Astrid B. Owen advises internationally based clients and their family offices, trustees and other intermediaries on international trust, tax and wealth-transfer issues. She focuses particularly on clients and matters in the US, the UK, continental Europe and the Middle East.
Astrid has extensive knowledge of the structuring of established and start-up family-owned businesses through the use of trusts, foundations and holding companies. She works extensively with corporate tax teams and corporate teams to develop and implement holding structures for businesses and investments that take account of personal and corporate tax issues affecting the client, their family and their businesses.
Astrid is a speaker at international seminars on US and cross-border planning structuring options.
Recent Recognitions
- The Legal 500 UK, Recommended Lawyer in Private Client – Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate, 2013 – 2023
- Chambers High Net Worth 2021 and 2022, ranked in Private Wealth Law
- The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom 2022, Family Law
- Leader’s List 2020
Key Experience
- Member of Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
- Advised wealthy families and entrepreneurs on their international tax, trust and foundation planning – particularly in relation to the US, the UK, Continental Europe and the Middle East – and coordinated this advice with corporate tax and governance advisors.
- Led a multi-jurisdictional team planning and implementing trust and foundation structures to own a wealthy, international family’s interests in multibillion-dollar operating businesses.
- Led multi-jurisdictional and multi-disciplinary teams advising on the relocation of wealthy individuals and their families, including advice on the consequential restructuring of family holding structures and operating businesses.
- Planned and implemented trusts and foundations for wealthy individuals, including advising on the tax implications of the structures and other issues such as the jurisdiction to base the structure in, the choice of trustees (including the use of private trust companies), the choice of fiduciaries and governance planning for such structures.
- Advised trustees and beneficiaries on the tax implications of investing in specific jurisdictions and assets as well as the tax-efficient means to benefit beneficiaries with complex tax profiles.
Career History
Consultant, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Partner, McDermott Will & Emery
Partner, Withers LLP
Counsel, Bryan Cave
Harvard Law School, LLM, Law
London School of Economics and Political Science, LLB, Law