Burlingtons Magazine | Issue 07 | Winter 2021

Celebrating the Lunar New Year’s focus on creative and courageous business

PATHS TO SUCCESS Burlingtons Group sets its goals for a pivotal year

GIVING BACK The feel-good rise of Donor Advised Funds

BOSS & CO How London’s finest gunmaker aims to innovate

N O 07 | W I N TE R 2022

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urlingtons Group is a multi-specialist group of professionals. We deliver highly personal integrated advice to our clients’ business and personal interests across the globe. Our solutions for your business and private interests bridge legal, tax, accounting, real estate, IT, fiduciary services and our own private office.

Our Burlingtons Club hosts an international private community of carefully selected professionals sharing the highest standards of excellence and client care. Drawn from lawyers, accountants, wealth managers, hedge funds, tax advisors and other experts across the globe, we come together to work and pool our collective skills, expertise and experience to provide added value to our client.

Our global reach, contact base and influence is not only headquartered in the heart of London, but we also have offices in Almaty, Moscow, St Petersburg, Geneva, Malta and Gibraltar with a wider international reach through Burlingtons Club.

Visit us at burlingtons.group

FROM THE

CEO

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AM DELIGHTED to welcome you to our Winter 2022 issue of Burlingtons Magazine. Launching in February, this issue might have missed the initial annual rush to create the usual unkeepable New Year’s Resolutions but, instead, it’s given us an opportunity to examine what we want to achieve this year at a more leisurely and considered pace.

As many of our international clients celebrate the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Tiger, we too are embracing that courageous, creative spirit as we celebrate the triumphs of the past year – and look ahead to our ambitious goals for growth in 2022. Read more on page 32.

This feeling of determination and renewed hope is being felt throughout a variety of business sectors, and reflected throughout the pages of this edition. We are pleased to announce a new webinar with Integra Private Wealth’s Alistair Muscat (44), talk the logistics of charitable giving with Anna Josse of Prism the Gift Fund (40), and visit London’s oldest and most prestigious gunmaker Boss & Co to mark the end of the shooting season – and start preparing for the next one (70)!

With all this and much more packed inside this edition of Burlingtons Magazine, we are thrilled to share such a celebratory issue after a challenging two years, and mark the start of a fulfilling, prosperous and bold 2022 – just as the Year of the Tiger promises.

I hope you enjoy this issue’s expert insights into business and luxury lifestyle.

Deborah Mills Chief Executive Officer Burlingtons Group Limited

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BURLINGTONS GROUP Deborah Mills Chief Executive Officer deborah.mills@burlingtons.group Henry Mills Director – Burlingtons Private Office henry.mills@burlingtons.pro Nicholas Portelli Managing Director – Burlingtons Real Estate nicholas.portelli@burlingtons.realestate Jacob Kett Liaison – Burlingtons Private Office jacob.kett@burlingtons.pro CONTACT For advertising enquiries or to find out more about Burlingtons Group contact: info@burlingtons.group Burlingtons Group 5 Stratford Place London, W1C 1AX +44 (0)20 7529 5420 EDITORIAL TEAM Burlingtons Magazine is published by Vantage Media Limited Director of Editorial: Michelle Johnson Director of Art: Ross Forbes Contributors: Olivia Brotheridge (illustrator), Rikesh Chauhan, Jonathan Sothcott, Rory FH Smith Responsibly printed Printed by Park Communications, UK on Edixion Offset (FSC® certified paper) using vegetable inks and sustainable printing methods.

Cover credit: ©Shutterstock

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© 2022 Burlingtons Group Articles and other contributions published in this journal may be reproduced only with special permission from Burlingtons Group. Burlingtons Group and the publishers (Vantage Media Limited) accept no responsibility for any views or statements made in the articles and other contributions reproduced from any other source. No responsibility is accepted for the claims in advertisements appearing in this journal and the publishers reserve the right to accept or refuse advertisements at their discretion.

Burlingtons Magazine is published by Vantage Media Limited. www.vantagemediagroup.co.uk 7

CONTENTS Tiger Beat

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CEO Deborah Mills looks towards a year of courageous growth

Take 5

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Alpine Living

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Find out what Burlingtons Club Members are excited about this season

Alpine Living

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WOM’s Guerlain Chicherit is creating a stylish new wave in mountain living

West End Revival

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What does 2022 have in store for London’s retail and office space?

Driving the Future

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Rimac’s new all-electric hypercar is set to revolutionise our driving experience

Path to Success

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Burlingtons Group celebrates its growth in 2021

Postcards from Gibraltar

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Architecture, history and sunshine combine in the Mediterranean

The Gift of Giving

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Prism the Gift Fund founder Anna Josse on the benefits of DAFs

38 Postcards from Gibraltar 8

28 Driving the Future

Finding the Best Investment

44

Join Integra Private Wealth’s Alistair Muscat for Burlingtons’ webinar

Collar to Cuffs

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Author Jonathan Sothcott takes us on a tour of Jermyn Street tailoring

Maltese Law

50

Lawyer Tonio Fenech introduces the regulation of Family Trust Companies

Join the Club

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Step inside the most exclusive private members’ clubs in London

Best Cellars

60

46 Collar to Cuffs

Bespoke wine cellars have become the hottest new interior trend

Rules of Control

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Burlingtons Legal’s Maria Nadarajah introduces the new National Security Merger Control rules

Make a statement

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Is your logo overdue an update? We explore the power of great branding

Aiming for Excellence

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We discover the thriving English craftsmanship of London’s oldest gunmakers, Boss & Co

Ask Boris

60 Best Cellars

76

Burlingtons’ resident bulldog shares his tips on buying the right shotgun

70

Aiming for Excellence

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TIGER BEAT As we head into the year of the Water Tiger, Burlingtons Group CEO Deborah Mills looks toward a year of courageous growth

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EAR READERS. Here we are at the start of another year and, while I am not sure how 2021 evaporated so quickly, it seems we are all still standing despite pandemics, politics and sabre rattling.

2021 allowed Burlingtons Group to consolidate its professional service offering during another turbulent year and its effects on global business and, as we move through 2022, we now have some significant business goals in our sights.

With the Chinese New Year having started on 1 February, we look to it to see what direction the year may take us. The Year of the Water Tiger is represented by the third animal in the Chinese zodiac’s 12-year cycle, the Tiger, which takes over from last year’s Ox. As the legend goes, the order of the zodiac animals was determined by a great race decreed by a deity known as the Jade Emperor. 13 animals raced across a river towards the Heavenly Gate. The clever Cat and Rat crossed the river on the back of the Ox, with the Rat pushing the Cat into the water and jumping from the Ox when it reached the shore. The Tiger was strong and powerful, and thought it had come first, but it was delayed by the current pushing it downstream. Thus, the order of the zodiac goes: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig (who stopped to eat and sleep before reaching the end).

The annual zodiac cycles also inter-relate with the 10 heavenly stems, wherein each number represents one of the five elements of Taoism – wood, fire, earth, metal and water. 2022 falls in the ninth stem, with the corresponding element is water.

Hence 2022 is the year of the Water Tiger, whose attributes embody courage, competitiveness and bravery – hinting at a new year which, in turn, should symbolise resilience and strength for us, too. »

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COURAGE IN ACTION For our part, we at Burlingtons have certainly been resourceful and determined as we see our business continuing to develop internationally. Always ready for a challenge, we look to 2022 with confidence and energy, having steered the business successfully through recent and unexpected years.

After the successful completion of our investment in Integra Private Wealth, we continue to strengthen our professional service offering – and hope to soon announce our investment in a fiduciary services group based in Gibraltar, which is expanding rapidly. More of that in our spring edition.

In the meantime, we are also looking to acquire and invest in complimentary businesses, with a particular focus on growing our wealth management division both in the UK and internationally. Our aim is to manage over €1bn in the next five years and, with Integra, we are already two-thirds of the way there.

We continue to grow our Legal Division and have recently expanded our litigation and arbitration team. Our real estate team has been instructed on some exciting London developments and we have, as a result, recruited a lawyer who is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.

Our Private Office has been mandated in relation to some exciting fund raises for clients in the clean technology space, particularly a pioneering floating production facility that takes salt water and recycles it to produce fresh water and electricity.

A simple plug-and-play, which is gaining significant interest with international governments.

Our Real Estate division has more than 20 mandates and investment opportunities, with particular focus on the London residential development sector. We hope to announce the closing of one such mandate in our spring edition.

The jewel in our crown is probably our fintech client, which has engaged us on a substantial equity raise. They aim to potentially take the company to market within the next 18 months. Interestingly, one of the founders of this fintech incubator was born in 1962 – making him a Water Tiger according to the Chinese Zodiac. So, maybe we will continue to be guided by the stars.

