By Hiizzy
10/06/2025
Over 50 senior professionals gathered at The Club Hotel & Spa in Jersey on Tuesday 3rd June for the International Real Estate Lunch, a high-level event exploring the future of international property investment. Co-hosted by HNW Advisor and Hiizzy, the session brought together private capital specialists, legal experts, technologists and regulators to discuss emerging trends, technological advancements and regulatory shifts shaping the future of global property investment.
The event, sponsored by Empire Global Finance. Mosaic Chambers Group and Pafilia, featured two panels and a keynote, each taking on a different dimension of international property investment, from family office strategies and tax structuring to tokenisation, blockchain and Jersey’s role in the evolving global ecosystem. Along with practical insights and strategy, the event featured plenty of networking with one guest commenting afterwards that the combination of the networking opportunities from the real estate event and the following dinner was “better than MIPIM”.
Panel 1: Private Capital & Family Office Investors in International Real Estate
Following a welcome from Martin Johnson, Director at Empire Global Finance, the first panel, moderated by Chris Usher (Cavenwell Group), explored how private capital is shaping international real estate strategies, and where family offices are choosing to invest in an evolving global landscape.
Speakers included Thomas Pearson (JMW Solicitors LLP), Steve Jacob (Fabrik Property Group), Stuart Stobie (Mosaic Chambers) and Katharine Marshall (Ogier), who discussed the increasing sophistication of high-net-worth clients and the importance of tax-first structuring.
Thomas Pearson explained that the UK remains a safe haven for many investors who are looking for security and safety, with Steve Jacob highlighting the pull of regional UK cities like Manchester and Birmingham, where returns often outpace London, particularly in student accommodation and care. Katherine Marshall and Stuart Sobie both emphasised the need to begin with tax and legal structuring early in the process to avoid complications later on.
Chris Usher summarised the first panel succinctly: “We’re seeing more family offices willing to explore global diversification – but they want control, clarity and compliance. Events like this highlight how legal, investment and tech perspectives must align to unlock those opportunities.”
Before lunch, the keynote from Barry Winter, International Property Consultant at Pafilia introduced more global perspectives with a snapshot of residential investment opportunities and trends in Europe and the Mediterranean, highlighting the lifestyle and residency benefits that come with real estate in Cyprus.
Panel 2: The Future of International Property Investment
The afternoon panel, chaired by Alexandra Ruddy (Oben Law), focused on how technology is reshaping the global property market, and featured speakers from across law, proptech, digital assets and regulation.
The panel included Allan Wood (Hiizzy), Emma German (Monoceros Law & Innovation), Lee Birkett (Moneybrain.com) and George Pearmain (Strategic Advisor on Financial Crime Regulation). Topics included digital identity, smart contracts, tokenisation, blockchain-based registries and the growing use of predictive data models in risk and compliance.
Allan Wood explained how Hiizzy removes friction by letting buyers and sellers connect directly through its platform-based tools. “The model is simple,” he said. “The seller knows their property. They tell the story. We give them the tools. What’s changing now is that technology is finally being used to serve people, not gatekeepers.”
Emma German highlighted the use of digital twins in forward-thinking jurisdictions to streamline development and infrastructure planning, as well as unpacking the growing legal frameworks around smart contracts and data governance. Lee Birkett discussed the way digital currencies are already transforming property investment, with the recent example of a £28 million stablecoin lending opportunity in Jersey, while regulatory advisor George Pearmain put the spotlight on the opportunities – and responsibilities – Jersey faces as it adapts to a more connected global market.
A resounding success
The event closed with a final networking session, with guests describing the day as “practical, relevant and energising”, noting the quality of attendees and focus of the discussions. For organisers HNW Advisor and Hiizzy, the event confirmed the value of bringing strategic, legal and tech voices into the same room. “There’s no shortage of capital,” said David Bell, founder of HNW Advisor. “But the way capital moves is changing. This event helped us to understand not just what’s next, but how Jersey and its ecosystem can lead.”
Allan Wood said “It’s rare to find an event that genuinely bridges the gap between traditional real estate, emerging tech and serious capital flows. We’re proud to have co-hosted something that highlights not only Jersey’s strength in financial and legal structuring, but also its potential to lead on real estate innovation.”
About the Organisers
About David Bell & HNW Advisor Events:
Founded by David Bell, HNW Advisor Events are designed for internationally minded private client advisors from various sectors in the wealth management industry – tax, law, fiduciary and banking, among the most represented sectors at our events.
Our diverse audience creates more business opportunities by sharing knowledge or insight. Technical information is delivered in an accessible way, to drive referrals between our sponsors, delegates, and contributors. We run a regular program of events in the UK and more complex growth markets for the wealth sector, such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Nigeria.
https://www.hnwadvisorevents.com/
About Hiizzy:
Hiizzy is a property marketplace redefining the way people buy and sell homes. By cutting out estate agents and empowering sellers with smart tools, transparent pricing and expert support, Hiizzy puts homeowners and a growing market of property developers back in control.
Built for speed, simplicity and trust, Hiizzy is making property transactions faster, fairer and future-ready across the board.
