McDermott - Practice Areas - Private Client - International Private Client

International Private Client

The lawyers in our International Private Client practice represent high net worth individuals, families and closely held businesses. As a leading firm in the areas of taxation, wealth transfer and estate and business planning, we offer clients unparalleled, wide-ranging legal resources; as seasoned individual practitioners, we provide creative, customized representation for their most sensitive needs.

Our clients face a complex blend of individual, family and business concerns, all of which must be understood to advance their personal goals in a highly dynamic environment. Our lawyers monitor all of our clients’ legal issues, marshal and deploy resources to accomplish the strategy, and anticipate risks in changing circumstances. As personal general counsel to our private clients, we craft solutions that protect what matters most to each client.

Year after year, we have been singled out by legal and industry publications for the quality of our service and the sophistication of our counsel. In 2011, our Private Client practice was recognized by Chambers USA as the top firm in wealth management (estates and trusts). CityWealth Magic Circle Awards, named the head of McDermott’s London private client practice Private Client Lawyer of 2010, and he was named one of the ‘Top Five’ Tax and Trusts Solicitors in Spear’s Legal Index (2010). In addition, the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law has more members (5) from McDermott than from any other firm in the world. One of the Firm’s partners has served as president of the organization.

From offices in key financial centres in the US and Europe, we provide comprehensive advice on the exclusive issues facing our private clients where they live, work, invest and travel. With resources on the ground around the globe, we partner with clients to manage business and personal demands across jurisdictions, whether purchasing a home in South Africa or selling a startup business in Silicon Valley.

Serving the Full Spectrum of Clients

Our international team regularly advises a wide spectrum of private clients, including:

Internationally based families with investments in multiple jurisdictions and residents in multiple countries
Non-US citizens relocating to or residing in the United States and individuals moving internationally who need to plan and/or restructure their affairs tax-efficiently
Individuals living in a jurisdiction other than their country of citizenship or domicile
US citizens and residents who are beneficiaries of foreign trusts and who will receive gifts and inheritances from non-US persons
Trustees of trusts affected by the increasing compliance and reporting requirements imposed by the United States, United Kingdom and other national governments
UK resident individuals who are within the scope of the Finance Act 2008 rules relating to non-domiciliaries and trustees affected by the UK changes to the taxation of trusts
Fiduciaries of foreign trusts with beneficiaries resident in the United States, the United Kingdom and elsewhere
US and foreign trustees with interests in controlled foreign corporations and passive foreign-investment companies
US and foreign trustees engaged in disputes with tax authorities or beneficiaries
Privately held companies with worldwide operations, their owners and related family offices on matters of family involvement in management, business succession, liquidity planning, family funding and similar matters