For high-net-worth individuals with £1 million or more in investable assets, a dependable Homme d’Affaires can be indispensable.
It’s a broad term that encompasses a range of services, but a homme d’affaires is someone – often a qualified lawyer – who can fight their clients’ corner in crucial aspects of both their business and personal life. This can entail anything from negotiating contracts on their behalf, managing their finances, and even assisting on reputation and public affairs.
‘Hommes d’Affaires are the rarest of legal creatures: highly focused on solving the legal and quasi-legal problems of their very high profile clients, they are the most trusted of the trusted advisers. Typically forming long and close relationships with their select clientele, they demand and provide a level of service that very few can hope to replicate.‘
Ian Douglas, Spear’s head of research
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Best Hommes d’Affaires: names to know
Sarah Gogan – New Addition
Firm: Harbottle & Lewis
Gogan has moved from immigration lawyers to Hommes d’Affaires in recognition of the high level of wide-ranging and strategic advice she offers. In addition to immigration, she advises on anything her clients require, offering a holistic service, bringing in other specialists where necessary. Her clientele includes politicians, dissidents, Hollywood stars, and business people.
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Read Sarah Gogan’s full profile on Spears500.com
John Gibson – Top Recommended
Firm: Cohen & Gresser
When John Gibson joined Cohen & Gresser’s London office in 2018, he brought with him extensive experience in economic crime and investigations. With a background in UK/US cooperation in economic crime investigation, he now leads the firm’s white collar and investigations practice. Gibson is known for his ability to handle complex, multinational financial crime matters and high-profile clients with finesse.
Read John Gibson’s full profile on Spears500.com
Richard Kovalevsky KC – Top Recommended
Firm: Cohen & Gresser
Richard Kovalevsky KC assists clients seeking expert tactical and legal advice to assist them in preventing or dealing with a wide range of issues – from business-related transactions, financing, stock market dealings, listings and announcements, to corruption, tax, fraud and money laundering.
His clients have included individuals involved in stock exchange allegations and tax challenges by HMRC, as well as Swiss fiduciaries, entrepreneurs, prominent families, and politicians.
Read Richard Kovalevsky’s full profile on Spears500.com
Methodology
In selecting and ranking Hommes d’Affaires, the Spear’s Research Unit conducts extensive research of the market, including interviews with well-informed observers, industry insiders and of course the advisers themselves. These take place both face-to-face, and on video and telephone calls. Candidates for inclusion are asked to fill in a form to provide data and a description of their work and client base. In finalising its selections and rankings, the Spear’s Research Unit employs a proprietary methodology that includes a weighted scoring system. This takes into account factors including an adviser’s standing, reputation, client base, recommendations and testimonials, the firm they represent, their level of engagement with the process and certain industry-specific criteria.
Best Hommes d’Affaires: the complete list
Click on the individual names to be directed to more detailed profiles of each adviser on The Spear’s 500 website. The table is ordered by ranking and then alphabetically by surname.
Find out more
To explore all the Spear’s indices, and to use our find-an-adviser tool to identify the private client adviser who is right for your specific requirements, go to the Spear’s 500 website.
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