The ALM Private Client Global Elite Forum 2025 brought together the world’s leading private client lawyers and advisors for an exclusive three-day gathering at the historic Villa d’Este on Lake Como. From 13 to 15 November, this invitation-only event offered senior practitioners unparalleled networking opportunities and cutting-edge insights into international private wealth management. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Italian lakes, the forum featured high-level discussions on global trends in wealth structuring, succession planning, and cross-border advisory services, reinforcing its position as one of the most prestigious events in the private client calendar.
In a compelling panel discussion, four distinguished private client experts explored the rising challenges of abduction and coercion in international family disputes. Basil Zirinis (Sullivan & Cromwell), Camilla Baldwin (Camilla Baldwin – UK and International Family Lawyers), Craig MacIntyre (Conyers), and our Alfred Ip shared invaluable insights from their extensive experience handling sensitive cross-border cases.
Kidnapping of Children and Adults in Family Disputes
The panel discussed how abduction is increasingly used as a tactic in high-conflict family situations, particularly in cross-border child custody battles. According to the 2025 Annual Report on International Child Abduction, there were 721 active cases involving 982 children across 103 countries that are party to the Hague Convention. These cases represent instances where one parent unlawfully removes a child, often internationally, in violation of custody rights.
The emotional and psychological impact on abducted children can be profound and long-lasting, while the left-behind parent suffers ongoing trauma and legal uncertainty. The session underscored the importance for legal professionals to act swiftly, leveraging international cooperation, law enforcement alerts, and legal frameworks to prevent and resolve abduction cases effectively.
Similarly, the panel explored the coercive removal of mentally incapacitated or elderly adults by family members seeking control or asset manipulation. Such kidnappings raise ethical and legal dilemmas regarding autonomy, consent, and guardianship rights. The protections available under mental capacity laws are often challenged by jurisdictional barriers and manipulation by hostile relatives.
State Involvement in Information “Kidnapping” and Persecution
Beyond familial kidnappings, the session also covered the phenomenon of state actors misappropriating personal information for persecution. States increasingly employ surveillance technologies to gather extensive data, which can be used to target individuals who oppose state interests, including those involved in family disputes. Governments may engage Interpol to demand arrests of political or familial opponents, leading to a form of systemic coercion on a transnational scale.
Legal and Ethical Challenges for Professionals
Legal practitioners face multifaceted challenges in protecting clients from both physical abduction by relatives and informational persecution by states. Quick identification of abduction risks, safeguarding client privacy, and navigating jurisdictional complexities are essential skills. Collaboration with international human rights entities and vigilance in protecting client autonomy and safety are critical.
Takeaways
The session emphasized that kidnapping, whether of children, mentally incapacitated adults, or through state misuse of personal data, represents a growing menace intertwined with family and political conflicts. Legal professionals play an essential role in mitigating these threats by combining legal expertise, ethical commitment, and international cooperation to protect vulnerable individuals from harm and uphold justice in hostile environments.
This article is for information purposes only. Its contents do not constitute legal advice and readers should not regard this article as a substitute for detailed advice in individual instances.
