French and International Estate Planning

The current tendencies for internationalisation of families and assets, for the move towards global transparency of tax information and for regulatory harmonisation are profoundly changing the environment in which our clients operate.

Our firm accompanies you in this changing environment to provide you with the best solutions in structuring, organising, transferring and managing your assets under civil and tax law, with a long-term vision.
 
The firm has a team dedicated to the legal and tax organisation of assets, offering a comprehensive and tailored advisory service in response to the needs of its French and international clients, whether private clients, family offices, private banks, trustees or heads of companies. In addition, the team also benefits from a network of specialized international lawyers, particularly in the Anglo-Saxon countries (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.).
 
The team also has a respected expertise in assisting its international clients who wish to invest in the real estate sector. Through a close cooperation with specialists from the Tax, Asset Optimisation and Real Estate departments, the team offers clients multidisciplinary solutions. Thus, in close collaboration with the best experts (notaries, appraisers, real estate agents, etc.), it supports and accompanies our clients in all phases of a project: from the acquisition of the property and the implementation of the most appropriate and efficient legal and tax structure, to the financing, management, accompaniment during construction works and a resale.

Our expertise in the transmission of assets and estate planning

Estate planning and French and cross-border tax planning
We assist our clients in the early transfer of their assets located in France and abroad, in matters relating to life insurance, inheritance and family trusts. Our expertise in private international law enables us to determine the state whose law is applicable to our clients’ situation. This enables us to guide them when a choice of law is available so that they can determine the law that best suits their objectives. We also assist our clients with the protection of their dependants.
International inheritance cases

We advise our clients in complex inheritance cases involving several jurisdictions and carry out all the coordination of the different jurisdictions. We manage and assist our clients with inheritance declarations, payment of taxes and duties, completion of tax credit forms (formulaires de crédits d’impôts) requested by certain foreign jurisdictions (e.g. form F706 CE…) and liaise with notaries.

Trusts
We assist our clients on all issues that may arise in relation to their interests in assets governed by foreign law, such as trusts, foundations, etc. Having acquired a recognised expertise, we are regularly consulted by trustees, settlors and beneficiaries to advise them on the implications of their trust in France in terms of income and wealth tax, inheritance tax, gift tax, and other taxes when beneficiaries settle in France. We also advise them on civil estate planning and international inheritance cases involving one or more trusts. We also take care of all declaratory and regulatory compliance aspects (declarations, formalities, etc.).
Property tax
We assist our clients both in an advisory capacity and in litigation.
Tax returns
We take care of the tax returns for income and wealth tax as well as the regularisation of assets held abroad.
Taxation of real estate

We assist in structuring the acquisition and disposal of real estate for high net worth clients and family offices. We also take care of tax returns (3% tax, VAT, income from renting and leasing, etc.).

Maritime taxation
We support our clients in the acquisition and disposal of yachts.
Artists and sportsmen and women

We advise our clients on issues that may arise in connection with sporting or artistic events in France (in particular with regard to withholding tax and on the tax treatment of remuneration and their copyrights.

Transfer of domicile to France or abroad

We advise our clients on the determination of their tax domicile and its implications in France, on the rules applicable to seconded employees (impats), on their tax returns, on exit tax issues, on the adaptation of their existing estate planning, on the reorganisation of their assets and accompany them in all phases of their project to secure their transfer of domicile.

Structuring and transferring "business assets"
Through our global approach, we advise companies comprehensively on all aspects of their issues, in particular on structuring their business assets. We also assist those who want to pass on their business to the next generations or transfer it to third parties in the best possible way.

Our clients

  • Individuals and families
  • Family offices
  • Private banks and insurance companies
  • Private individuals
  • Trustee
  • Entrepreneur

Partners, Heads of Department

Sophie Borenstein Partner


+33 (0)1 44 95 20 01

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François Klein Partner


+33 (0)1 44 95 20 00

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Martin Riedel Partner


+33 (0)1 44 95 20 00

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