About this template
The Mahogany template is a senior letter in deep mahogany brown and warm parchment: Caslon small-caps title, Caslon Regular body, a faint wood-grain texture as a very discreet background filigree. The visual register is that of a panelled boardroom, not a marble lobby. Compatible with the ATS systems of traditional private banks (Workday at Edmond de Rothschild, Pictet, Lombard Odier, Brown Brothers Harriman, Bessemer Trust) and heritage corporate-law firms.
Who is it for?
It suits senior executives applying to traditional private-bank boards, family-trust mandates, heritage corporate-law firms (Slaughter and May, Sullivan & Cromwell, Gibson Dunn) and patrimonial real-estate groups (Klépierre, Unibail-Rodamco, Land Securities, Brookfield Properties). Trustees, board chairs, senior partners and family-office advisers who want the letter to read as a patrimonial document. Out of place in tech, modern start-up boards or contemporary commercial sectors.
How to use it
The wood-grain texture is extremely discreet — it must never appear as a printed pattern. If you print the letter, choose ivory stock 120 gsm Conqueror Wove that absorbs ink like parchment. The hook opens on a patrimonial reference ("Following our discussion at the Trustees' meeting hosted by Maître Untel"). Paragraph 2 cites your current mandates in shorthand: number of family offices advised, years of mandate, AuM size. A handwritten signature in dark brown-black ink completes the register.
Frequently asked questions
Is it suitable for Swiss or Luxembourg private banking?
Yes for Pictet, Lombard Odier, Mirabaud, Banque Bonhôte, Banque Internationale à Luxembourg, BSI Generali, Reichmuth & Co — which appreciate the patrimonial mahogany register. The palette's discretion is explicitly aligned with their privacy-first posture.
Should I mention the AuM I manage?
Yes, rounded and conservative — "over USD 500M in family-office AuM" rather than "USD 547.3M". The mahogany register demands rounded figures that don't draw attention. Never name clients, even by initials.
Is the letter suitable for an international trustee mandate?
Yes for Jersey, Guernsey, Bahamas, Singapore and Hong Kong jurisdictions. Mention your STEP membership (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) and licence number where applicable. Family-trust committees systematically verify STEP registrations before granting an interview.