Find out more about Burlingtons Group by visiting burlingtons.group or emailing deborah.mills@burlingtons.pro

“The Water Tiger’s attributes embody courage, competitiveness and bravery” 13

TAKE 5 The incredible places, people and products that Burlingtons Club members are talking about this season…

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BURLINGTONS CLUB

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THE OWO RESIDENCES BY RAFFLES Opening this year, The OWO and OWO Residences are Raffles’ first openings in London. The 125-room flagship hotel and 85 branded residences will transform the historic Old War Office building in Whitehall. The Grade II* listed Old War Office, originally completed in 1906, will also incorporate nine restaurants and bars, a spa and 20m indoor pool, and 620 seated-capacity grand ballroom – no chance of outstaying your welcome here. » raffles.com

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ULYSSE NARDIN BLAST MOONSTRUCK Celebrating the lunar new year that began on 1 February, Ulysse Nardin has launched a new version of its astronomical complication: the Moonstruck. The Manufacture Worldtimer is housed in the geometrical case of the brand’s popular Blast watch, and reproduces the moon’s rotation, apparent movement of the sun and a tidal chart. With a moon phase complication and complex dial in a black ceramic black DLC titanium case, this is a statement timepiece with real attitude. ulysse-nardin.com

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SERGE LUTENS FÉMINITÉ LIMITED EDITION

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This iconic scent by Serge Lutens is celebrating 30 years at the forefront of perfumery with an anniversary limited-edition release (left). Released in 1991, the first ever unisex perfume to hit the market fuses full-bodied opulence and spicy wood fragrance – with refined cedarwood in the top notes, floral heart notes and rich plum in the base. Available while it lasts: a scent-sational breath of fresh air. harveynichols.com

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BUDREVICH SAPPHIRE DROP EARRINGS These stunning new Sapphire Drop earrings (right)

by Budrevich fine jewellery studio were introduced in December. Taking one week to set, the earrings showcase a central sapphire haloed with eight diamonds and a ninth as the star on top. Arseniy Budrevich, who founded the Hatton Garden studio in 2015, uses the traditional skills of his family of distinguished Russian jewellers to create intricate pieces, and specialises in earrings, cocktail rings and bespoke pieces. These elegant new earrings, which retail at £9,000, are sure to add some sparkle to any occasion. budrevich.co.uk

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20TH ANNIVERSARY 2018 VINTAGES FROM VÉRITÉ To celebrate its 20th birthday, Californian winemaker Vérité has released the 2018 vintages of its delicious wines; La Muse, La Joie and Le Désir. Vérité (right). Located in the sunshine state’s Sonoma County, the brand produces three reputable Bordeaux-inspired wines that represent a union of grape varieties, climate, soil expression and winemaking technique. Impeccably balanced and sumptuously textured in their youth, they have the weight and foundation to age for many years and are deemed to be outstanding investor wines. Bottoms up! veritewines.com

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ALPINE LIVING We discover how four-time Freeride Ski World Champion Guerlain Chicherit is creating a stylish new wave in mountain living with his eco-friendly Tignes resort, WOM

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UERLAIN CHICHERIT is on a mission to reinvent mountain living. The ambitious real estate pioneer is perhaps better known for his impressive sporting achievements – a former rally driver and four-time Freeride Ski World Champion, Chicherit even has an entire zone in the ski area of Tignes, France, named after him – and his success in this field leaves no doubt as to the competitive potential of his WOM concept.

WOM – created by Chicherit’s Phenomen development company – is a collection of eco-responsible resorts and high-end property developments combining chalets and apartments, launching in his adopted hometown of Tignes.

WOM, which stands for Word of Mouth, is designed to secure the future of this beautiful destination, and combat the potential impact of the ongoing Climate Crisis.

Chicherit believes that, if global warming continues, all but the highest Alpine peaks will be unable to support ski living, which is so fundamental to the locale. WOM will see the highest – and therefore the most sustainable – peaks in Tignes become carbon positive, environmentally innovative resorts and homes, preserving the destinations and the environment in enviable luxury.

Launching in December 2023, the first WOM development comprises 17 apartments and 13 chalets, which can be personalised by pre-selected designers, as well as a five-star hotel, youth hostel and unique apre-ski complex featuring an artificial surf wave pool, an ice rink, spa, bars and restaurants.

“The main forces that drove me throughout my sports career, both in skiing and rallying, were ambition and conviction,” says Chicherit. “These same values now guide me as an entrepreneur.

I genuinely believe they help me work more sustainably in the world and, in particular, in mountains.”

The entrepreneur’s unique green vision is the culmination of his extraordinary work in the property arena thus far.

In 2014 he earned acclaim with Chalet Quézac, a 800sqm development boasting seven contemporary suites, and subsequently voted the “best new chalet in the world”.

Chicheret’s reimagining of the traditional mountain chalet focused on wellness, with seven bedrooms and featuring private pool, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi.

In 2016, in Les Brévières, he unveiled Chalet Rock ‘N’ Love, an homage to the USA. There, guests can travel through the “Purple Haze” and up a “Stairway to heaven”, peruse a collection of autographed guitars, Route 66 memorabilia, and a Wurlitzer jukebox. In the four en suite rooms, vintage cars have been repurposed into spacious beds, while other creative amenities include a private indoor swimming pool, gym, sauna, steam room and hydro-jet bed, complete with collagen-boosting light therapy. »

Luxury living: Eco-responsible chalets by WOM

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Chalet Rock ‘N’ Love was the first of several themed chalets reflecting his passions – other themed chalets designed by Chicherit celebrate Asia, aviation and artist Banksy. Chalet Banksy Tribute brought the English graffiti artist’s work to an Alpine setting, with wall art decals depicting his most famous pieces, and four bedroom designs each inspired by Banksy’s favoured cities and creative medium. The stunning, open plan kitchen/living room provides a spectacular space to enjoy good food and wine with friends and family, while taking in the breathtaking mountain vista – an artwork in itself.

Now, WOM takes Chicherit’s passion for solar power and other clean energy investments to new heights.

“We can – and must – envisage an alternative way of building and running tourist accommodation in ski resorts,” he says. “Our mountain economy faces many challenges, including energy, pollution, the climate emergency, attracting new generations of skiers and preserving locals’ quality of life throughout the year. Hosting holidaymakers high up in the mountains on a sustainable basis is challenging both in human and energy terms.

“One way that I address this is through this new development, which I care about deeply. I have channelled all the best aspects of my entrepreneurial adventures into it. From the very first sketches, WOM has been created to minimise its environmental impact. Whether in terms of its design, construction and even its operation, sensible and smart solutions have been preferred at every stage.”

These solutions optimise the consumption of resources and materials while developing local sectors and short distribution channels. Elements such as public transport and electricity consumption are offset by self-generated solar power, while even eco-friendly alternatives for personal transport will be arranged for residents.

Inside the WOM chalets, contemporary elegance meets Alpine comfort, with fine materials and neutral palettes designed to frame the stunning vistas that dominate the views from every window and door. Mod-cons are seamlessly integrated throughout.

“WOM is going to be an exceptional place, alive all year round,” says Chicherit. “These unique chalets and apartments will offer extraordinary experiences. They will be genuine works of art created by top designers. Along with these marvels there will be a hotel, youth hostel and an array of services and recreational amenities that allow to make the most of this majestic mountain.

“That’s the vision of the mountain that I invite you to share, shape and experience together.”

For more information or enquiries, please contact Mme. Christine Liatti, directrice commercial, via: Email: christine@phenomen.com Mobile: + 33 6 02 04 64 83 Telephone: + 33 4 85 86 00 00 Website: phenomen.com

Off piste paradise: WOM founder Guerlain Chicerit builds his innovative resort in the skiing destination of Tignes, France

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WEST END REVIVAL When it comes to London’s office and retail space, what can we expect in 2022? Burlingtons Legal partner Caroline Turner explains

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S WE CONTINUE to head out of the Covid-19 pandemic, commercial property professionals based in London are reporting a surprisingly strong year for 2021 – and exciting prospects for 2022. »

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Retail Sector Notwithstanding the massive dip in the economy in 2020 and 2021, and the continued growth of online retail, the retail sector saw some exciting deals over the course of the last 24 months. London City and the West End provided a significant amount of these transactions, not least the sale of the Selfridges flagship store on Oxford Street – located in close proximity to Burlingtons Group’s head office.

The deal was part of a wider sale of 18 of 25 Selfridges sites for £4bn to two investor companies. Proposals for the Oxford Street store include revamping the food hall and refurbishment of part of the remaining retail area. While that provides for good solid regeneration for the area, what is most significant is the planned redevelopment of part of the building as a luxury hotel, particularly as the press tells us that tourism levels dropped by 97% in the last year.

However, it is safe to say that the owners of Selfridges will have researched and have in depth knowledge of what is expected to happen going forward with the economy before committing to such a redevelopment. What we can extrapolate from this transaction is that there is perhaps hope for the return of our once booming travel industry, and the positive impact it has on our economy and property market.

In addition to the Selfridges transaction, Fenwicks department store – another luxury retail institution in the West End – has raised its ‘for sale’ sign at a price tag of £500m. It will be interesting to see how that development is taken forward.

Returning to our beloved Oxford Street, while it was very sad to see the demise of Debenhams, the brand’s once glowing flagship store is being developed into 350 flats.

Similarly, Marks and Spencer Marble Arch is diversifying and have redevelopment plans to convert part of the store space into a gym.

Having watched the retail sector over my nearly 20 years in practice, it is fair to say that the structure and operation has changed significantly with the impact of the internet and online shopping. What the pandemic has done, perhaps, is accelerate what may have ultimately happened in any event, forcing retailers to diversify and change how they operate.

Let’s hope the times ahead continue to be busy and fruitful for our retail sector in whatever guise that may be.

Offices With most of us having worked from home over the last 24 months, what is even more surprising than the massive retail transactions is the boom that is happening in the office space sector in the City and surrounding areas.

What is becoming apparent is that the traditional professional services do not have an appetite for working virtually full time. Across the board, it seems that businesses are looking to operate with a hybrid of home and office working. On the back of that we are seeing a significant increase in office sector transactions.

The big land and commercial property agencies are predicting record turnover for Q1 2022 based on what has happened in 2021. CBRE reported a turnover of £11.3 billion in 2021 being 49% ahead of 2020 turnover.

Savills, by the time we reached Q3 of 2021, reported that turnover was 68% above figures for the same period in 2020. Savills have also predicted that turnover for Q1 2022 will be back at the level not seen since the property boom of 2006/2007.

