Asia

Skyscrapers, illuminated brightly, stand along a harbour with boats; the cityscape is framed by distant mountains under a vibrant sunset sky.

Our award-winning Asia team has been advising individuals, families, and businesses across the region for over 30 years. Pioneering private wealth services to the wealthiest families in Asia, we have been at the forefront of devising cutting-edge wealth structuring and succession planning solutions to ensure the successful transition of wealth from one generation to the next and to protect assets from divorce and litigation.

In addition to our succession planning and structuring work with local families, we work with clients in the region who wish to make the most of investment opportunities in the UK and we advise on the UK tax implications of relocation to the UK.

Deep roots and blossoming results across Asia

With the initial roots of our practice established in Hong Kong and Singapore in the 1990s, demand for our bespoke succession planning services and asset protection advice has grown over the years as more families recognise the importance of governance to ensure the sustainable transmission of wealth. We travel to the region every month, seeing clients based in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and other jurisdictions. With such an eclectic and ever-changing blend of cultures and customs across the region, we recognise the importance of taking time to get to the heart of what really matters to the families that we support, both as individuals and as a whole family unit, including spending time with family members on an individual basis and together to understand their concerns, their goals, and their aspirations.

Many of our clients have established international businesses, with assets and family members spread across the globe. Renowned for our ability to coordinate cross-border advice, this is facilitated by our trusted connections with local professionals across jurisdictions, built up over many years.

Investing and moving to the UK

With strong historic ties between the UK and many countries in the region, the UK is an appealing destination for many, both for investment and as a place to live. Our specialist commercial real estate, residential property, and corporate teams advise Asian individuals, businesses, and institutions on investing in UK real estate and businesses. We also help those moving to or from the UK to navigate the relocation process and the wider long-term impact of their move on their estate and succession planning.

World-class reputation

Our reputation as leaders in advising Asian clients has been recognised by the industry, as award winners of the 2024 Wealth Briefing’s Estate Planning Team of the Year for Greater China, whilst Partners Nick Jacob and Daniel Ugur are two of only three lawyers in the world ranked as ‘Foreign Experts for Singapore’ in the Chambers HNW Guide.

Moving to the UK

Moving to the UK is an exciting life event whether it be a short-term move for work to explore business prospects or a more permanent relocation with the whole family; the UK offers an eclectic range of options to live, work and learn.

Moving to the UK

 

A smiling woman looks directly at the camera, wearing a patterned blouse and gold necklace, in a softly lit indoor setting.
Media contact

Nadine Gibbon

View profile

US/UK

When you have personal and financial connections in both the US and the UK, you are forced to navigate two very different and complex tax regimes. Where there are transatlantic ties, whether through the location or origin of assets or family members, it is essential to obtain integrated advice in relation to tax and reporting requirements. In order to plan effectively, it is vital to receive guidance from advisors that have a clear understanding of the interaction between the two regimes.

Forsters’ Private Wealth practice has a team of specialist UK lawyers who are experienced in advising on US/UK cross-border matters, including personal tax, trust and estate planning. We have a strong understanding of US tax issues and how they interact with UK taxation.

Our deliberately independent model means that we have the flexibility to work either with your existing US advisors, or with selected firms with which we have well established relationships. Our US/UK team travel to the US regularly to meet clients and intermediaries.

We can help with the following US/UK issues:

Estate and succession planning
    • Drafting wills and providing integrated estate planning advice that takes account of exposure to UK inheritance tax and US estate taxes

    • Formation, administration and taxation of succession planning structures for US-connected families, including trusts and family partnerships

    • Tax-efficient structuring of US estate plans for the benefit of UK resident beneficiaries

    • Creation and use of life insurance trusts for UK resident US persons
    • Ascertaining the character of US revocable trusts for UK tax purposes

    • Mitigating double tax risks associated with trusts that have US and UK tax connections
    • Pre-arrival tax planning

    • Acquiring UK residential property and tax-efficient holding structures

    • UK immigration

    • Review of nuptial agreements

    • Ongoing cross-border tax advice with reference to US-UK double tax treaties
    • Putting in place UK lasting powers of attorney

    • Application and enforcement of US powers of attorney in the UK
    • Administration of international estates that include US and UK assets

    • Obtaining UK grant of probate for administration of UK estate (including under US wills)
  • Tax-efficient charitable giving where these is a dual exposure to US and UK taxation.
    • Cross-border restructuring of private businesses with entities that are resident in both the UK and US

    • Mitigating the risk of double taxation on receipt of income by UK residents from US LLCs

Moving to the UK

Moving to the UK is an exciting life event whether it be a short-term move for work to explore business prospects or a more permanent relocation with the whole family; the UK offers an eclectic range of options to live, work and learn.

Moving to the UK
A smiling woman looks directly at the camera, wearing a patterned blouse and gold necklace, in a softly lit indoor setting.
Media contact

Nadine Gibbon

View profile

International

Silver compass with a blue face pointing north, set against a background with a yellow geometric accent.

At Forsters, we pride ourselves on our proven track record and stellar reputation for supporting clients worldwide from our London base. Our team frequently travels to provide on-the-ground support, complemented by a robust network of local advisors. These advisors are meticulously selected to ensure our clients receive top-tier advice and service.

Our expertise spans multiple regions, including Asia, the Middle East and the US. We regularly handle cross-jurisdictional transactions, disputes, and arrangements for both businesses and individuals. For personal matters, we collaborate with overseas professionals to manage the wealth and reputation of our clients, their families, and their businesses, even when UK law is not involved.

A smiling woman looks directly at the camera, wearing a patterned blouse and gold necklace, in a softly lit indoor setting.
Media contact

Nadine Gibbon

View profile