The branch committee
The committee of the STEP Suisse-Romande branch is elected by the Annual General Meetings of the branch and its principal functions are to arrange events in furtherance of the society’s objects—see the About STEP page—and to expand membership of the society—see the Membership page. Full details of the committee’s functions and the election process are in sections 2 and 6 of the branch regulations—see the Regulations page.

The current committee members are listed below.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Julien DIF, Chairman
Julien has been a partner with Geneva law firm Bonnard Lawson since October 2009. He was called to the Luxembourg Bar in 2001 and to the Geneva Bar in 2007, after completing an LL.B in English law at King's College London and a Maîtrise in French law at the University of Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne. Julien is fluent in French and English and has a good knowledge of German.

 

 

 022 707 30 55
  jd@ilf.ch
  www.ilf.ch

Cécile CIVIALE VUILLIER, Vice-Charman
Cécile Joined Bedell Trust Suisse in October 2010 as a new Director. She previously worked in the UK and France, before becoming head of a trust company in Switzerland. Following a degree in trade and Commerce, Cécile gained qualifications in company law and practice, international trust management and account.

 

 

  022 312 59 81
  cecile.civialevuillier@bedellgroup.ch
  www.bedellgroup.com

Andrew CLEETON, Secretary
Andrew is Head of Fiduciary Services with Standard Chartered Private Bank in Geneva. He is also a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. Andrew's career spans some 30 years in corporate and private client services with leading accounting and legal firms, a major Asian international financial services conglomerate and international private banking groups. He has previously lived and worked in the Asia-Pacific region, continental Europe, the Middle East and the UK / Channel Islands. Andrew has previously served on numerous professional bodies in the various jurisdictions where he has lived and worked, including educational and charitable institutions.

  
  andrew.cleeton@sc.com
  www.privatebank.standardchartered.com

Andrew MC CALLUM, Treasurer
Andrew is a partner at Rawlinson & Hunter in Geneva. He is a UK qualified Chartered Accountant and is a registered auditor in Switzerland, the UK and Ireland. He is a graduate of the University of Glasgow (BAcc(Hons)) and the University of Warwick (MBA). He specialises in the accounting and audit of trust and corporate structures, as well as managing a portfolio of trust structures. He is a member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

  
  
  

Michelle HUNT, Secretariat of STEP Suisse Romande
c/o Nerine Fiduciaire S.A.
4, Rue des Terreaux-du-Temple
Case postale 5023
1211 Geneva 11
Switzerland

022 715 23 26
 Michelle.Hunt@nerine.ch

Clare USHER-WILSON, Membership Secretary
Clare Usher-Wilson is Trust Relationship Manager at Close Trustees (Switzerland) SA. Clare began her trust career with in an international trust company in Guernsey, as a bursary student in 1998. Upon graduation from Royal Holloway College, University of London (BA Hons), she continued her career in Liechtenstein. In 2003, Clare worked voluntarily for a charitable trust before moving to Geneva in 2004. She has a wide range of experience of trust and company management, specialising in providing trust management services to family offices. Clare is an active member of the STEP student community and currently completing her STEP Diploma.

  022 707 83 95
  cuw@closetrustees.com
  www.closetrustees.com

David Wallace WILSON, Web & Communications Officer
David is a partner at Schellenberg Wittmer, where he advises private clients on international estate planning, trusts and other succession vehicles. He is admitted to the Geneva Bar as well as to the New York Bar. He is a graduate of the Geneva University (lic.jur.) and holds a Masters in Comparative Jurisprudence from New York University.

David is fluent in English, French and German.

  022 707 8001
  david.wilson@swlegal.ch
  www.swlegal.ch

Henry FEA, Education Secretary
Henry is a partner at Charles Russell LLP. He joined the London office of the firm in 2002 and moved to Geneva to head the office in 2009. He specialises in advising high net worth individuals on international wealth structuring and succession and tax planning. He is a graduate of Bristol University (LLB Hons) and is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales. Henry is a member of the Law Society of England and Wales, the Charity Law Association and the British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce.

  022 591 18 99
  Henry.Fea@charlesrussell.ch
  www.charlesrussell.ch

Philippe PULFER, Geneva Bar Liaison Officer
Philippe Pulfer is a partner of Froriep Renggli Attorneys-at-law in Geneva and spent three years in this firm's London office. Philippe specialises in private client work, estate and tax planning with an international focus. He is a frequent adviser to families, banks and lawyers in other jurisdictions, in particular UK solicitors. He is involved in art law and sits on the board of philanthropic organisations focusing on art and architecture. Philippe graduated from the University of Geneva in 1992 and has been admitted to the Geneva bar since 1995. He speaks French and English.

