Bessemer Trust hires new legacy planner in Miami

FWR Staff

26 July 2007

Former Baker McKenzie attorney DeWitt to advise families on wealth transfer. New York-based multifamily office Bessemer Trust has hired a new "legacy planner" for its Miami office. In her new role Suzanne DeWitt primarily advises Bessemer's U.S. and international clients on matters relating to the tax-effective transfer of wealth.

DeWitt reports to Bessemer's senior fiduciary counsel William Forsyth, who is based in New York. Bessemer's Miami office head is Kerry Lynn Rapport.

International

"Suzanne brings extensive legacy planning experience to this position and is particularly knowledgeable in helping international clients," says Forsyth. "Her expertise extends across all phases of clients' estate and trust planning needs, from dealing with cross-border tax issues to more traditional planning issues faced by U.S. residents."

Florida is a hub for non-U.S. high-net-worth individuals and families with U.S. investments.

DeWitt comes to Bessemer from Baker & McKenzie, a Chicago-based law firm with an extensive international practice. DeWitt worked in Baker & McKenzie's international tax, trust and estate planning group.

Bessemer refers to its tax and estate advisory activities as a "legacy planning" to dispel the idea that it functions as a law firm. "We don't draft documents," says Forsyth. "We work with clients' outside attorneys."

In addition to New York and Miami, Bessemer has offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Naples, Fla., Palm Beach, Fla., San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Wilmington, Del., Woodbridge, N.J., London and Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.

Bessemer oversees about $50 billion on behalf of its clients. -FWR