This website uses cookies. By using this website, you agree to our Cookie Policy.
Matthew Sperry is a partner in Cadwalader’s Private Wealth practice, resident in the firm’s London and New York offices. He is a leading international tax, trust, and estate planning attorney who helps global family offices, ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and trustees navigate the complexities of accessing the United States.
Practice Focus
Matthew’s practice is centered on developing simple, yet sophisticated, investment, wealth succession, and family governance structures. He leverages state-of-the-art legal concepts—including trusts, foundations, and corporate entities—to help clients achieve their personal and financial goals. His tailored approach is designed to:
- Seamlessly transition wealth between generations.
- Minimize global tax and reporting burdens.
- Develop and manage family investment programs.
- Hedge against geopolitical and economic volatility.
- Protect personal wealth and foster privacy.
- Advance family harmony.
He provides personal and dedicated service to clients across Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Canada.
Core Services
Matthew advises clients on a wide range of complex cross-border issues, with a focus on:
International Wealth Structuring
- Intergenerational Succession & Family Governance: Helping global families navigate and design structures for the seamless transfer of wealth across generations, while also addressing the unique governance and cultural issues involved.
- Tax & Trust Planning: Designing family structures optimized for global taxation, privacy, and asset protection, ensuring compliance with international reporting standards (FATCA and CRS).
- Family Office Advisory: Assisting clients in structuring, operating, and governing single and multi-family offices, as well as addressing the specific needs of existing family offices.
- Private Trust Companies: Assessing the viability of private trust company structures, which can provide families with greater control and visibility over the administration of family trusts.
Family Investment Programs
- Direct & Impact Investing: Advising on the legal, tax, and business challenges of international direct investing, including assisting clients with thematic and impact investing, including ESG.
- Investment Treaty Planning: Helping clients protect their investments against geopolitical risk by structuring them to benefit from global investment treaties.
- Private Investment Funds: Utilizing private investment fund structures to create pooled vehicles for family and family office investments, thus enabling diversified global portfolios with varied levels of family participation.
Fiduciary and Family Litigation
- Fiduciary & Family Litigation: Providing strategic support and counsel in fiduciary litigation, including disputes involving family wealth and the United States.
Experience and Recognition
A recognized and quoted voice in the private wealth community, Matthew’s insights have been featured in publications such as The Times and Financial Times Adviser. He is a frequent speaker and author on international private wealth matters. Matthew has been consistently recognized by The American Lawyer, Chambers USA, Citywealth, Lexology and other publications for his work on behalf of clients.
Matthew earned his LL.M. in Taxation, and his J.D. and B.S. from the University of Florida. He is admitted to practice in New York, Illinois and Florida and is a Registered Foreign Lawyer in England and Wales. Matthew's tax experience includes serving as a law clerk to Judge Carolyn P. Chiechi of the U.S. Tax Court in Washington, DC.
