Howard Trust
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
General Counsel - Advisory
London, GB
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
Biography
Howard Trust is a highly respected lawyer in the financial services industry and served as General Counsel for Schroders plc for over two decades before stepping down in May 2023. He continued to support the global asset and wealth management company as General Counsel – Advisory until March 2024.
During Howard’s tenure at Schroders, the company experienced significant growth in scale, with assets under management increasing from circa £100bn to over £700bn. It also expanded its global product reach (most notably in the APAC region), wealth management division and its private assets business, Schroders Capital.
In his role as General Counsel, Howard was responsible for the legal, compliance and governance functions of the firm, as well as advising the board and senior management. He was closely involved in Schroders’ acquisition of several asset and wealth management businesses, including Cazenove Capital, Greencoat (renewable energy) and BlueOrchard (impact investing). Howard was also a long-standing member of Schroders’ Group Management Committee.
Before joining Schroders, Howard was General Counsel and Board Secretary at Barclays PLC, providing legal and governance support across the entire Barclays group including its retail and institutional businesses, Barclays Capital (investment banking), Barclaycard and all Barclays’ international operations.
Throughout his career, Howard has been at the forefront of the development of the in-house legal function. He established the legal departments at BZW and Barclays from the ground up, and reorganised the team at Schroders. He is renowned for his extensive legal knowledge, analytical skills, and ability to build, motivate and manage large global teams of professionals.
Howard has a particular interest in diversity, social mobility and education. After retiring from Schroders, he joined the board of an educational charity, and the finance and investment committees of the Diocese of East Anglia.
The Record
Background
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2003 — 2023
General Counsel
Schroders plc
Schroders is a global asset and wealth management company with a long history, offering a wide range of asset management services to institutional and individual clients, focusing on delivering sustainable investment solutions.
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1995 — 2003
General Counsel and Board Secretary
Barclays PLC
Barclays PLC is a British universal bank headquartered in London, providing consumer, corporate and investment banking services to individuals, businesses and institutions worldwide. It operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International, with a long history in retail banking, credit cards, wealth management and capital markets.
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1989 — 1995
Legal Director
BZW (Barclays Capital)
BZW (Barclays de Zoete Wedd) was the investment banking division of Barclays PLC from 1986 to 1997. BZW was formed through the merger of Barclays Merchant Bank, de Zoete & Bevan, and Wedd Durlacher. In 1997 BZW was rebranded as Barclays Capital following a restructuring of Barclays' investment banking operations.
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1980 — 1985
Solicitor, Corporate Department
Lovell White & King
Lovell White & King was a prominent British law firm known for its expertise in corporate and commercial law. During his time at the company, Howard specialised in public and private M&A.
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1985 — 1989
Company Secretary to the Board and Executive Committee, Senior Lawyer
Morgan Grenfell plc
Morgan Grenfell plc was a British investment bank and asset management firm, known for its expertise in international investment and corporate finance. It was acquired by Deutsche Bank in 1989.
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2023 — 2024
General Counsel - Advisory
Schroders plc
After overseeing the transition to his successor, Howard stepped down from his executive responsibilities as General Counsel at Schroders and continued to work with the firm in an advisory role.
Formative Years
Education
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Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge
Post Graduate
1976 — 1979
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Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge
Undergraduate
1973 — 1976
Areas Of Focus