Practice Areas: Private Wealth Services

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Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs) and Sales to Grantor TrustsPDF Document (9/2/2010)

Estate Tax Changes in the Obama Administration (updated through Aug. 31, 2010)PDF Document (9/2/2010)

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McGuireWoods’ Private Wealth Services team is focused on handling the unique needs of high net worth clients.  Ranked for the second year in a row as a top-tier practice by Chambers, the international rating service for attorneys, our team provides comprehensive service to private clients across the globe.  The depth and breadth of our experience, our presence in strategic domestic and international markets, and our dedication to shaping the wealth services landscape allow us to serve clients efficiently and effectively. 

Our Private Wealth Services experience includes:

  • Tailoring estate plans to the needs of family members in all generations.
  • Developing creative and effective techniques to transfer wealth on a tax-efficient basis.
  • Advising clients on succession issues in family businesses.
  • Drafting pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements and assisting in all aspects of marital dissolutions.
  • Helping clients with asset-protection strategies, both onshore and offshore.
  • Advising on cross-border tax issues.
  • Assisting corporate executives in minimizing taxes.
  • Creating charitable foundations.
  • Helping clients establish family offices.

Members of the Private Wealth Services group are active in developing and analyzing the estate planning, tax, family law, and probate issues affecting clients. At the national level, our lawyers contribute to the formation of tax policy by participating in the development of legislation, regulations, and groundbreaking rulings and often publish articles concerning trends and changes in law. We are well positioned to serve local and national needs involving effective planning, aggressive prosecution of tax and fiduciary controversies, and resolution of policy matters at all levels.

Chambers, the international rating service for attorneys, recently recognized the Private Wealth Services Group for the second time as one of two top-band wealth management legal practices in the United States, and specifically highlighted the capabilities of Ronald D. Aucutt, Dennis I. Belcher and Charles D. "Skip" Fox IV. According to Chambers:

This group is at the cutting edge of matters relating to the development and analysis of estate planning, tax, family law and probate issues. It is also highly sought after for the range of expertise it offers in gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes.

Chambers’ methodology includes conducting thousands of interviews by a team of 50+ full-time researchers.  The greatest weight in the interviewing process is placed on the views of clients.  The qualities on which rankings are assessed include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, commitment, and other qualities most valued by the client. 

See the following practice areas for more information:

For information on our European private wealth capabilities, please click here.