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Executive Leadership
Four decades running businesses and professional-services practices with direct accountability for people, performance and results.
LNS PRIVATE CLIENTS
Lindsay Somerville · CEO & Principal Advisor
Strategic Leadership.
Trusted Advice.
Long-Term Stewardship.
An experienced executive and trusted advisor with a career spanning professional services, private clients, family office advisory, commercial leadership and organisational transformation.
At a Glance
Where four decades of experience is concentrated
A career built at the intersection of business ownership, professional services, taxation, governance and private wealth — and, increasingly, at the point where those disciplines meet in a Family Office.
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Commercial Judgement
Full P&L responsibility as an EY Partner, and as founder and CEO of boutique advisory businesses built, operated and successfully transitioned.
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Family Office & Private Clients
De facto Family Office leadership coordinating legal, tax, accounting, banking, investment and specialist advisers around complex private interests.
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Governance & Advisory
Non-Executive Director and Audit & Finance Committee Chair appointments, and independent strategic oversight to private businesses and Family Office interests.
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Practice Building
Built the Canberra specialist tax practice to approximately 25 professionals and grew the Brisbane tax practice from around 65 to approximately 130.
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Trusted Relationships
Entrusted as Co-Executor and Trustee of a major Family Office client's Will, and appointed Power of Attorney.
Executive Perspective
Leadership that is calm, considered and commercially grounded
A career defined by running businesses and complex operations rather than simply advising them. As an EY Partner, Lindsay held full accountability for the P&L, people, client relationships, recruitment, quality assurance and performance of major taxation practices in Canberra and Brisbane. As founder and CEO of specialist advisory businesses, Lindsay built and operated boutique firms supporting high-net-worth families and entrepreneurs.
Lindsay's leadership style is calm, considered and relationship-driven. He takes difficult decisions seriously, seeks to understand the wider implications before acting, and places considerable emphasis on mentoring, developing people and demonstrating leadership through direct involvement.
Lindsay has consistently been entrusted with matters requiring independent judgement and discretion — from national reviews of technical, quality and business performance across EY capital-city tax practices, to sensitive commercial and organisational matters, to the personal affairs of families whose interests span operating businesses, investments, philanthropy and succession.
A Family Office CEO is not simply an executive overseeing a portfolio of functions. The role requires someone capable of becoming a trusted custodian of the family's interests, reputation and long-term objectives.
Why Family Office Leadership
Experience that translates directly into a private family environment
A successful Family Office requires more than sound financial management or access to good professional advisers. It requires an experienced executive who can bring together the family's interests, wealth, operating businesses, investments, succession considerations, governance arrangements and external advisers within a coherent long-term framework.
That is the environment in which much of Lindsay's professional experience has developed. As Founder and CEO of LNS Private Clients, and previously Southbank Associates / LOQ Group, Lindsay has provided de facto Family Office leadership by coordinating legal, tax, accounting, banking, investment and specialist advisory resources around complex personal and commercial interests.
Selected Impact
Evidence rather than assertion
Practice Leadership
Building and scaling specialist practices
- Established the EY Canberra specialist taxation practice and built it to approximately 25 professionals.
- Grew the EY Brisbane tax practice from approximately 65 professionals to approximately 130 while maintaining a highly profitable and competitive market position.
- Promoted to EY Partner at age 31.
Anticipating Change
Positioning ahead of a market-defining reform
- Anticipated the introduction of GST in Australia by recruiting approximately 20 experienced GST/VAT specialists from international markets.
- Oversaw a national GST education program involving eight manuals and more than 300 roadshow seminars.
- Established specialist indirect-tax capabilities spanning R&D, Stamp Duty, Customs Duty, Payroll Tax and EMDG.
Client Leadership
Winning and holding major relationships
- Established Brisbane Senior Partner lead of Client Service Relationships and BD – significant impact either directly or indirectly in securing global clients, headquartered in Australia.
- Was the Australian Lead Partner, as part of a global team pursuing a consulting mandate with a South America-based global mining group.
- Built senior relationships with CEOs, CFOs and major corporate stakeholders.
Private Environments
Stewardship of complex family interests
- Currently advises a major Family Office with approximately 15 trading entities and family value of approximately $800 million, including a significant corporate restructuring.
- Supports foreign-owned businesses entering Australia across establishment, banking, regulatory obligations and reporting.
- Appointed Responsible Person Director for a confidential Family Office charitable foundation.
Next Step
A confidential conversation
Enquiries from family principals, trustees, boards, investment professionals and executive search advisers are welcomed and treated in confidence.