The Bank of Bermuda is aiming to enhance its profile as a global financial advisor to wealthy families, and focus attention on Bermuda at the same time, by hosting an international conference next month.

The Global Family Wealth Conference in Bermuda will take place December 9 - 10 at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel. The conference will bring together an international line up of banking, investments, trusts and legal advisors to share their expertise with members and representatives of wealthy families expected to attend the event from the US, Europe and Bermuda. The conference is designed to assist families who are managing wealth accumulated over several generations, most typically from a long-established family business.

The comprehensive programme will help delegates learn more about a wide range of topics to help them preserve their privacy, wealth and legacy, including investing and philanthropy and the newest structures and investment practices used by wealthy families.

"We're dealing with truly international families more and more these days," said Peter Larder, head of fiduciary services, Bank of Bermuda and general manager of Bermuda Trust Company Ltd. "Parts of their business and their personal lives are scattered around the world. For many, consolidation of their affairs can be done in a tax neutral jurisdiction like Bermuda. After structures are set up for them properly and reviewed regularly, they need a complete investment strategy to use their assets properly.

"So for us this conference is an opportunity to raise the profile of what can be done in Bermuda within the HSBC Group, and also to position Bermuda as the leading jurisdiction for family wealth."

"We're seeing increasing interest in Bermuda for this business and more family offices being formed here," said Jamie Gutteridge, director of Family Office Services, Bank of Bermuda. "We started the family office group five years ago ? we looked at the 40 most demanding clients at the time in terms of technical issues, asset management, and then did some seminars on managing assets and setting up family offices. The business has grown for us, and we're seeing now that there's more dialogue with local families as well as our international clients.

"Really Bermuda has been rather quiet in this respect (previously), but now we're with HSBC it's a good opportunity to have this kind of event."

Philip Butterfield, CEO of the Bank of Bermuda will open the conference and Finance Minister Paula Cox is slated to give a lunchtime address on the first day. The bank is hosting the event in conjunction with international law firm Withers Bergman and Joseph Field, a principal of that firm, is among the roster of speakers which features many of the most respected names in the wealth management industry.

"This is an exciting way to do a joint venture of this kind," said Mr. Larder. "Withers is a world class firm and we're delighted to have them associated with Bermuda. We'll also have Jay Hughes speaking who is renowned for his expertise in this field. He will look at succession issues and how to pass on the passion for a business from one generation to the next, which is a big issue for most of these families."

James "Jay" Hughes is a sixth-generation counsellor-at-law, now retired, who has written books and articles on family governance and wealth preservation. He is renowned for facilitating multi-generational family meetings with an emphasis on mission statements and governance issues.

Mr. Larder said that speakers, who include top advisors from local law firms as well as global players Baker & McKenzie and Macfarlanes, and HSBC Private Bank New York, will also tackle the issue of effective philanthropy and how philanthropic cultures and practices are evolving among wealthy families.

"We've been interested in looking at how to promote Bermuda as a progressive philanthropy jurisdiction," he said. "Families need to find out what we can do to make that work from a tax regimes perspective."

Other conference topics will cover the regulatory regime in Bermuda; trust law developments in civil law jurisdictions; delivering alternative investments tax efficiently; structuring private equity funds; and currency management.

Mr. Larder said that while the conference will bring delegates from overseas to Bermuda, it will also be useful for professionals from local firms who regularly provide wealthy families from here and abroad with advice about asset management and investments.

"We hope that all relevant service providers here will come and ultimately benefit," he said. "And while some families are very private and wouldn't want to attend an event that's an open forum, others want to attend to see what people are doing. So this event offers an opportunity for families to interact with other families as well as some key advisors."