Property professionals are all hopeful that such a forecast turns out to be accurate. With the leasing of addresses such as 5 Fleet Place, of 5 Broadgate and 90 Holborn all under offer, it is no surprise that such figures are predicted.

So, what does all this mean to the commercial terms of your legal documents? In short, very little.

Certainly, with the sale and purchase agreement these will be in a very similar form to what we were seeing pre pandemic.

As to leasehold documentation, what we are seeing for the majority of leases – be they office, industrial space or other – are that they are all on similar terms to those granted pre-pandemic. The exception being retail and leisure with turnover rents where a government mandate forces the business to close. In some scenarios, for those types of leases, pandemic provisions are being incorporated, albeit not as standard practice.

Either way it is too early to predict what will become the norm with lease negotiations.

The world, the property market and indeed legal documents continue to evolve. Suffice to say that a ‘standard form’ 2022 commercial lease is quite different to the leases I dealt with as a trainee back in the early 2000s.

It is exciting to think about what the future will hold for the commercial property market and us property professionals. Let’s hope 2022 proves to be as fast paced and dynamic as predicted.

To find out more about retail and office contracts, contact Caroline Turner via email at caroline.turner@burlingtons.legal

Growing market: London’s West End (previous, left) has seen exciting retail opportunities, while City offices (right) have retained pre-pandemic terms

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DRIVING THE FUTURE As Rimac’s new all-electric hypercar looks to elevate the driving experience through automation, Rory FH Smith ask what this means for the future of cars – and those who drive for the sheer pleasure of it

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AST YOUR MIND back 20 years and there’s a chance you’ll remember the 2002 Steven Spielberg blockbuster Minority Report, starring a freshfaced Tom Cruise. In the film, Cruise rides in an autonomous car, which seamlessly integrates with thousands of other driverless vehicles, all zipping along a transit system that wraps its way around, up and down a fictional metropolis.

The year is 2054, and the fictional car is a Lexus Maglev Pod, which requires no driver input other than spoken directions. While the technology envisaged by Spielberg might, two decades later, still seem a little far-fetched, it is one of the most comprehensive visualisations of what the future of driving might become.

Since then, nearly all major car manufacturers have released autonomous concepts, with many placing the driver in a lounge-like setting, far away from the steering wheel and pedals. If their predictions are correct, the future promises more time to work, play or even sleep while on the move. But, for those who drive for pleasure, this is a major cause for concern. What’s the appeal of a sports car if the driving elements are stripped away? »

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Drive or be driven: The Nevera hypercar by Rimac Automobili offers owners innovative machine intervention; top left, founder Mate Rimac

Despite the turn towards autonomy, performance car manufacturers such as McLaren and Lamborghini insist that human involvement and manual driving will remain, with autonomy aiding and adding to the driving experience, not detracting from it. This has, in fact, been their standpoint since the mid 2010s.

“If you’re a luxury car company, you could have more from the entertainment system or, if you’re in a sports car like a McLaren you could go to a track and let the car drive you,” said former McLaren, Ferrari and Maserati designer Frank Stephenson in a 2016 interview with Blackbird Automotive. “The car basically takes you around the track at the right speed, the right RPMs, the right gears, the right lines, and you learn through the car showing you the best way.”

Lamborghini Chief Engineer Maurizio Reggiani similarly told Wired in 2017: “[Automation] can be a tool for our customers, like having a tutor.”

With both performance car chiefs aligned on their hopes for the future of driving, it would seem those with the most to lose are eager to try to find a way for humans and AI to work together in harmony.

But while those well-known supercar makers talk a good game, many of them are yet to put their words into action – unlike Croatian hypercar manufacturer Rimac. Founded by engineer Mate Rimac in 2009, the company designs, develops and manufactures the £1.72m all-electric Nevera hypercar, which promises self-

driving capabilities, initially for use on track.

“The driver coach is the autonomous driving system intended for supercars and for racetrack use,” says the marque’s founder. “Basically, the idea is that you might have a supercar but not necessarily the skills to use it properly, so it coaches you to be a better driver – when to brake, when to accelerate and when to turn in.

So, you have a personal coach that is learning all the time and can, in theory, help you become as good as a Formula One driver, for example.”

For the past three years, Rimac’s team of AI engineers and software developers have masterminded ways for autonomous systems to work alongside humans to elevate the driving experience. “The idea is that you can push the car to the limit of what the vehicle can do but still have a guardian angel that helps to keep you safe,” says Rimac.

With production versions of the Nevera nearing completion ahead of the first customer deliveries, the Croatian hypercar looks set to provide those who drive for pleasure with their first taste of machine intervention.

Whatever that feeling might be when the first examples arrive on racetracks around the world, it is something drivers will need to become accustomed to. Already, automation has crept into our cars through everyday features such as cruise control, automatic wipers, lights and parking sensors. More recently, cars can perform a parallel park, avoid a collision or follow the course of a road with no human

intervention whatsoever. If other realms of technology are anything to go by, these systems that subconsciously monitor, measure and aid our everyday driving will become more sophisticated and commonplace in all aspects of driving – despite what performance car makers and petrol heads may wish.

While the future for those dedicated to the art and act of driving is still shaping up, a degree of comfort can be drawn from history and the story of the humble horse. After serving as the main form of transportation for mankind since 3500 BC, the horse was unceremoniously outperformed and put out to pasture by the popularity of cars at the turn of the 20th century.

Despite this, horses are still ridden 100 years later. While it’s a pursuit largely confined to the countryside and rarified sporting circles, this tale of technology usurping the established experience could play out in the way humans interact with cars.

In the interest of preserving the freedom and skills associated with driving and the open road, we can hope there’s still some avenue to exercising the art of driving for pleasure in years to come.

After all, as impressive as Spielberg’s visualisation of the future of driving looked, where’s the fun in being a passenger? rimac-automobili.com This feature originally appeared in Tempus Magazine; tempusmagazine.co.uk 31

PATH TO SUCCESS As we prepare for the Year of the Tiger, Burlingtons Group’s Jacob Kett takes a look back at the successes of 2021

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ESPITE THE OBSTACLES faced by individuals and businesses throughout the world over the past few years due the pandemic and, for us Brits, Brexit, it has again been a positive year for us at Burlingtons Group. Through the support of our clients and colleagues, we have strengthened our current service offering and added further professional services.

As we embark on a New Year with fresh ambitions and dreams, it is also important to celebrate our past successes, as with the hustle and bustle of life we are all guilty of not appreciating where we are and what we have achieved.

I hope the below article allows you to see what we have achieved, and our thanks go to all the Burlingtons team who have been so supportive to enable this to happen. We look forward to updating you on our successes for 2022.

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INTEGRA PRIVATE WEALTH Our most notable success of 2021 has been our investment into international wealth management company, Integra Private Wealth. The deal has been a while in the making and through this Integra and ourselves have built a strong collaborative working relationship. This is in an exciting step for us as we now have a wider global footprint, and our professional service offering has been strengthened with our clients having access to a long established and international wealth management company.

To learn more about this collaboration, please contact Alistair Muscat (am@integra-pw.com) or Deborah Mills (deborah. mills@burlingtons.group). » 33

CORNWALLS LANE Through our Private Office contacts, we have formed a strong joint venture relationship with Gibraltar-based fiduciary group Cornwalls Lane. Through our collaboration with Cornwalls Lane, we are able to provide our clients with efficient and effective taxation, accounting and fiduciary services.

To learn more about these offerings, please contact Peter Young (peter.young@burlingtons.legal) or Edward le Feuvre (edward. lefeuvre@burlingtons.pro).

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PRIVATE OFFICE In the summer of 2021, we further strengthened our wider professional service offering through Burlingtons Private Office, with Helen Weaving joining. Helen brings with her 10 years of experience working in single and multiple family offices. Armed with an envious black book of contacts, we are in a strong position to solve an array of client issues and requirements. Through Burlingtons Private Office we can now also cater for insurance and foreign exchange needs through to relocation and security. At Burlingtons Private Office, there is no issue we cannot solve.

To learn more, please contact Helen Weaving (helen.weaving@ burlingtons.pro). » 35

WEBINARS With the rise of the pandemic and more importantly the shift to remote working, we wanted to come up with a creative way of engaging with our clients and contacts and so the idea of quarterly webinars was born. Through these webinars, we have created a way of promoting internal services but also providing market intelligence and insight. Our webinars have been delivered by Floyd Woodrow MBE DCM (right) on the topic of leadership, Nicholas Portelli on the London real estate market and our next webinar, scheduled for Thursday 24 February at 2pm, will be delivered by Alistair Muscat of Integra Private Wealth on private wealth management.

To register for the upcoming webinar and to be notified of future webinars, please contact Jacob Kett (jacob.kett@burlingtons.pro).

BURLINGTONS LEGAL One of our most high profile and meaningful achievements of the past year has been the case between Jamal Hijazi and Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson).

Burlingtons Legal LLP represented the Claimant, Mr. Jamal Hijazi. Jamal was repeatedly bullied/attacked at school with a racial nature being at the centre. One such instance of these incidents was videoed and, in turn, the video went ‘viral’. There was an outpouring of support for Jamal.

However, not from Tommy Robinson, who released two separate videos alleging that Jamal wasn’t a victim but rather a bully. This allegation from Tommy Robinson formed the basis of our client’s libel claim. The High Court awarded Jamal £100,000 in pecuniary damages.

To learn more about our litigation offering, please contact Francesca Flood (francesca.flood@burlingtons.legal)

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BURLINGTONS REAL ESTATE In the April of 2021, Burlingtons Group acquired a further stake in Hyde Park Residential, founded by Nicholas Portelli.

