Lecturer Bios
Marcos Almeida
Marcos Almeida is a qualified lawyer and STEP Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP). He began his career as a trial lawyer in Brazil, representing one of the country's largest insurers, and later continued in New Zealand after completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Business.
For almost a decade, Marcos has specialised in the Cook Islands' offshore trust and estate industry, developing expertise in international asset protection and the jurisdiction's legal framework. His global network includes attorneys, CPAs, family offices, and banks across the United States, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Panama.
Before founding Atlas, he served as Head of Legal and Client Services for a leading Cook Islands trust company and as a director of two licensed New Zealand trust companies, where he introduced innovative trustee practices that raised industry standards.
As CEO of Atlas, Marcos combines legal expertise, professional credentials, and a global network to deliver efficient, technology-driven, and client-focused asset protection solutions.
Samuel Gilling
Samuel Gilling is an international wealth management specialist and STEP Worldwide Excellence Award recipient with experience across international fiduciary and corporate advisory services. He began his career as in-house counsel to an international trust and corporate services firm, advising on the establishment and administration of wealth-management structures across leading asset-protection jurisdictions, including the Cook Islands.
Samuel holds first-class qualifications in business and legal studies, complemented by specialized professional training in international wealth management. He brings a pragmatic, detail-driven approach to fiduciary oversight and is committed to enhancing the Cook Islands' reputation as a world-leading jurisdiction for compliant, ethical, and innovative wealth-protection solutions.
As Head of Wealth Management at Atlas Trust Company Limited, Samuel ensures that every client structure is administered with precision, care, and efficiency within the Cook Islands' internationally recognised asset protection framework.
