About
Dominic has been working in the field of private client law since 2002. He is particularly known for his work in advising UK resident, non-UK domiciled individuals on their tax and estate planning. These clients include US nationals resident in the UK. He has a wealth of experience in establishing offshore structures and in advising offshore fiduciaries on the governance of such structures. With his colleague Catrin Harrison, he is the author of Clarke’s Offshore Tax Planning: Foreign Domiciliaries. This substantial work is widely read by offshore trustees, wealth managers and tax advisers.
Dominic is also an experienced adviser on charities and tax-efficient philanthropy, and has established many charitable entities for his clients.
Dominic is admitted to practise in England and Wales.
Experience
- Has advised countless non-UK domiciled individuals on the steps they need to take prior to becoming UK resident. This includes identifying when they will become resident, possible steps to be taken to re-base assets, putting in place suitable account arrangements, identifying and disposing of unsuitable investments or “wrappers”, and funding the purchase of a UK property
- Has advised a great many RNDs on pre-deemed domicile planning. This includes assisting RND clients with the creation of protected settlements and offshore life bond trust structures, which can provide long-term protection of assets from inheritance tax, income tax and CGT. In such cases he advises on the intricacies of the protected settlements rules; on how to ensure that such settlements are not “tainted”; and on how such structures may be wound up tax-efficiently in the event that they cease to be useful, e.g. once the client has left the UK
- Has advised in a significant number of divorce cases where wealthy RND couples have wanted to ensure that the agreed financial arrangements would not give rise to unnecessary tax liabilities. Such cases frequently involve trusts or other entities
- Has assisted clients in a great many cases by establishing a charitable or “not for profit” foundation, and advising on the most tax-efficient way to transfer funding to it. Such foundations have included several “dual-qualifying” charities for US/UK donors
