Dominic Lawrance

Dominic Lawrance, Partner

Dominic’s specialisms are tax planning for international clients, succession structures, tax regularisation and philanthropy.

About

Dominic’s specialisms are tax planning for international clients, succession structures, tax regularisation and philanthropy. He has been working in the field of private client law since 2002. He specialises in advising internationally mobile high net worth clients, many of them UK resident but non-UK domiciled (RND), on their estate planning and the structuring of their affairs to ensure tax-efficiency. 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.

Dominic has also advised banks and investment managers on their offerings to RND clients - what they need to do to attract and keep RND business, how to ensure that their arrangements for RND clients are as tax-efficient as possible, and how to deal with potential reporting/withholding obligations where UK residents are concerned. Dominic is an experienced adviser on charities and tax-efficient philanthropy, and has established many charitable entities for clients. Since 2011, Dominic has been a co-author with the tax barrister Giles Clarke of one of the leading textbooks on tax planning for internationally mobile clients, Clarke’s Offshore Tax Planning.

Dominic is admitted to practise in England and Wales.

Experience

Has advised countless high net worth 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 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

Recognition

In the Press 19 November, 2019