Last week saw the long-awaited launch of the Swiss Association of Trust Companies. The launch in Zug, which was timed to coincide with Switzerland's ratification of The Hague Convention on the Law Applicable to Trusts, has been initially supported by Barclays, Bonhote, Close, Experta, Investec, Julius Baer, Kendris, Paicolex, Quiltrust, Rothschilds, Settlements SA and Valueworks. The project to form the association was started two years ago by Baker & McKenzie partner, Stephanie Jarrett in Geneva and Valueworks’ Kecia Barkawi in Zurich. It hopes to attract up to 50 members. In its formation, the promoters of the new organisation have worked closely with the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, an organisation of individual members that is primarily focused on education and development of the profession. SATC has a different focus as it is an organisation of companies that aims to encourage the growth of the trust industry and to ensure a high level of quality, professionalism and integrity in the trust business in Switzerland. One of its prime objectives is to lobby the Swiss government to regulate trust companies and to set appropriate standards. Kecia Barkawi has been appointed president of SATC’s board of directors, along with Investec’s Xavier Issac as vice president and Adrian Escher as treasurer. Mark Barmes and Close’s Daniel Martineau have also been appointed to the board.