Through, this investment we became equal partners in the business and in turn the company was rebranded Burlingtons Real Estate Advisory Limited. Through this partnership we are able to offer clients all property sourcing services from residential, commercial and residential developments.

To learn more about our property sourcing offering, please contact Nicholas Portelli (nicholas.portelli@burlingtons.realestate).

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The Rock of Gibraltar One of the Roman ‘Pillars of Hercules’, the 425m tall rock offers picturesque hikes (via the Mediterranean steps), ancient fortifications and unbeatable views

Sandy Bay This picturesque manmade beach was built in 2014, using rock imported from Morocco and 80,000 tonnes of sand from Western Sahara

Apes of Gibraltar Spot some of Gibraltar’s 160 famous Barbary macaques in Upper Rock Nature Reserve.

Legend says if these wild apes leave Gibraltar, so will the British.

The Great Siege Tunnels These extraordinary tunnels were hand-carved in six weeks, by British troops defending against France and Spain during the siege of 1779-1783

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HE ‘KEY TO THE MEDITERRANEAN’, Gibraltar sits on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula, dominated by the 426m-high limestone ridge still known as the Rock of Gibraltar. It has been a British Overseas Territory since 1713, and was an important Royal Navy base, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars and Second World War. Today, Gibraltar is home to 32,000 people, with English, Spanish and Llanito (a local Spanish dialect) spoken as the primary languages. In fact, the town

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of Gibraltar is so close to the Spanish border that it is accessible by car or even on foot, and the attractive port is a busy terminus for cruise ships.

Within the bustling town, Gibraltar is packed with historic tourist attractions – including some of the 50km of tunnels carved into the Rock – while the economy is dominated by financial services, gambling, shipping and tourism, and benefits from duty-free shopping for visitors.

We take a look at this sunny bit of Britain in the Med – and find out that it’s much more than just the Rock.

St Michael’s Cave The largest of 150 caves, St Michael’s is full of spectacular natural formations – and was home to Neanderthals 40,000 years ago

POSTCARDS FROM...

Europa Point A bustling tourist hub that’s home to historic Trinity Lighthouse, the chapel of Nuestra Señora de Europa and more

The Moorish Castle Overlooking Casemates Square, this medieval Moorish Castle features original 14th-century structures such as the Tower of Homage

Gibraltar Cable Car Enjoy views over Upper Rock – including the nature reserve – from this spectacular sixminute aerial tramway, constructed in 1966

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PHILANTHROPY

THE GIFT OF GIVING Prism the Gift Fund founder Anna Josse shares how donor advised funds can remove the redtape from your philanthropic goals

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HILANTHROPY IS INHERENTLY personal; there are as many reasons for giving as there are people who give. At Prism the Gift Fund (Prism), we believe that not only would many people like to give more, but that others would be happy to start if they weren’t intimidated by the complexities of charitable giving.

I set up the British arm of an American charity in the 1990s and learnt a lot from the Americans about major donor fundraising. At the same time, I saw Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) grow in the USA. Apart from a large government body, DAFs didn’t really exist in the UK and so in 2005, with the help of Anne-Marie Piper, the charitable partner at Farrers, I set up Prism.

Prism is a DAF – we are a UK registered charity and administer the giving of individuals, groups and foundations making significant gifts to charities all over the world. Our clients are HNW individuals, and our ethos is to offer a bespoke, personal and efficient service. We also run something called Collective Funds as well as DAFs, and we are unique in the market in terms of our model, our target market, our ethos and our entrepreneurial flair and spirit, which runs throughout the organisation. »

Left: Anna Josse founded Prism the Gift Fund 41

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DAFs are growing in the USA and the UK. In the US there is about $150bn of assets under management in DAFs, compared to about $1.7bn in the UK. Although we have a way to go to match the States, DAFs are the fastest growing philanthropy vehicle in the UK, with an 11% increase in 2019 compared to the year before*.

DAFs are an alternative to setting up one’s own grantmaking foundation or operational charity. Given the increasingly tough regulations that charities operate under at the Charity Commission, donors can no longer simply just set up a charity. One needs highly knowledgeable trustees, trained on issues such as safeguarding, policies need to be created and adhered to, and the due diligence, governance and compliance on gifts to charities in the UK and overseas requires expertise.

And if one does have the ability and the time to create a charity, then opening a bank account can sometimes take up to a year – so, in total, it can be a two-year slog to open one’s own charitable entity. DAFs are an alternative. A donor can call their DAF anything they wish – such as “The Joe Bloggs Foundation” – and their account at Prism appears like a foundation to its charitable recipients. The donor can have all the joy of giving, but with the administration and compliance managed by Prism. Conversely, if a donor chooses to remain anonymous that is also possible.

Donations can be made to their DAF using cash, shares, property, art, and even cryptocurrencies. These assets come with different attractive tax incentives, which are government initiated and have been in place for many years.

Unfortunately, many donors are not aware of them, and so they are underutilised. The simplest of these tax initiatives is Gift Aid and, in fact, approximately between £500m- £750m in Gift Aid is unclaimed every year. Charities are missing out on this 25% uplift from the government and donors are not able to take advantage of claiming tax back on their gross donation amount.

To cater to our market, we set up Prism Offshore and Prism US. For resident non-domiciled individuals, they can donate

*NPT 2020 annual report

to Prism Offshore and, if they are a UK taxpayer, we can still claim a 25% on their donation in Gift Aid, without acting as a remittance to their tax in the UK. We’ve also partnered with the King Baudouin Foundation, a 501(C)(3) organisation (that is, a non-profit organisation), to facilitate donations from the US whereby donors can deduct at source. Prism helps educate donors and private client intermediaries on all the benefits of these different methods of giving, as well as encouraging philanthropy. We’ve found that when donors understand how to give most effectively, they tend to give more.

The Collective Fund service at Prism offers a charitable structure to individuals and groups fundraising for specific issues, such as racial and climate justice, enabling them to quickly raise and distribute funds to their charitable causes.

Prism takes care of all the financial administration and charity governance, carrying out due diligence and ensuring the programmes are compliant with UK charity law. This enables the founders of Collective Funds to fundraise tax-efficiently (and make use of government schemes such as Gift Aid) while really being able to focus their time and energy on the cause and making a real difference.

The Collective Fund model can also benefit a corporate looking to develop their CSR, creating a company ‘foundation’, a white-labelled structure at Prism. This means that, as a group, they still decide on the charitable projects they wish to support, but use Prism’s expertise to navigate the compliance and governance on the distribution of funds.

Overall, our objective at Prism is to facilitate more donations to the charity sector and our ethos and efficiencies encourage this. As the quote from Ethics of the Fathers goes: “You are not obliged to finish the task, nor are you free to desist from it”.

To find out more about donor advised funds or how Prism the Gift Fund can assist your charitable giving, contact amy@ prismthegiftfund.co.uk or 020 7486 7760. prismthegiftfund.co.uk Prism The Gift Fund is a member of Burlingtons Club. Find out more at info@burlingtons.group

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FINDING THE BEST INVESTMENT Join Burlingtons’ exclusive webinar series as the 2022 season launches with a look into international investments, with Integra Private Wealth

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HAT IS THE BEST investment? And is the best investment the same for all investors?

These are the questions that Integra Private Wealth will tackle in an exclusive webinar, Finding the Best Investment, on Thursday 24 February 2022.

Alistair Muscat, CEO of Integra, a holistic international wealth management company, will provide insight on a range of investments – ranging from familiar ‘vanilla’ products to more complex alternative investments. Joining Burlingtons Group in 2021, Integra manages €650m in client assets, with ambitions to reach the €1bn assets under management (AUM) mark within the next three years The virtual discussion, which kicks off at 2pm, will also delve into the current economic climate, which, in many ways, is unprecedented in nature because of the extraordinary fiscal and monetary stimulus aimed at countering the global slowdown because of the pandemic.

“These interventions, while providing short-term economic relief, will also bring with them several challenges, some of which, like inflation, we are already experiencing.

Never before has a global recession turned into a global spending frenzy in such a short period of time,” says Muscat.

“With inflation at decade highs, all eyes are now on central bankers to figure out how they will balance the difficult task of cooling the economy while avoiding a global

financial crash with a policy misstep. New technologies are also providing opportunities to innovate in various sectors.

Biotech has moved from a niche specialised health segment into a full-blown ancillary to the major pharmaceutical companies. The importance of natural resources, the increased velocity towards carbon neutral targets and the ground-breaking advancements in agriculture are some of the long-term trends in impact investments.

“Within this context, choosing the ‘right investment’ will be key in achieving an optimum risk/reward return.

Diversification will remain a core factor in building investment portfolios; however, the days of indiscriminate rise in asset value, irrespective of the underlying fundamentals, might be behind us. Finding the best investment will require a much more rigorous wealth planning and possibly looking outside the traditional sphere of possibilities.”

Marking the beginning of Burlingtons Group’s webinar series for 2022, this investment special is sure to explore some of the most exciting and thought-provoking issues within international investment today.

Join Burlingtons and Alistair Muscat for Finding The Best Investment, at 2pm, Thursday 24 February 2022. To register, contact jacob.kett@burlingtons.pro

Bold investments: Integra Private Wealth founder Alistair Muscat (right) hosts Burlingtons Group’s webinar

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STYLE

COLLAR TO CUFFS Jonathan Sothcott, author of The Jermyn Street Shirt, takes us on a tour of the history of London’s best bespoke shirtmaking

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HEN I SIGNED the contract to write my book The Jermyn Street Shirt in November 2019, I had no idea that, just a few months later, the men of Britain and beyond would be eschewing shirts and ties for pyjamas and onesies as the Covid-19 pandemic forced us into a way of life in which we rarely presented ourselves to the world much beyond a zoom screen.

