Withers Worldwide

Overview

Francis focuses on cross-border tax and trust planning related to international transactions and tax planning for families, entrepreneurs and financial intermediaries such as trust companies and banks, with a particular focus on advising on offshore structuring, global tax minimisation, family succession and asset protection issues. He also provides advice on tax filing and disputes with the tax authorities stemming from cross-border tax matters, including tax treaty issues as well as advice relating to the relocation of business executives and family members (and their assets).

In recent years, Francis has worked on a number of international tax driven transactions involving public and private companies and their shareholders, as well as advising executives and families respecting their international assets.

Francis has extensive experience in structuring tax efficient investment and operations for families in Latin America and the Middle East. He has also been active in advising clients on issues related to the use of trusts and holding company structures and continues to provide strategic input to private banks, trust companies and family offices globally.

Francis started practicing tax law with the firm of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg in Canada until 2001 when he joined Baker & McKenzie in Zurich. He joined Withers in 2005 as a partner in the new office in Geneva. He is a member of the firm's international wealth planning group.

Highlights

Francis' recent transactions include planning and implementation of offshore trust structures with holding and operating underlying companies operating in a number of countries and involving family members located in both high-tax jurisdictions and low-tax jurisdictions.

Other recent transactions involve tax planning for executives with offshore assets relocating to high tax jurisdictions, as well as offshore trust structures designed to provide family succession and asset protection features in addition to tax minimisation.

Publications and speaking engagements

• 'Common law trusts for civil law clients' - International Bar Association 2008 Conference, Buenos Aires, 15 October 2008
• 'International Taxation of Expats' - Association of International Business Lawyers, Geneva, 30 May 2008
• 'Canada Eyes Change for Foreign Discretionary Trust' - Tax Notes International, 3 December 2007
• 'Canada's new rules to prevent tax deferral and avoidance through non-resident trusts and foreign investment entities' - Trusts & Trustees, 2007, Vol. 13, No. 3
• Regular speaker at conferences and seminars
• Regular contributor to various tax and trust publications.

Memberships

• Registered as a foreign lawyer with the Law Society of England & Wales
• Quebec Bar Association (1995)
• Canadian Bar Association (Ontario)
• Canadian Tax Foundation
• International Fiscal Association (Swiss branch)
• International Bar Association
• STEP - Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
• International Business Lawyer Association (Switzerland)
• Canada-Swiss Chamber of Commerce.