management within private companies or group structures, our practice lawyers align succession planning with corporate governance frameworks to help preserve operational continuity and decision-making authority.

      Tax and structural alignment

      Working alongside our global organization of tax and accounting specialists, our practice coordinates estate planning with cross-border tax strategy. KPMG professionals support the structuring of trusts and ownership vehicles to help reduce exposure and maintain consistency across global holdings.

      Estate administration and ongoing oversight

      Following a person’s death, we support beneficiaries in administering estates and implementing succession plans. Bridging legal and tax requirements, our collaborative approach helps avoid breakdowns and helps ensure structures operate smoothly as intended.



      Our technology

      With significant investment in our own proprietary legal AI technologies and alliances across the globe, we combine legal experience with technology-enabled delivery to help you orchestrate effective estate planning across business and borders.

      Designed to enable smarter decisions, faster execution and confident cross-border collaboration, KPMG Digital Gateway helps you connect the data dots across legal disciplines and departments, enhancing outcomes from a single platform.

      Across succession law and broader legal services, we’re investing in AI-driven legal platforms that help drive decision-making and accelerate outcomes, helping you navigate complexity at speed and with ease.


      Your estate planning and succession needs. Supported by our global legal capabilities

      Estate and succession planning demand more than local legal advice. For individuals and families with complex domestic or international assets, continuity depends on consistency. At KPMG Law, we operate within a connected global organization of tax, legal and accounting specialists, providing a single point of coordination to help ensure consistency and long-term stability across generations.

      With over 3,600 legal professionals across more than 80 jurisdictions, our global services platform can help you shape the right succession strategy.

      Supporting complex business needs across borders and balance sheets, KPMG Law helps keep you competitive across our global practice areas.

      Discover our innovative services helping organizations scale legal support and embed capability into day-to-day operations.

      See how our sector-embedded legal professionals support legal leaders facing real-world challenges in today’s fast-moving industries.



      Our insights

      Stay current with the latest thinking from KPMG legal professionals.

      As GCs move from gatekeeper to strategic leader, what does it take to lead a next‑generation legal function? Find out in our survey report.

      Learn about some of the most pressing issues impacting in-house legal leaders, with our global series of publications.


      Our people

      Andrew Higdon

      Senior Associate, Estates & Trusts, KPMG Law LLP

      KPMG in Canada

      Alice Killingbeck

      Partner, KPMG Law

      KPMG in the UK

      Alaina Spec

      Partner, Estates and Trusts, KPMG Law LLP

      KPMG Canada


      Connect with us

      We combine our multidisciplinary approach to succession with deep, practical legal knowledge to help clients meet challenges and seize opportunities. Connect with your local KPMG team to start the conversation.
       

      Legal services may not be offered to SEC registrant audit clients or where otherwise prohibited by law.