Withers Worldwide

• Education: Princeton University, magna cum laude, A.B. • Columbia University, J.D.
• Admitted: State of CA, 1974 • Washington D.C., 1976 • Registered Foreign Lawyer in the UK, 2002 • State of NY, 2004 • Registered Foreign Lawyer in HK, 2008
• Languages spoken: French • Spanish
• Year joined: 2002
• Year became partner: 2002

Overview

Joe represents substantial international families on structuring their affairs and estate planning. He also advises financial institutions with respect to the establishment of international trust companies and a wide variety of financial services, particularly with respect to life insurance.

He is a frequent speaker at international conferences on legal issues facing international families and family offices.

Highlights

• Citywealth Top Leading International Lawyers 2009 
• Citywealth Top 100 in the Wealth Profession 2007
• Citywealth Top 100 Americas 2006
• New York Achiever of the Year CityWealth Americas Magic Circle Awards 2006
• Former head of International private client (Europe) at the U.S. law firm Bryan Cave
• Conseil Juridique in France

Publications and speaking engagements

• Co-author of "Full U.S. House of Representatives Passes The Private Fund Investment Advisers Registration Act of 2009," Withers Bergman LLP Briefing Notes, December 2009.
• Co-Author with Edward Vergara, "Managing Risk," Wealth Manager Magazine, January 2009.   
• Presentation at Withers Bergman LLP Annual International Trust and Tax Planning Conference, "Americans Abroad: Successfully Moving People, Money and Businesses out of the US," New York, June 2005.
• Presentation of "Demistifying the Regulatory Morass A Little Legal Windex," HSBC, Geneva, March 2005.
• Presentation of "Undiscovered Opportunities: Maximizing Asset Location Planning," Family Office Exchange, Chicago, London and Jersey, March 2005.
• Presentation of "Multinational Unintentional Inheritance Wrinkles: Forced Heirship, Sham Trusts, Joint Accounts, Community Property Stiftungen, Anstalten and Powers of Attorney," Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, New York, March 2005.
• Presentation of "Tax Fraud: The Implications for Offshore Practitioners," CDP Plus, Jersey, March 2005.
• Presentation at Withers Bergman LLP Annual Conference on Trust and Tax Planning, "Coming Here but Being There: Planning for the Cross-Border Client," New York, June 2004.
• Editor of Private Wealth Management, a directory for the Private Banking industry.
• Co-Author of Asset Protection Trusts with Milton Grundy and John Briggs.
• Editor of Investing Through Life Insurance, a book for the International Tax Planning Association ('ITPA').
• Editor of Planning and Administration of Offshore and Onshore Trusts (with Simon Jennings and Anthony Travers) a book for the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners ('STEP').

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• California Bar Association
• The Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners
• District of Columbia Bar Association
• New York Bar Association