There was much conjecture that the pandemic would revolutionise menswear and formalwear would be over but – delightfully – it has counted for little, and the shirtmakers of Jermyn Street and its surrounding neighbourhood have bounced back with aplomb, as we seek to peacock once more.

Jermyn Street (pronounced, for the avoidance of doubt, “Jer-min” not “Jer-man” or “Jer-main”) takes its name from Henry Jermyn, the 1st Earl of St Albans, regarded as the creator of what is now London’s West End. The first shop to open on the hitherto residential street was a modest grocer and corner shop by the name Fortnum & Mason, which opened its doors in 1707 and set the benchmark of quality for the stores that would follow.

It was not until 1936, however, when the former Geological Museum became the legendary department store Simpsons of Piccadilly (later the inspiration for fictional department store Grace Brothers in the 1970s TV comedy Are You Being Served), that Jermyn Street became a menswear hub.

Bombed relentlessly during the Second World War (when Dunhill was totalled during an air strike, legend has it that its proprietor set up a wheelbarrow outside selling what goods were left in true Blitz spirit), the street really hit its sartorial stride in the ’60s, when its bright colours and adaptability to working with modern fabrics and styles complimented the Carnaby Street revolution as much as it did Savile Row’s classic traditions. The addition of Tramp – perhaps London’s most famous (or now infamous) celebrity nightclub – to Jermyn Street cemented its reputation as a haven of elegance and flare (and, for a time, flares).

Today Jermyn Street remains a menswear mecca, selling not just shirts but a plethora of readymade style essentials. You’ll find delightfully bold suits and coats in New & Lingwood and Harvie and Hudson, along »

British style: Turnbull & Asser (left), shirts by Emmett London (right) 47

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STYLE

Tailored to perfection: author Jonathan Sothcott (left centre) takes us inside Emmet London (far left), Turnbull & Asser (left) and more

with scarves, knitwear and ties. New & Lingwood use a dashing skull and crossbones motif as their signature, which extends to dressing gowns and slippers. The dapper Richard Harvie presides over the business started by his and Mr Hudson’s grandfathers with a proprietary pride usually reserved for high end jewellers. Shoes in Crocket & Jones, Trickers, and Edward Green are made in Northampton and perfectly tread the line between elegance and practicality. Lobb remains a footwear pinnacle, while Dunhill and Hilditch & Key offer every sartorial luxury a man could want. There are four superb restaurants – Franco’s, 45 Jermyn Street, Rowley’s and Wilton’s, the latter being one of the very best in London.

The shirts, however are the story and Emma Willis (the first and only lady shirtmaker on the Street), Turnbull & Asser (Royal Warrant Holders for the Prince of Wales for decades) and Budd (discrete but perhaps the classiest of all) can compete with Charvet in Paris and Stefano Ricci in Fiesole as among the finest in the world. All have their eye on the prize: making the next James Bond’s shirts, and all have added to Daniel Craig’s public wardrobe. As Charles Seaton, manager of New & Lingwood, told me “James Bond is the truest barometer of menswear trends.”

Back in fashion after the success of No Time to Die is the foldback button or ‘cocktail cuff’ (also known in saucier circles as the ‘penis cuff’) which daringly splits the difference between cuff links and buttons. I was introduced to my own shirtmaker, the legendary Frank Foster in nearby Pall Mall, by the late Sir Roger Moore, who favoured pastel voile shirts with white collars and cuffs.

And therein lies the true joy of bespoke shirts – you can have anything you want made up to your exact specifications, a luxury that few enjoy but which soon becomes an addiction. From wild silks to tattersall checks, shirts that – somewhat ostentatiously – show off your watch in a special cuff compartment, or even detachable collars, the sky really is the limit. This is entry level luxury curated by welcoming artisans who care about their craft.

If you’ve ever hankered after that special shirt you can’t buy on the high street, now is the time to take a trip down Jermyn Street and avail yourself of a true British institution.

The Jermyn Street Shirt by Jonathan Sothcott is published by The History Press and available now IMAGES: RIKESH CHAUHAN 49

M A LT E S E L A W AND THE REGULATION OF FAMILY TRUST COMPANIES Dr Tonio Fenech LL.M. (Lond.), LL.D., joint managing partner of Malta-based law firm Fenech Farrugia Fiott Legal, explains how to make the most of family offices

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HE FAMILY OFFICE industry in Malta is regulated through various instruments of law. However, for those families who have the wherewithal to selforganise, Maltese law offers a lighter form of regulation for family trust companies. This brief overview will assume that the generation establishing the structure will want to minimise non-family involvement, while at the same time providing for shares being held autonomously on a fiduciary basis for subsequent generations.

The Family Trust Company contemplated at law In Malta, the Trusts & Trustees Act specifically contemplates the possibility of having regulated family offices in the form of a Family Trust Company. Such companies can be incorporated with family members as initial shareholders. They can also be the initial directors, provided that they are assessed by the Malta Financial Services Authority to be “fit and proper” for such a role in an estate management structure.

The rules providing for the licensing of professional trustees will not apply where the activities of the company are limited to acting as trustee for different members of a specific family or families acting as settlors, the company does not hold itself out as a trustee to the public and does not act as trustee in relation to more than five settlors at a time. Instead, a simpler registration process is followed.

The Company, which is thus family held and controlled, will act as trustee of the various family trusts and will hold the various separate family interests in the family estate in such capacity. This will allow the family to organize itself in a structured manner, such as providing for significant control by a settlor over the relevant assets of his/her trust, until a “Trigger Event” occurs, typically death, certified incapacitation or reaching a certain age.

The relevant family members may also wish to nominate a trusted friend or advisor who can be appointed as director in their stead in the event of a Trigger Event, together with a charter to regulate the manner in which younger family members can take up an executive capacity within the Company itself, family businesses, other assets, and more.

Regulation of Family Trust companies The competent authority has instituted certain supplemental rules in relation to Family Trusts. By way of example, the present rules require one of the directors or an officer of the Family Trust Company to take on the role of Money Laundering Reporting Officer. Another rule which is noteworthy is the fact that the Board of Directors must provide for specific insurance coverage as well as other requirements of a similar nature. »

Dr Tonio Fenech of Fenech Farrugia Fiott Legal (right) 50

LAW

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Intergenerational passage of shares of the Family Trust Company Where the promoters of the structure wish to avoid direct shareholding by subsequent generations, it is arguable that the Company can hold its own shares as trustee of the various family trusts for which it acts as trustee. This is technically possible given the separation of estates principle of trusts, although there does not appear to be much precedent for such a structure, and the competent authority may need to be persuaded that such cyclical structure would work.

Where such route is found to be impracticable for any reason, the relevant shareholder can draw up a will in the form of a testamentary trust or have a trust established during his lifetime, appointing a professional trustee or can appoint a family member as a “private trustee”, taking control of the relevant shares on the happening of a Trigger Event.

Private Trustees The laws of Malta allow for a “private trustee”, being a member of the family of the settlor and/or someone who has known them for at least 10 years, to be appointed trustee for as long as the private trustee is not remunerated (even indirectly, except as may be permitted by the Authority), does not hold himself out as a trustee to the public, and does not habitually accept such position. In such case, the private trustee does not require particular authorisation from the competent authority.

A number of regulatory mechanisms must, however, still be implemented, such as the formal recording through notarial deed of a number of matters, including additions of property to be held under trust. Furthermore, formal minutes of meetings with beneficiaries, advisors or protectors, the exercise of discretion by the trustee in appointing or removing a beneficiary, in reducing, distributing or advancing trust property, in the termination of the trust for any reason, or other material events, together with annual accounts and court decrees, must be delivered to the depositary notary.

A person who is duly authorised by the competent authority must also be engaged in writing by the trustee to carry out the relevant compliance functions according to law on an indefinite basis.

Conclusion While the regulatory infrastructure continues to evolve, the Maltese legislator has shown a willingness to allow for more autonomy of action for families that wish to self-organise through the use of fiduciary structures. The resultant regime allows for the avoidance of direct shareholding by subsequent generations, without suffering the full effects of the regulatory infrastructure designed around the professional trust and fiduciary services industry.

Fenech Farrugia Fiott Legal is a Malta based law firm, with core areas of expertise in corporate and commercial law, trusts and foundations, estate planning and private clients work, financial services law and practice, maritime and aviation law. To find out more, visit fff-legal.com Fenech Farrugia Fiott Legal is a member of Burlingtons Club.

Find out more at info@burlingtons.group Historic city: Malta (right) is home to Fenech Farrugia Fiott Legal

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LAW

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JOIN THE CLUB Step inside the most exclusive and innovative private members’ clubs in London

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INDULGE

FOR WINE LOVERS | 67 PALL MALL Created by wine lovers, for wine lovers, award-winning club 67 Pall Mall brings together like-minded people with a passion for world’s greatest wines and fine dining. The refined members’ lounge, wine library, and stylish clubroom offer ideal meeting and workspaces, while the club’s impressive events calendar is centred on wine tastings and masterclasses, live music, travel excursions and family events at weekends. The success of the club’s digital events during lockdown – which included sending members wine kits for at-home tasting sessions – has led to the creation of the club’s new TV channel, 67pallmall.tv, which features programmes from the world’s most exceptional vineyards and more. The club also celebrating its international expansion with the opening of 67 Pall Mall Singapore and a new Verbier Club, which opened in December 2021. » 67pallmall.com

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FOR ECO-INNOVATORS | THE CONDUIT Described as a ‘club with a conscience’, this new Covent Garden members’ space is designed for businesses and individuals investing in environmental solutions and social activism. Members have included influential NGO founders and sustainable fashion designers, as well as the likes of Salil Shetty, former secretary general of Amnesty International.

