Xavier Nicholas

Practice Areas

Xavier is Partner and Head of Private Client at Forsters. Xavier advises on personal taxation, trust and estate planning, and family governance, for individuals and trustees in the UK and overseas.

He has considerable expertise in advising on the establishment, taxation and operation of asset holding structures – including companies, partnerships, trusts, private trust companies and foundations.

Xavier acts as a trusted advisor to wealthy families in the UK and internationally. He has particular experience in advising families and trustees with business interests. He works closely with the real estate team at Forsters to advise on the tax and other implications of UK property ownership, investment and development.

On the international side, areas of particular expertise include pre-arrival tax planning for individuals wishing to become UK resident, remittance basis planning for UK resident non-UK domiciliairies, and succession planning for those with assets in more than one jurisdiction. He frequently advises clients who have a US connection, both on the UK aspects of US/UK estate planning, and the interaction between UK and US taxes.

Career

Having graduated with a first class degree, Xavier trained and spent the first four years of his legal career at Macfarlanes LLP, where he qualified as a Solicitor in 2007. He joined Forsters in 2009, and is exceptional in having become a Partner after only six years' qualification, in 2013. He is recognised as being both technically gifted and commercially astute.

Professional Memberships

Xavier is a member of The Law Society.