 022 347 71 59
  ppulfer@froriep.ch
  www.froreip.com

Justine MARKOVITZ, Luncheon Events
Justine joined Withers London office in 1999 and became a principal in 2004, before becoming head of the Geneva Office in September 2005. She specialises in onshore and offshore trusts, tax and estate planning for high net worth individuals, with particular emphasis on planning for UK resident non-domiciliaries. She is a graduate of the Manchester University (BA Hons) and is admitted in England & Wales.
Justine is a contributor to Tolley's Planning and Administration of Offshore and Onshore Trusts. Justine is also a member of the British Swiss Chamber of Commerce, the British Israel Law Association, the Charity Law Association and the Law Society of England and Wales.

  022 593 77 78
  justine.markovitz@withersworldwide.com
  www.withersworldwide.com

Philippe DE LA DEBUTRIE, Recording Secretary
Philippe, born 1949, studied Business Management and Administration in Paris (1972), TEP since 1993. He completed the Diploma in International Trust Management (2006) and the Swiss Advanced Certificate in Trust Management (2008). He has 3 years experience in Banking and more than 20 years experience in the creation, management, administration of trusts, foundations and companies, and joined ATC (Switzerland) SARL in 2006. Philippe speaks French, English and has good knowledge of German.

  022 702 92 39
  philippe.de.la.debutrie@atctrust.ch
  www.atcgroup.info

Belinda FERRE, Special Events Officer
Belinda is Director at Bank Sarasin & Co., Geneva, that she joined in 1997 to assist in the setting up of the Geneva branch. Since 2003 she is head of the External Trusts and Service Providers team which was created especially to provide full private banking services whilst meeting trustees' particular needs and requirements. She moved here from California in 1987, where she worked previously with J.P. Morgan and Coutts & Co, which has enabled her to acquire a wide experience in international private banking.

  022 322 98 02
  Belinda.ferre@sarasin.ch
  www.sarasin.ch

Olivier SIGG, Student Liaison Officer
Olivier has been a lawyer with Froriep Renggli Attorneys-at-law since 2005. His main expertise is in trusts, foundations and other estate planning techniques. He graduated from the University of Geneva in 2002 and has been admitted to the Geneva bar since 2005. His professional languages are French, Italian, English and some Spanish. Olivier is currently completing his STEP Diploma.

 

 022 347 71 59
  osigg@froriep.ch
  www.froriep.com

Leila PILLONEL, Student Events Officer
Leila is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and holds a Bachelor of Arts (modern Japanese literature) from the University of Shizuoka, Japan, and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Sydney, Australia. She has developed an expertise in fiduciary vehicles holding art, as well as UK commercial and residential property. She is fluent in English, French and Japanese.

 

 022 807 2005
  leila.pillonel@investectrust.ch
  www.investectrust.com

Stephanie JARRETT, Former Chairman
Stephanie is a partner at Baker & McKenzie which she joined in May 2000. She specialises in trusts, and estate and personal tax planning and heads the firm's Private Banking Practice Group in Geneva. She is a graduate of the University of London (LLB Hons) and was called to the English Bar at Lincoln's Inn.

Stephanie is fluent in English and French and has good knowledge of German, Italian and Spanish

  022 707 9801
  stephanie.jarrett@bakernet.com
  www.bakernet.com

Edward LAVELLE, Thesis Route Liaison and Marketing
Edward is Head of Trust Management at the Geneva branch of HSBC’s Trust operations, which he joined in 2002. Previously he has worked for independent trust companies in both London and Geneva as well as helping to establish a Family Office.
Edward is a graduate of the University of Birmingham where he took Law with Business Studies (LLB Hons).

 

  058 705 57 55
  edward.lavelle@hsbc.guyerzellertrust.com
  www.hsbc.guyerzeller.com

Richard F.G. PEASE, Former STEP Worldwide Chairman
Richard is an English solicitor and has been a partner in the Geneva law firm of Lenz & Staehelin since 1972. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the International Tax Planning Association, of which he was a co-founder, and is a former member of the Law Society’s Revenue Law Committee. Richard is a graduate of Cambridge University.
Richard was elected STEP Worldwide Chairman on 17 November 2006 and served for a one year term until December 2007. See STEP press statement.

  022 318 7001
  richard.pease@lenzstaehelin.com
  www.lenzstaehelin.com