Richard F. G. Pease
STEP Worldwide Chair

After graduating from Cambridge University in 1962 with a degree in Economics and Law, and subsequently (in 1965) a LLM degree in International Law from the same University, Richard joined Allen & Overy in the City of London, and was admitted as a Solicitor in 1967.

In 1968 he left London to join the Swiss law firm of Lenz Schluep Briner & de Coulon where he developed a new practice area of international estate and tax planning. He is now head of the Private Client Group in the Geneva office of the firm now called Lenz & Staehelin, which is Switzerland’s largest law firm.

In 1975, Richard was a founder member of the International Tax Planning Association and has served since that year as a member of its Executive Committee.

He served on the UK Law Society’s Revenue Committee from 1984 to 1994.

In 1989-92 Richard acted as consultant to the Cyprus Central Bank and was the draughtsman of the 1992 International Trust Law of Cyprus. He has since worked on a consultancy basis for the Liechtenstein government, for the Mauritius Offshore Business Authority and for the government of St. Kitts where he was the draughtsman of the Foundation Act of 2003.

He was elected to the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law in 1996.

In 1994 Richard was a founder member of the Suisse Romande Branch of STEP, and served as its Branch Chairman from 1996 to 2003. He is currently Chairman of STEP Worldwide.