Pamela Pitcher a financial services industry veteran of 20 years, has launched a new Jersey-based company to provide oversight on trustees and protect the interests of beneficiaries.

The mandate of Sentinel Protector Limited is to serve as a watcher and safeguard over the actions of trustees, therefore giving beneficiaries the security of knowing that their two parties are involved in taking care of their affairs, the firm said in a statement. This additional oversight is particularly important when the trustee and beneficiary are located in different jurisdictions, according to Ms Pitcher. Trust protector-related litigation is on the increase, she said, and having a professional trust protector can help avoid family disputes and costly litigation in the future.

“SPL can be an effective solution to monitor trustees of international trusts if no other suitable protector can be found. We have no interest in the trust property and are therefore able to act with impartiality and sound judgment when carrying out the duties of the office,” said Ms Pitcher.

Prior to founding Sentinel Protector, Ms Pitcher specialised in international financial planning for high net worth, multi-jurisdictional families utilising international trusts.  In this work she noted that many families found it hard to find a suitable candidate to act as trust protector, and she has launched her new venture to cater for this need.