Thomas Simpson

Senior Counsel

About

Thomas advises high-net-worth individuals as well as other private client service providers, such as family offices and financial institutions.

A high proportion of his work has an international dimension and includes cross-border tax, wealth structuring and succession planning. This includes advising families and trustees on large-scale international trust and corporate restructuring and the creation of bespoke family office and asset-holding vehicles.

Thomas has also developed a specialism in US/UK estate planning, advising a number of international entrepreneurs and executives in relation to their UK tax and estate planning and how this interacts with their US tax and estate planning considerations.

Thomas is also a member of the department’s specialist probate group, and he has a wealth of experience in dealing both with UK probates and with the administration of complex international estates.

Thomas holds the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners’ Advanced Certificate in UK Tax for International Clients.

Experience

  • Advising a series of US citizens in relation to their UK tax and estate planning, both for new arrivers to the UK and for long-term residents.
  • Providing ongoing advice to the trustees of a series of family trusts which have been advised by the firm for over 20 years, including advice on the day-to-day administration and the ongoing UK tax treatment of the trusts.
  • Advising an individual on the UK tax analysis arising from their proposed move to the UK from South Africa and the reorganisation of a number of structures.
  • Advising the executors of a large international probate matter, including preparing and filing an inheritance tax account and assisting with the administration of the estate.
  • Advising on the UK tax consequences of restructuring the family’s ownership of a UK family business, currently held through a non-UK resident trust structure, and the UK tax treatment associated with different options in holding the family’s interests going forward.
  • Advising the executors of an international probate matter with assets located in the UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Indonesia, including analysis on the applicable succession law considerations and administration of the estate.

Case studies

Insights and news