Relaunched in a new six-floor location on 13 September, The Conduit offers its collaborative community of changemakers a plethora of networking opportunities, development programmes and showcase events designed to solve real world problems as well as restaurants, library and rooftop terrace. » theconduit.com

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FOR CREATIVE SPIRITS | THE ARTS CLUB The Arts Club was founded in 1863 as a haven for members with a professional or amateur relationships with the arts, literature or sciences. An historic club with a young soul, it has kept this artistic ethos through two world wars and plenty of economic and political upheaval – with famous members including the likes of Charles Dickens, Claude Monet and James Whistler. With interior design featuring an extraordinary art collection curated by Wedel Art – and including work by Tomás Saraceno, John Baldessari and John Stezaker – as well as a hotel, winter garden and restaurants offering fine cuisine.

In the evening, don’t miss Leo’s – a hidden cocktail club that plays host to jazz and soul performances and resident DJs. » theartsclub.co.uk

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FOR THE FASHION ELITE | ANNABEL’S No list of London clubs would be complete without Annabel’s, whose ever-changing façades on Berkeley Square (above, showcasing September’s 2021 Annabel’s For The Amazon facade) have become as iconic a landmark to Mayfair as its enviable clientele, which has included Diana, Princess of Wales, and Kate Moss. Known for its world-famous nightclub and incomparable maximalist décor – designed by Martin Brudnizki – Annabel’s has been one of the capital’s best loved clubs since it launched in 1963.

From the unicorn suspended from the lobby chandelier, the Rose Room’s hand-painted mural by Gary Myatt to the ‘Loos in the Mews’ (perhaps the most beautifully designed bathroom in the world), Annabel’s is a feast for the senses, with new restaurant Matteo’s adding to its reputation as a tastemaker and trendsetter. annabels.co.uk

FOR WORK/LIFE BALANCE | PAVILION CLUB, KNIGHTSBRIDGE With food from Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge and incredible views of Hyde Park, the newly launched Pavilion Knightsbridge is where intellect and indulgence meets. The six-storey property (sister to the Pavilion’s City and Kensington Business Clubs) contains fine food from Kerridge, two bars, private office spaces and a penthouse suite, as well as inviting like-minded members to enjoy talks and parties throughout the year. And for those who like their private members’ clubs to look as good as their events, the Pavilion’s classic façade is matched only by its opulent and colourful interior. pavilion.club

“For those who like their private members’ cloubs to look as good as their events, The Pavilion’s classic façade is matched only by its opulent interior”

This feature originally appeared in Tempus Magazine; tempusmagazine.co.uk 59

Vintage style: Bespoke wine cellars by Focus Wine Cellars (below) and Spiral Cellars (right)

BEST CELLARS Show off your wine collection in style with a bespoke wine cellar. Michelle Johnson explores the ultimate new interior trend

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s any wine enthusiast will tell you, the only thing more important than how we store our collection is the pleasure we take from enjoying it. So, when it comes to keeping our prized vintages in perfect condition, it’s crucial to not only keep fine wines stored at the right temperature and humidity level, but to also keep one’s bottles stored horizontally and somewhere they are safe from light and vibration.

While these rules of wine storage have not changed, contemporary technology means the days of uninspiring basements full of dusty bottles are long gone in favour of a fun new twist on the wine cellar. Inspired by new trends in interior architecture, the modern wine cellar is as much an opportunity to show off your unique style as the rest of your interior décor, whether that means creating a bespoke wine library to complement your traditional country pile, or a hightech, space-saving solution tucked away in your pied-à-terre.

According to Andrew Speer, founder of London-based bespoke makers Cellar Maison, there are ways to create the perfect cellar for any space, thanks to new technologies that allow for temperature and light control.

“With the help of technology such as specialist climate control systems and UV filters, to block harmful lights, there is much more scope to locate a wine room or wine wall in many above-ground areas of a property that might have been avoided in the past, when a subterranean cellar was the only safe option,” he says. “Although there are some areas that should be avoided, such as direct sunlight or near other heat-omitting sources.” » 60

DESIGN

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DESIGN

Speers’ major considerations for a wine room or wall depend on individual properties, but he suggests taking your lifestyle and entertaining style into consideration to identify the most practical locations, and suitability of space for technical and practical elements – such as the size and scope of your collection.

Cellar Maison’s mission is to match wine cellars, rooms and walls to each client’s specific style, and its projects include the homes and yachts of private individuals as well as major London landmarks. The firm’s bespoke designs include the champagne wall at Shangri-La The Shard hotel – designed to wrap around a lift shaft and extend into the hotel’s exquisite champagne bar – and a cave à vin at Gerald Chan’s Heckfield Place, Hampshire, made to play up the luxury hotel’s rustic charm.

“Design elements need to complement one another, and proportion and space is key if you want something truly spectacular,” says Speers. “I recommend creating a focal point to draw the eye, such as a niche or feature wall. Size and height make a difference but are not critical to creating an amazing space, whereas plenty of subtle ambient lighting is vital to showcasing any wine cellar.”

Conversely, Dr Aylin Gurer, partner at Focus Wine Cellars, says great design must start with purpose. “Osman Gurer, our head of design, always says that a wine cellar has two main tasks: to provide an environment ensuring the best storage conditions for wines, while displaying them in the best way that the wines deserve,” she says. “In this sense, the primary element to be exhibited shouldn’t be the design of the cellar, but the wine. In other words, the cellar design should not surpass the wine, which is actually the most precious thing in there.”

It is this ethos that has inspired Focus Wine Cellars – which has branches in Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and Turkey – to create awe-inspiring visual spectacles for its clientele, spanning heads of state, private collectors, hospitality brands, Michelin-starred restaurants, casinos and leading architects.

Playing with shape and colour, the company’s contemporary cellars and walls emphasise its clients’ impressive collections.

One of the most stand-out designs must be its innovative two storey cellar at the Divan Istanbul Hotel, housing 2,000 bottles of wine across two floors, allowing long-term storage as well as immediate access to fine wines.

“There are, and will always be, wine lovers who love to have a wine cellar in the traditional style – where solid wood, mainly oak, dominates the design,” says Gurer. “The warm touch of wood always has an irresistible appeal to most of us. Having said that, the more contemporary wine cellars incorporating minimalist design are the rising stars of our time.”

With wine investment, like the worlds of art and cars, remaining a passion investment for devoted oenophiles, it is no wonder some of today’s most innovative home solutions were created by – and for – collectors seeking practical space in modern apartments. Such was the case with the everpopular Spiral Cellars.

“Georges Harnois was running out of space to store his wine collection when, one day, crossing a spiral-staircase-shaped bridge, he realised the large amount of space around the central column, and voila: the idea for the Spiral Cellar was born,” says the company’s owner and managing director Lucy Hargreaves.

Since then, the company’s space-saving – and photogenic – designs have enjoyed growing popularity; the eponymous spiral cellar is built into the ground floor of a property, with a clear opening hatch that allows the owners to look down at their prized collection, while new projects include wine rooms built into surprising spaces including lift shafts and disused swimming pools. It is, says Hargreaves, made more exciting by current trends towards contemporary design.

“While we aren’t seeing one particular style coming to the fore, we are seeing clients more willing to push design boundaries, wanting to take their wine cellar design to the next level, which has been a thrill for us as experts in the field,” she says. Ultimately, she recommends wine collectors ensure they look to their needs first – and always check storage conditions.

“There are a lot of wine cellars that look stunning but, when you dig a bit deeper, they aren’t fit for purpose. A common error we see is a cellar which may have been created with storage based on a uniform bottle size basis, whereas wine bottles come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Additionally, perhaps no allowance has been made for the storage of wooden wine crates, or – the greatest sin of all – the atmospheric conditions within the wine room aren’t conducive to maturation.”

Echoing this advice, Speers emphasises the art of letting your entertainment needs guide your design. “Many of our clients utilise warehouse storage so that their entire collection doesn’t necessarily need to be crammed into the home cellar, which allows aesthetics to be prioritised over capacity,” he says. “This means there is space other lifestyle enhancing features, such as a sink and tap, spirits or whisky collection, cigar humidor, stemware cabinet, bar or counter surfaces for wine tasting and, generally speaking, a more open and inviting space that has been well-considered and tailored to suit their needs.”

All that’s left to do is select your vintage – and raise a glass. cellarmaison.com; focuswinecellars.com; spiralcellars.co.uk This feature originally appeared in Tempus Magazine; tempusmagazine.co.uk

“Clients are more willing to push design boundaries, wanting to take their wine cellar design to the next level” – Lucy Hargreaves, MD, Spiral Cellars

Unique design: bespoke wine room by Cellar Maison (left)

RULES OF CONTROL Burlingtons Legal’s Maria Nadarajah introduced the new National Security Merger Control Rules – and what they mean for you

What are the new merger control rules?

The NSI Act introduces a new mandatory notification requirement for certain “notifiable acquisitions”.

