Overseas Chambers
Peter Harris is an English Barrister of over 40 years call, fully registered with the Bar Standards Board and practices as such in international legal and tax matters. He is Anglo-French with French training and expertise. He has practiced in France as a Barrister for over 20 years, the remainder in chambers in Jersey and in London. He is also currently an associate member of Addington Chambers in London.
He can advise lay clients directly as well as legal professionals and accountants.
Amongst other matters, he is an expert in the tax treatment of French usufruits in the United Kingdom and in the use and taxation of trusts in France – with the strategies for the declarations involved. He advises on matrimonial property regimes and pre- and post-nuptial agreements in both jurisdictions. He also advises on the effects of the EU Succession Regulation and on the countervailing French prélèvement compensatoire. His expertise in Stamp duty matters (SDLT and droits d’enregistrement, DMTG) in both jurisdictions is well known. He finds solutions where others may not.
We provide an objective and client-orientated service.
- for lay “direct access” clients an initial paid guidance of a non-legal nature; (and then / or)
- for professionals and lay clients on instructions – full legal advice.
We take instructions in a manner suited to Civil law, Common law and Shari’ah law.
We work intimately with a selection of colleagues practising in Britain, France, Europe, and beyond such as solicitors, notaries, notaires, avocats, and comptables, so as to provide a seamless advisory structure.
We have greater experience than most in the use of Sociétés civiles and other corporates in cross-border property holding and succession matters.
Our ability to redeem, restore and modernise historic and existing legal arrangements and structures at risk of fiscal failure is a valued contribution to professionals and clients alike.
Our experience and advice successfully anticipate future developments.
Our present and past successes in international tax and legal negotiations with Tax Authorities – HMRC, DGFIP DVSF, IRS – evidence conceptual discipline, presentational ability and a firm grasp of both British and French fiscal principle and the law and economics underlying fiscal policy and Tax Treaty provisions.
We have successfully used the Succession Duty Treaty between France and the United Kingdom to remove fiscal impediments in both states to successions governed by English law in France and vice versa.
+44 (0)1534 625879 / +33 (0)6 50 82 17 84
Five Pump Court Chambers, 5 Pump Court, Temple, London EC4Y 7AP United Kingdom
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