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    Estate Planning & Law of Foundations

    As representatives of foundations in all their forms, we offer you comprehensive legal, tax and organisational expertise.

    We advise private individuals on all aspects of asset planning, including succession planning for private and corporate assets. We regularly work with structures that include foundations or trusts.

    With the increasing complexity of corporate transactions, parties frequently elect to use an escrow agent to secure agreed contractual terms. We act as this neutral trustee and conclude escrow agreements tailored to suit the relevant transaction. In addition, in times of crisis and rescue and restructuring cases, we function as a restructuring trustee for shareholders and banks.

    Do you have questions about association law or complex federation law structures? We provide continuous, competent support.

    Universities and higher education institutions can rely on our broad experience with implementing new structures, such as foundation universities or funding structures involving associations and foundations. We develop optimised structures for hospitals, advise on start-ups, and establish private operators.

    When providing advice, we keep sight of neighbouring areas of law, such as tax, corporate and succession law. Our team develops holistic concepts and provides long-term support in national cases and those with an international connection.

    At a glance:

    • Foundation law
    • Advising start-ups
    • Drafting articles of association
    • Foundation management
    • Non-profit law
    • Tax law
    • Corporate law
    • Succession law
    • Asset and corporate succession planning
    • Trusts
    • Trusteeship
    • Development of associations and federations
    • Proceedings before authorities and courts

    Focus

    Law of foundations

    Our succession planning also embraces structures, such as foundations and trusts. We support our clients especially in the following fields: 

    • Advising on formation 
      • Establishing trusts and foundations (tax-privileged foundations, family foundations in Germany and abroad)
      • Double foundation models and trusts
      • Autonomous and dependent foundations 
    • Drafting and amending articles of incorporation and by-laws
    • Coordination with tax authorities and foundation supervisory authorities 
    • Tax law applicable to foundations and non-profit organisations
    Tax Law
    • Designing tax-optimised succession 
    • Use of tax-saving structures after the death
    • Gifts and anticipated inheritance
    • Planning the inheritance tax burden in light of
      • inheritance tax
      • gift tax
      • land transfer tax and
      • income tax
    • Analysing the liquidity burden
    • Optimising asset structures with a view to minimising income and inheritance tax 
    • Foreign assets / avoidance of double taxation
    • (Criminal) Tax proceedings
    • Tax law applicable to foundations / non-profit law
    Corporate

    Often, the assets of our clients and testators include extensive company assets. Our team ensures that rules developed in light of inheritance and family law considerations are always consistent with corporate law. We support you in all areas of corporate law, in particular with:

    • Corporate and holding structures (including pooling agreements)
    • Reorganising company or group structures
    • Succession and matrimonial property provisions
    • Drafting family and inheritance law agreements
    • Evaluations
    • Advising on disputes in the case of succession, including the assessment of corporate assets 

    Professionals

    Dusseldorf - Hamburg
    Dr Guido Krüger
    Rechtsanwalt, Licensed Specialist for Tax Law
    Partner
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    Hamburg
    Hanna Günther
    Rechtsanwältin, LL.M.
    Senior Associate
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    Berlin
    Dr Karl-Dieter Müller
    Rechtsanwalt, Steuerberater
    Partner
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    Frankfurt/Main
    Katharina Fink
    Rechtsanwältin
    Partner
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    Munich
    Heiko Wunderlich
    Rechtsanwalt, Licensed Specialist for Tax Law, Licensed Specialist for Law of Succession, Certified Company Succession Consultant (zentUma), Certified Executor (AGT)
    Partner
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    Hamburg
    Dr Georg Tolksdorf
    Rechtsanwalt, LL.M. Taxation
    Partner
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    Frankfurt/Main
    Dr Klaus Zimmermann
    Rechtsanwalt, Licensed Specialist for Tax Law
    Partner
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    Munich
    Roland Startz
    Rechtsanwalt
    Partner
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    Hamburg
    Dr Esther Kindler
    Rechtsanwältin, Licensed Specialist for Law of Succession, Registered Executor of Wills (DVEV)
    Partner
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    Freiburg
    Gerhard Manz
    Rechtsanwalt
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    Dusseldorf
    Jan-Moritz Degener
    Rechtsanwalt, Business Graduate, Certified Foundation Consultant
    Partner
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    Freiburg
    Stephan Strubinger
    Rechtsanwalt, Dipl. Rechtspfleger (FH)
    Senior Associate
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    Frankfurt/Main
    Stefan Raddatz
    Rechtsanwalt
    Partner
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    Munich
    Dr Michael Hils
    Rechtsanwalt, Steuerberater, Licensed Specialist for Tax Law
    Partner
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    Hamburg
    Maximilian Steffen
    Rechtsanwalt, Licensed Specialist for Tax Law
    Senior Associate
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    Dusseldorf
    Dr Lucas van Randenborgh
    Rechtsanwalt, Licensed Specialist for Tax Law
    Partner
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    Dusseldorf
    Jakob Tietmann
    LL.M.
    Associate
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    Frankfurt/Main
    Dr Gerrit Ponath
    Rechtsanwalt, Licensed Specialist for Law of Succession, Licensed Specialist for Tax Law, Certified Executor (AGT)
    Partner
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    Dusseldorf
    Julian Krause
    Rechtsanwalt
    Associate
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    Freiburg
    Dr Jan Barth
    Rechtsanwalt
    Partner
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    Freiburg
    Dr Barbara Mayer
    Rechtsanwältin, Licensed Specialist for Commercial and Corporate Law
    Partner
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    What others say about us

    "The service is excellent, extremely fast and one can contact the contact person at any time. The foundation law experts understand exactly the needs of foundations and you are made aware of upcoming legal changes in the industry at an early stage."

    (THE LEGAL 500 GERMANY 2024 & THE LEGAL 500 EMEA 2024)

    "In addition to the undisputed excellent knowledge, the way in which we conduct discussions and get involved in our committees is also crucial to success.";
    "High professionalism and very good knowledge, good accessibility.";
    "The contact person can be contacted really fast, immediately or with a call back. Therefore good cooperation between the secretariat, clients and contact persons."
    (The Legal 500 Germany 2024 & The Legal 500 EMEA 2024)

    Long-standing relationships with SMEs and Swiss banks; foundation and non-profit law.
    (JUVE Handbook Commercial Law Firms 2023/2024)

    "The law firm is uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive services to its clients as all important areas are covered in-house."
    (The Legal 500 Germany 2023 & The Legal 500 EMEA 2023)

    "ADVANT Beiten has an excellent Private Clients practice that is highly service-oriented and competently staffed.";
    "Even challenging clients were always "taken up" empathetically and with the right kind of communication and approach."
    (The Legal 500 Germany 2023 & The Legal 500 EMEA 2023)