LONDON – Snowton & Partners today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to unite with Alpina Legacy Partners AG, a highly respected, independent advisory firm based in Zurich, Switzerland. This strategic combination marks a significant milestone, bringing together two leading firms with deeply aligned philosophies but distinctly complementary expertise. The new, expanded entity will provide multi-generational families of significant wealth with a uniquely integrated, pan-European service that addresses the complete architecture of a lasting legacy: from sophisticated financial stewardship and educational guidance to intricate family governance and succession planning.
This union is born from a shared philosophy and a clear strategic vision. For years, Snowton & Partners has established itself as a leader in the United Kingdom for its integrated approach to managing financial capital and cultivating human capital through its world-class education advisory. In parallel, Alpina Legacy Partners has earned an impeccable reputation across Continental Europe for its discreet and highly specialised work in navigating the complexities of family dynamics, succession, and philanthropic structuring. The combination of these two firms creates a singular offering in the market, capable of seamlessly advising families on both the quantitative and the qualitative dimensions of their legacy. It closes the long-standing gap between the preservation of wealth and the preservation of the values that give that wealth purpose.
Founded over two decades ago, Alpina Legacy Partners AG has become one of the most trusted names amongst established European families for matters of non-financial legacy. Operating with the utmost discretion from its Zurich headquarters, the firm is renowned for its proprietary methodology in developing family charters, facilitating multi-generational leadership transitions, and structuring impactful philanthropic foundations. Their partners act as trusted confidants and impartial mediators, helping families to articulate a shared vision and build the robust governance frameworks necessary to sustain their unity and enterprise for a century and beyond. Their expertise lies not in managing assets, but in managing the complex human elements that ultimately determine the success or failure of a generational transfer.
The strategic vision for the combined firm is to provide a holistic, cross-border service of unparalleled depth. Clients will now benefit from a single, trusted relationship that can orchestrate every facet of their long-term objectives. This integrated service will include global investment management and strategic wealth structuring from the London office, alongside bespoke family governance, succession mediation, and philanthropic strategy from the Zurich-based team. For a family considering its future, this means a conversation about educating the next generation can flow seamlessly into a discussion about their future roles within the family enterprise, which in turn can inform the long-term structure of the investment portfolio and the family’s charitable foundation. It is the delivery of a truly complete solution for families of consequence.
To ensure continuity and to leverage the considerable brand equity of both firms, the integration will be executed in a thoughtful, phased manner. Alpina Legacy Partners will continue to operate from its Zurich office and will initially retain its name, with its distinguished leadership team remaining fully in place. In a testament to the collaborative nature of this union, Dr. Anja Hess, the highly respected founder and senior partner of Alpina Legacy Partners, will join the executive partnership of Snowton & Partners and will lead the group’s newly formed European Legacy and Governance practice. This structure ensures that clients will continue to receive the dedicated, personal service they have always known, now enhanced by a vastly expanded range of capabilities.
Shelby Swinton, Founding Partner at Snowton & Partners, stated: “This is the most significant strategic step our firm has ever taken. In Alpina Legacy Partners, we have found a partner that shares our DNA—our commitment to a long-term perspective, our belief in bespoke counsel, and our dedication to serving clients with integrity and discretion. By uniting our strengths, we are not simply expanding our geographic footprint; we are fundamentally redefining what a comprehensive legacy advisory can be. We can now provide the complete architecture for a family’s future, ensuring that the financial engine they build is perfectly aligned with the values and vision they wish to perpetuate.”
Dr. Anja Hess, founder of Alpina Legacy Partners, added: “For years, our clients have entrusted us with the most personal aspects of their family’s future. The one area where we have always sought a deeper capability to offer them was in providing truly world-class, institutional-grade investment stewardship and educational guidance that understood their unique family context. In Snowton & Partners, we have found that perfect counterpart. Their sophisticated approach to capital and their profound understanding of education is the missing piece for our clients, just as our expertise in family governance is for theirs. I and my entire team are immensely excited to begin this new chapter, united in our purpose to serve families across Europe with a level of depth and integration that has never been seen before.”
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