Areas of Practice
Track Record
Acting for a prominent MENA based family with assets of £2bn plus to establish a single-family office to manage the family’s global assets based in seven different jurisdictions. Advice includes the establishment of multiple separate PTC vehicles, and the structuring of real estate in the UK, Europe and MENA region. The work also included structuring significant business assets as well as substantial tech start-up businesses.
Acting on a number of cases involving Sharia succession rules and advising in the context of the application of these rules outside of the Gulf. Kyra has worked to both structure wealth as well as to challenge planning undertaken where there has been a family dispute.
Kyra has a typical Family Office practice and manages multiple different elements for individuals, from sourcing luxury goods and property to management of household staff and art, cars, yachts and private jets.
Awards & Rankings
Legal 500, Leading Partner, 2025 & 2026
Chambers HNW, Band One Individual, 2023 – 2025
Chambers HNW, Foreign Expert for Middle East-wide Spotlight, 2024 – 2025
Chambers HNW, United Arab Emirates – Foreign Expertise based abroad in UK Spotlight, 2024 – 2025
Chambers HNW, Ranked Individual, 2024 – 2025
Private Client Global Elite, Excellence, 2024
Legal 500, Leading Individual, 2023 & 2024
Chambers HNW, Foreign Expert, 2020 – 2023
Business Today, Top 10 UK Family Offices & Funds Structuring Lawyers, 2023
Chambers HNW Awards, Foreign Jurisdiction Expert – Shortlisted 2022
Legal Week Private Client Global Elite, Rising Leader, 2022
Legal 500, Next Gen Partner, 2021 & 2022
Legal Week Private Client Global Elite, One to Watch, 2021
EprivateClient, Top 35 under 35, 2016 – 2018
Conference Speaking
PCD TrustConsult Conference in Monaco, 2023
STEP Isle of Man, ‘Protecting Legacies: Options for structuring Family Businesses with Trusts’, 2023
Informa, ‘Cross Border Planning: The Next Generation’ Conference in Dubai, 2022
STEP Arabia Conference in Abu Dhabi, Tax Update, 2022
Thought Leaders 4 Private Client ‘Wealth / Life Middle East’ Conference in Dubai, Working With Family Offices: Should you have one? Setting One Up? Client, Obstacle or Threat?, 2022
STEP Jersey Seminar, Practical tips for dealing with the new IHT rules for UK residential property, 2019
ICSA Seminar, Private Client Governance Succession Structures for the Internationally mobile, 2018
Memberships
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
Education & Qualification
University of Southampton
Qualified as a solicitor in 2011
Recommended by Kyra
As more families consider passing on wealth during their lifetime, striking the right balance between supporting loved ones and maintaining your own financial security is essential. In The Telegraph, Private Client & Tax Partner Clare Stirzaker discusses the importance of factoring in retirement, future care and healthcare costs, and inflation before making significant lifetime gifts.
Read more 3 min read 11 Aug 2026 Why more US UHNW individuals are considering relocation to the UKWhy more US UHNW individuals are considering relocation to the UK. As tax, political and economic considerations become increasingly important for US ultra high net worth (UHNW) individuals, a growing number are exploring opportunities to live, invest and structure their affairs internationally.
Read more 3 min read 06 Aug 2026 Could owning a home abroad affect the SDLT payable on a UK property purchase?Could owning a home abroad affect the SDLT payable on a UK property purchase? In recent articles for Taxation and PrimeResi, Private Wealth Associate, Will Timbrell explores how overseas property held through structures such as Delaware LLCs and French SCIs can impact whether the additional 5% SDLT surcharge applies, and why understanding how those assets are held is crucial when assessing the SDLT position before committing to a purchase.
Read more 2 min read 21 Jul 2026 The evolving role of family officesPrivate Wealth Partner, Kyra Motley comments in TheWealthNet and eprivateclient on the importance of coordinating advice for ultra-high net worth families with interests across multiple jurisdictions. The article explores how the role of family offices is evolving beyond traditional tax and investment considerations, with increasing focus on stability, cybersecurity, healthcare, education and cross-border planning.
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