Notifiable acquisitions are defined as the acquisition of a certain level and type of control of a qualifying entity that carries on activities in the UK in any of the following 17 sectors (on the basis these are considered sensitive to national security): • Advanced Materials • Advanced Robotics • Artificial Intelligence • Civil Nuclear • Communications • Computing Hardware • Critical Suppliers to Government • Cryptographic Authentication • Data Infrastructure • Defence • Energy • Military and Dual-Use • Quantum Technologies • Satellite and Space Technologies • Suppliers to the Emergency Services • Synthetic Biology • Transport The target entity or assets do not necessarily need to be established or located in the UK to be caught under the NSI Act; it will be sufficient if the entity only supplies its goods or services into the UK or carries on activities in the UK. If an acquisition is notifiable, the proposed buyer needs to submit a mandatory notification to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy once arrangements are in progress or contemplation that, if carried into effect, will result in the transaction falling within the scope of the NSI Act – for example, when heads of terms have been agreed.

The notification must contain sufficient information to allow the government to decide whether to assess the proposed acquisition. A voluntary notification may also be made at an earlier stage by the proposed buyer, the seller or the target entity.

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N 4 JANUARY 2022, a new piece of legislation known as the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (“the NSI Act”) came into force in England and Wales. This new legislation gives the UK government a significantly enhanced ability to scrutinise mergers and acquisitions from a national security perspective.

What happens after submitting a notification?

Where a mandatory or voluntary notification is made, the government will consider whether to “call-in” and review the transaction, to assess if it should be allowed, prohibited, or whether any remedies are required for it to go ahead. To effect a call-in, the government will issue a call-in notice and the parties cannot subsequently complete the proposed transaction without the government’s prior approval. This is known as a standstill obligation.

In deciding whether to issue a call-in notice, the government will consider the following risk factors in relation to the transaction: • Target risk: Whether the target is or could be used in a manner that poses a risk to national security.

Targets active in one or more of the 17 specified sensitive sectors and related areas are likely to score high in terms of this risk profile • Acquirer risk: Whether the buyer has characteristics that suggest that the acquisition of control is, or could be, a risk to national security. The government may consider the buyer’s ultimate controller, its pre-existing holdings, and any previous or current criminal activities and links • Control risk: Consideration of the amount of control being acquired. A higher level of control can be expected to result in an increased national security risk profile The government may also exercise this call-in power (whether or not notification is given) if it otherwise becomes aware about an acquisition of control or material influence over qualifying entities or assets that may present a risk to UK national security. This power may be exercised within the six months after the government becomes aware of the transaction (even if it has already completed), subject to a longstop of five years following completion of the transaction.

The new regime applies equally to UK and non-UK buyers, which sets it apart from other major countries’ foreign investment and national security regimes. »

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What happens if a transaction is called-in?

After issuing a call-in notice, the government has the power to make an interim order to prevent or reverse actions that could prejudice its functions under the NSI Act. For example, in relation to completed transactions, the government may restrict the buyer from making changes to the acquired business, or for anticipated transactions, this could involve information flow restrictions or a prohibition on completion.

If the government finds, on the balance of probabilities, that a transaction gives rise to national security concerns, then it has the power to make a final order prohibiting the transaction or imposing requirements to address its national security concerns. In the case of a completed transaction, they may order that it be unwound.

Some of the remedies that the government might impose to remedy national security concerns may include: • Maintenance of specific operations in the UK • A right for government officials to enter and inspect premises • Limits to the level of shareholding that may be acquired • A minimum number of directors on the target’s board being UK citizens • The appointment of a dedicated compliance officer • Restrictions on the sale or transfer of intellectual property rights or technology • Security clearance of key personnel • Limited access to sensitive information, technology, or sites Sanctions for non-compliance Completion of a notifiable acquisition without prior approval from the government constitutes a criminal offence.

The sanctions for breaching this standstill obligation are potentially severe, including prison sentences of up to five years for the buyer’s directors.

Additionally, civil sanctions include a penalty of up to 5% of the company’s worldwide group turnover and £10m, whichever is higher. Crucially, a notifiable transaction that is completed without prior approval will automatically be void.

Practical challenges In the context of merger and acquisition transactions, considering the mandatory notification regime and severe sanctions for non-compliance, many investors will likely prefer to volunteer notifications on a precautionary basis. If there is a possibility an acquisition is potentially notifiable, it is likely to be advisable for the underlying acquisition agreement to be executed on the basis completion is conditional on clearance under the NSI Act. The regime under the NSI Act is also likely to present challenges in the context of many other transactions, such as: • Lending and finance arrangements: Lenders will likely want to make any financing they provide to borrowers in connection with mandatory notification acquisitions to be conditional on NSI Act clearance.

A lender providing secured finance to a borrower in any of the 17 “sensitive” sectors will also need to consider notification requirements on enforcement of their security as well as if their finance documents afford them material influence over the borrower • Private equity and venture capital: Investors may want to consider whether a possible investment is active in any of the 17 “sensitive” sectors and whether certain categories of buyers would present an execution risk, thus limiting possible exit routes. A limited partner taking a stake in a private equity fund entitling them to control or, by virtue of governance rights, material influence over the fund will also need to consider notification requirements and the call-in risk • Group re-structuring: Intra-group acquisitions could be caught by the regime even where there is no change in ultimate control. For example, where companies A and B are part of the same corporate group, and company A acquires company B that is active in one of the 17 sensitive sectors, a notification to the government will be required Find out more by contacting Maria Nadarajah via email at maria.nadarajah@burlingtons.legal

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PARTNER FEATURE

MAKE A STATEMENT Is your company overdue an update? Vantage Media’s Ross Forbes shares some of the many reasons why a new logo could revitalise your brand

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HEN IT COMES to promoting your company, nothing creates more instantaneous impact than a contemporary professional logo. The foundation of your visual identity, a logo is the best way to make a winning first impression on your customers, whether you’re launching into a new market or getting ready to scale to new heights.

While great logos combine imagery, colour theory and typography to tell your brand story – and create instant and lasting recognition from your target audience – the truly exceptional can give a taste of your services, heritage and values, telling your customers who you are and what you can offer. So, it’s important to consider not only how you want to be seen in your market sector, but also what you want to stand for – what is your unique story, and can your logo help to anchor that story in a compelling visual way?

A great example of this is fast food giant McDonalds, whose iconic golden arches on a vibrant red background are bright and fun, exuding a family-friendly, on-the-go vibe. Similarly, Apple’s sleekly minimalist but organic image of an apple (with a single bite taken from it) is synonymous with the brand’s market-leading innovation, simplicity of design and focus on intuitive, user-friendly tech.

In today’s world, logos must be versatile and creative across a brand’s products and digital media alike. We look at just a few reasons it might be time for a new brand identity…

Refresh a tired or out of date brand For legacy companies with a long history of exceptional service in their fields, it would be foolish to risk knocking the confidence of loyal clients by reinventing the wheel. However, it’s also important that your brand design stays relevant and communicates your position as a modern market leader. A refreshed look can take digital needs, new audiences and modern marketing into account, maintaining the identity of your historic logo while bringing it into the modern age.

Reflect your company’s growth Business have experienced unprecedented challenges in recent years – from Covid-19 to Brexit – and if you are one of the thousands of UK brands that successfully pivoted your client offering to survive and thrive, then it’s time to shout about your success. As your Business offering shifts, or new markets are discovered, it is important to ensure your logo and branding are communicating effectively – and not stuck in the past.

Create a more versatile digital brand More client acquisition and audience connection happens online than ever, particularly across social media, so it’s important to have a versatile logo that works with the algorithms. This might mean bold colours and appealing imagery, short and snappy messages, or adaptable logos that allow your brand to stand out in different market segments.

With a versatile, agile logo design, you can be the soul of reinvention in any fast-moving sector.

Capture hearts and minds We know great branding adds financial value to a company, but it also stays in the hearts and minds of your clients. As your services progress and grow, your core values can be a solid anchor for your branding, linking different services and goals together and helping your clients stay on the journey with you. Tone and typography can express the core emotion you want to portray – whether trust, optimism, modernity, fun or responsibility are your key tenets, this can be communicated at a glance.

Build trust and confidence in your brand Did you know that 86% of shoppers prefer an authentic and honest brand personality on social media? This means that companies who can tell their story consistently across marketing platforms are more likely to see a return of investment from their marketing efforts – and nothing tells a story or shows your authenticity better than a strong logo that reflects your ethos.

Stand out from the crowd Logo design is the foundation for your company’s brand narrative and visual style. It can inspire trust and confidence in your professional services at a glance, trigger positive recall about your brand and help entice new customers. The power of great branding can’t be understated – especially when it’s simple, meaningful and differentiates you from your rivals.

Simply put, a great logo gives you true staying power while making sure you always stand out from the crowd.

Vantage Media delivers branding and publishing solutions designed to delight and inspire your audiences. To find out more about our design and marketing services, please contact info@vantagemediagroup.co.uk. Vantagemediagroup.co.uk

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AIMING FOR EXCELLENCE Peter Malmstrom visits London’s oldest gunmaker Boss & Co and discover a thriving tradition of English craftsmanship that is inspiring new generations

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Y FATHER ONCE told me, “Son, there are three types of arrogance in this world: arrogance born of youth, arrogance born of stupidity and arrogance born of absolute excellence”. The excerpt on the next page is an extract from a sales brochure by bespoke gunmakers Boss & Co from the 1920s and might, in this modern age, be considered a tad arrogant in its delivery.

But, if it is, I can tell you with absolute certainty that it is arrogance born of excellence, and absolute mastery of their craft, which is as true today as it was in the late 1890s when John Robertson – Boss & Co’s legendary gunmaker, who took over the firm from founder Thomas Boss – led the way with innovations such as the single trigger mechanism in 1893. This was followed by the Boss Hammerless Ejector in 1897 and the creation of the elegant and lightweight Over and Under Shotgun in 1909.

