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The Firm and Team
Ashford International Law PC was founded in 2015. It advises on estate planning, tax planning, trust administration and estate settlements in matters connecting the United States and Western Europe, from offices in Washington DC, Los Angeles and Munich.
The Firm
The firm’s attorneys are licensed in Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, California and Germany. Most of its matters involve Germany, France and Switzerland, and it advises in English, German and French.
Where a matter turns on the law of a country in which the firm’s attorneys are not admitted, such as France, the firm works with a trusted network of notaries, attorneys and tax advisers there and coordinates their work with the American side. For France, the firm advises on the American side and on the two France-USA tax treaties: the income tax convention of August 31, 1994 and the estate and gift tax convention of November 24, 1978.
Alongside its estate and tax practice, the firm advises Western European family-owned businesses on their US subsidiaries and acts as outside counsel to those subsidiaries.
How the Firm Works
Alongside Existing Advisers
The firm works with a family’s existing attorneys, notaries, accountants and wealth managers, or leads the US side end to end.
One Plan across Countries
Wills, trusts and holding structures are drafted for each country concerned and coordinated with local counsel where the firm’s attorneys are not admitted.
A Handbook with Every Plan
Every estate planning package includes a handbook explaining each clause of the client’s documents.
Caroline Esche Ashford, PhD, JD
Attorney-at-Law, Rechtsanwältin
The firm is led by attorney Caroline Esche Ashford, PhD, JD. A graduate of Columbia University Law School, her practice focuses on international estate planning and the cross-border taxation and administration of estates and trusts, including the planning and settlement of estates with assets in several countries. Dr. Ashford is also licensed to practice law in Germany. She advises in French and German as well as English.
- Bar admissions:
- Washington DC
- Maryland
- Virginia
- Germany (Rechtsanwältin, member of the Munich bar)
- 17 years of experience advising international families and family-owned businesses
Team
The same team stands behind all five dedicated websites.
Caroline Esche Ashford, PhD, JD
Principal Attorney
Alexander Brauns, LL.M.
Managing Attorney, Los Angeles
Dr. Philipp Hafner
Director of Research
Annabel von Kessel
Senior Paralegal and Case Manager
Bettina Kappler
Office Manager
Roland Jel
Paralegal
Careers
Avocat (France) and Attorney-at-Law (California, New York or Florida)
An immediate opening for an experienced avocat licensed in France and admitted to the bar of New York, California or Florida. The position may begin with a few months, up to a year, in the Los Angeles office, followed by a return to France to the Paris office the firm will open at that time.
Read the PositionRechtsanwalt or Avocat (Switzerland) and Attorney-at-Law (California, New York or Florida)
A position for an attorney who is a member of a Swiss bar (Anwaltspatent or brevet d’avocat) and of the bar of New York, California or Florida, working in French or German as well as English. The position is based in Los Angeles.
Read the PositionApplications with a resume, a writing sample and a law school transcript go to info@ashfordinternationallaw.com. Ashford International Law PC is an equal opportunity employer.