Withers Worldwide

• Education: University of Mississippi, Bachelor of Accountancy, magna cum laude • University of Mississippi, Master of Taxation • University of Notre Dame Law School, Juris Doctor, cum laude • New York University, Master of Laws in Taxation
• Year joined: 2004

Overview

Kurt advises on US and international tax and succession planning for individuals, trusts, estates, corporations and partnerships.  He is listed in Chambers Asia as a leading individual in private client/wealth management in Hong Kong. 

Publications and speaking engagements

• Bloomberg Television Interview, President Elect Obama's Tax Plan, 20 January 2009.
• Courses and Seminars Wealth Management Conference, What Private Bankers Should Know About Trusts, Hong Kong, October 2008.
• A Costly Exit (co-authored), STEP Journal, September 2008.
• American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Estate and Trust Planning, Hong Kong, September 2008.
• President Signs Exit Tax for US Expatriates, BNA International Special Report Series on Private Banking, HNWI's and Domicile, July 2008.
• Fleece the Fleeing (co-authored), Trusts & Estates, July 2008. 
• Asia Pacific Families in Business Conference, Singapore, April 2008.
• Strategic Planning for the Non-grantor Phase of a Grantor Trust, STEP Hong Kong/Hong Kong Trustees' Association, Hong Kong, April 2008.
• Art that Saves you Money (co-authored), Finance Asia Private Capital, Spring 2008.
• International Succession  - The Global Challenge, Milan and Lugano, April 2007.

Recent quotations

• American Tax Policy in Asia - In Their Sights, The Economist, 25 July 2009.
• Hong Kong Will Lose Investment if Named on Tax Haven Blacklist, Ming Pao Daily News (Hong Kong), 1 June 2009.
• US Taxpayers Now Required to Declare Offshore Accounts, Asian Investor, 7 May 2009.
• Critics Voice Concerns New Plan Will Reduce America's Competitiveness, Today Singapore, 6 May 2009.
• UBS Takes a Long Journey into the Night, The Asset, March 2009.
• The Falling of 34 Tax Havens, 21st Century Business Herald (China), 23 February 2009.
• Obama To Influence Hong Kong as a Tax Haven, International Business Times, 20 January 2009.
• Obama's Inauguration Marks Potential Crackdown on Hong Kong and Singapore, Lianhe Zaobao (Singapore), 20 January 2009.
• Singapore's No Haven, Today Singapore, 21 January 2009.
• For one American, his stance has cost him, South China Morning Post, 19 October 2008.  
• Congress increases the ransom expats must pay to escape the taxman, The Economist, 14 June 2008. 
• Sea Change - Succession Planning, South China Morning Post Net Worth Magazine, June 2008.
• Cutting Ties with US Could be Expensive, South China Morning Post, 31 May 2008.

On a personal note

Kurt enjoys scuba diving, snow skiing and saltwater fishing.