This period was perhaps the zenith of fine English sporting gun manufacture, extending from about 1890 through to the First World War, when the flower of England perished on the battlefields of Flanders and great British estates were bereft of sons to inherit. The great gunmakers at the time also lost an army of highly skilled craftsmen, such was the call of duty. The industry saw an interwar revival, before the onset of the Second World War changed English society for ever and, with it, many of the great gunmakers of the late Victorian era were lost.

Fortunately, a few of the greatest names survived to continue the tradition of fine English gun making for a discerning, international shooting elite who valued the exceptional craftsmanship put into these guns. As other great gunmakers were swallowed up by large international conglomerates, Boss & Co was acquired by individuals who were avid shooters and keen customers of Boss – and who were keen to maintain the quality and handmade excellence established by Boss and its small team of dedicated craftsmen.

Today, owner Arthur DeMoulas has taken the company completely the other way to many other manufacturers, who look for ways to reduce costs and rationalise businesses

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through more mechanisation. Instead, DeMoulas’s vision has been to maintain the core craftsmanship that has driven the brand’s obsessional pursuit of excellence since its inception in 1812.

This by no means equals stasis, however: As gunmaker Jason Craddock says, “Boss is guided by tradition, not bound by it”.

The embodiment of this philosophy is in the development of the company’s crowning glory – the 1812 Edition Over and Under Ambidextrous Side-Lever shotgun (right).

DeMoulas was shooting with a pair of vintage Boss side-lever guns when he was struck by the ease of use compared with the traditional top-lever. He immediately set about developing this theme further with his small team of craftsmen.

With the more common top-lever gun (pictured left, inset), when you break the gun to eject spent cartridges, you drop the gun from the shoulder and your right hand rotates clockwise around the grip, so your right thumb catches the lever on the top of the gun, pushes it to the right to break the gun, and the ejectors do their work.

From a right-handed shooter’s perspective, the advantage of a side-lever action is that your hand is already in position when holding the gun in the aim. After your shot, you simply drop the gun from the shoulder and move your left thumb down, which pushes the lever down, breaks the gun and ejects the spent cartridges – a much more fluid action.

To make this mechanism (pioneered by Boss in earlier guns) work effectively in a side-lever gun is no mean feat, and would require a bespoke action devised by the combined skills of a team led by master gunmaker John Varney, who had worked with Boss for 42 years. Varney had discussed overcoming these technical challenges for the manufacture of the new gun but sadly passed away shortly after the finished 1812 Edition went into production. Fortunately, many of Varney’s skills had passed to Craddock, who had worked on the bench next to Varney for more than 20 years. Under the guidance of DeMoulas and inherited skills of Varney, the Boss team successfully produced the world’s first ambidextrous side-lever over and under shotgun. »

SPORTS

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The perfect shot: English craftsmanship is at the heart of London’s Boss & Co

MADE IN ENGLAND When you start talking about a team where multiple individuals, at the height of their profession, work alongside each other for more than 20 years, you can start to understand the culture Boss & Co maintains – and one which was evidenced in spadefuls when I visited the factory in Kew. While the exterior resembles a non-descript Georgian terraced house rather than a factory, inside it is a labyrinth of rooms occupied by specialist individuals, such as an engraver surrounded by his hand tools, or small teams working side by side on honing the barrels or carving the stocks by hand – without a CNC machine in sight.

My mind went back to the sales literature of the 1920s: “There is no opportunity for the work of inferior men to be utilised in the economy of the workshop”. These words ring as true today as they did in 1921 – and in 1812.

Virtually all gunmaking processes – down to the famous hallmark ‘Boss Rose and Scroll’ engraving – are handled in-house by this small team with a few exceptions such as some customer engraving requests, which go out to specific artists, commissioned as Leonardo or Michelangelo might have been in Renaissance 72

times. The alchemy that is bluing (that wonderful colouring on the metal surfaces) is also done by outsourced specialists who, like ancient Druids, maintain the secret formulae of compounds and heat to create this magical effect on components that are so valuable, any mistake would be catastrophic.

The result of these labours is outstanding. When I am first handed the 1812 Edition, I naturally break the gun, as is force of habit for any shooter or military man. The ease with which the gun’s action broke was like silk. I was also struck by the surprisingly heavy weight, as for a long time English gunmakers have strived to make their guns as light as possible for ease of carrying in the field for long periods. The trade-off, however, is the recoil. Physics tells you that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, so a light gun really kicks back at you. A heavier gun is more comfortable to use, particularly on high bird days when both guns in a pair would be used to reduce heat build-up and rate of fire.

As a right-handed shooter, the gun I was handling was set up with the side-lever on the left, but a matched right-side lever comes with the gun and can be switched over for the lefthanded shooter. »

THE GUNMAKER’S GUNMAKER | AN EXCERPT FROM A BOSS & CO BROCHURE, c.1920

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E WOULD SAY from the outset that we make only one grade of gun and have never placed a second quality make upon the market. This policy has enabled us to retain the services of the finest workmen in London, and to give them continuous employment.

The advantages attending the production of best work only are manifold. There is no opportunity for the work of inferior men to be utilised in the economy of the workshop, which is frequently the case when more than one class of weapon is produced.

The owner of a Boss gun has the satisfaction of knowing that he has the best gun that money can buy, and that no-one has a better. The Boss gun has, therefore, always a standard value, whether new or second hand. Our output is limited strictly according to the amount of first-class labour available.”

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LOOKING TO THE FUTURE The question here, of course, is why include a right-handed lever for a left-handed shooter (or vice versa) on a gun handmade to a specific customer? Each Boss & Co gun takes more than three years and over 1,500 hours to make and, having purchased such a masterpiece (costing upwards of £160,000 each and often sold in pairs), would you ever be likely to sell it?

Well, the thinking here is that an ambidextrous gun will not only maintain its stratospheric second-hand value if it ever came onto the market, but it can also be handed down in the family to a right or left-handed son or daughter. By making and supplying ambidextrous levers with the original gun, the left-handed lever could be installed at any time and would be identical in every respect to the right-handed lever.

It is clear from this philosophy that Boss & Co is not just thinking about today, but recognising their long and illustrious history as well as being firmly focused on the future generations to come. Boss runs a robust apprentice programme to develop new talent and, in fact, many of the accomplished craftsmen I met at the factory were much younger than I expected and had already been with the firm for years.

As an avid shooter and as an Englishman, my visit to Boss & Co was a revelation that lifted my spirits after the dark days of the pandemic and, dare I say it, Brexit. To realise that not only does craftsmanship of this quality still exist in our green and pleasant land but that, through the efforts of this small dedicated British team and under the leadership of its knowledgeable and passionate American owner, Boss & Co is destined to maintain its standing for generations to come.

There are those among us that thought exceptional quality of this kind was the reserve of our great history, but I can tell you it is alive and well and thriving in Kew, in this small and unassuming factory.

Boss & Co has maintained almost legendary status for over 200 years and, upon meeting the team and handling what is, without doubt, one of the finest guns in the world, this experience has reaffirmed my belief that English craftsmanship will continue to lead the world with Boss & Co for the next 200 years and beyond. bossguns.com This feature originally appeared in Tempus Magazine; tempusmagazine.co.uk

English rose: The Boss 23 showcases Boss & Co’s famed ‘Rose and Scroll’ engraving (right)

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ASK BORIS Burlingtons’ resident bulldog is here to answer your investment questions...

Question: What shotgun shout I invest in to make the most of the British game season?

Game shooting is one of the most quintessentially British of pastimes – the mere mention immediately conjuring images of gentlemen and ladies in their finest tweed, roaming the bucolic countryside and England’s most historic estates.

The season is also fundamental to the local economies of the villages surrounding shooting estates. From hotels and restaurants that rely on the custom of visiting parties, to local stores and farms, the season is deeply entwined with rural communities – and aids rewilding and conservation programmes on nearly two-million hectares of rural land.

Shooting season in the UK starts on 12 August – known as the Glorious Twelfth – through to February each year, with specific times allowed for different quarry. Beginning with grouse in August, pheasant season then runs from October, with duck ending the season in late February.

For regular shooters, commissioning your own shotgun is a rite of passage. It is often recommended to rent guns from a range of gunmakers to get a sense of what feels most comfortable for your style, before being fitted for your own gun. There are essentially four styles of shotgun – the two most popular are side by side and over and under, as well as semi-automatic and pump action. Side by sides are considered the traditional shotgun for game shooting, with barrels next to each rather than one sitting on top of the other; and although they also tend to be

lightweight, they have significant recoil and so are more commonly recommended for seasoned shooters.

Today, the over and under is the most popular and versatile shotgun, first made reliable by Browning in 1925. Typically designed as sporting guns, they can also be designed with a bias toward game or trap shooting, with a multi-choke system that makes them more versatile and robust – perfect for a first-time purchaser and old hand alike.

Just as with buying cars, new guns are reliable, elegantly engineered, and full of options for personalisation. Gunmakers can advise on legal requirements, such as licensing and insurance, even as they identify exactly what you wish to achieve in your sporting ambitions. For beautifully made bespoke shotguns, English gunmakers are still revered the world over, with the likes of Purdey, Boss & Co, Holland & Holland and Westley Richards making unique guns by hand – but be aware these spectacular shotguns can take up to two years to finish.

Once you have your ideal gun, it’s time to accessorise with a fine tweed suit and flat cap, high-tech ear protectors, walking boots and cartridge bags, so you can attend your shoot in high style.

And don’t forget to share your prize with man’s best friend – pheasant is my favourite meal!

For expert investment tips or advice about the questions that have been hounding you, contact Boris by emailing: info@burlingtons.group

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