Founding Partner | LLB (Hons) International Private Client Specialist | (Star Individual - Private Wealth Law) – Chambers and Partners
John Riches is a founding partner of RMW Law and one of the UK’s most distinguished international private client practitioners. With over four decades of experience advising ultra-high-net-worth families, John is internationally recognised for his expertise in global wealth structuring, governance, and succession planning.
He has been consistently ranked in Band 1 by Chambers & Partners and is now named a Star Individual, a rare accolade reserved for a handful of outstanding practitioners in the legal profession.
Recognition and leadership
John was elected by his peers and currently serves as President of the International Academy of Trust and Estate Lawyers, a prestigious global body with over 300 members across 41 countries, where membership is by invitation only.
His peers and clients alike regard him as a thought leader in the private wealth field. He is described as:
“Highly respected…a standout lawyer - [John] works with some of the biggest families in the world and is one of the most important private client practitioners out there. The private client guru."
Chambers and Partners profile
Legal Practice
John specialises in:
International wealth structuring:
designing sophisticated cross-border arrangements for globally mobile families
Family governance:
creating frameworks that ensure effective stewardship across generations
Succession planning:
developing comprehensive strategies for complex, multi-jurisdictional wealth transfers
Business governance:
structuring frameworks that integrate family and commercial interests for entrepreneurs
He works closely with international family offices, entrepreneurs, and UK resident non-domiciled families, advising on how best to structure personal and business wealth across generations.
Career highlights and public policy leadership
- Qualified as a solicitor in 1985
- Former Chair (2010–2021) of STEP's Public Policy Committee, leading global trust and tax policy engagement
- Member of STEP's Responsible Stewardship of Wealth Committee
- Consulted by the OECD on its High Net Worth Individuals initiative
- Regular participant in FATF Consultative Forum sessions
- Co-authored the STEP practice note on the Common Reporting Standard and Trusts
- Spoke on behalf of the private client community at the OECD's Global Tax Forum 10th anniversary conference
Awards and Accolades
- Outstanding Achievement Award from STEP Private Client Awards 2007
- Spears Outstanding Contribution to Wealth Management 2008
- Trusted Adviser of the Year from STEP Private Client Awards 2011
- Spears Tax and Trust Lawyer of the Year Award 2017
Thought Leadership
A recognised thought leader, John has edited "The Private Wealth & Private Client Review" annually since September 2012, providing an overview of changes in private wealth and private client law in over 30 countries. He is co-author of chapters in "Global Mobility of Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals" and regularly contributes to leading publications, including the International Family Offices Journal.
Impact and Vision
With forty years of experience serving globally wealthy families, John combines technical excellence with a deep understanding of the complex governance challenges that accompany substantial wealth across generations. As a founding partner, his vision and expertise have established RMW Law's reputation as the premier boutique private client firm capable of serving the most sophisticated international families whilst maintaining the personalised approach that distinguishes the practice.
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