Tobias Gleed-Owen

Senior Associate
  • Experience
  • Other Information

Tobias entered the legal profession as a paralegal in 2012 before qualifying as a Solicitor in 2017 and joining Birketts in April 2020. He is a Senior Associate in our Private Client Advisory Team and a member of our International Private Client Team and US/UK Private Client Services Team.

Tobias is based at our Cambridge office and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).  Click here to view Tobias’ LinkedIn profile.

Tobias has experience advising international families on cross-border tax and succession planning, succession of European assets under the European Succession Regulation, and the creation of both onshore and offshore trust and corporate structures.

Tobias advises international clients with a wide variety of nationalities, but has a particular specialism in advising US-connected clients including advising on:

  • cross-border estate tax planning for UK-resident US citizens, including mixed UK/US couples;
  • UK tax implications of US trusts (including revocable grantor trusts);
  • navigating the UK/US Estate Tax Treaty including domicile planning;
  • UK tax on US pensions, including impact of the UK/US Double Tax Convention;
  • remittance basis tax planning for UK resident US citizens and pre-residency planning; and
  • navigating US community property regimes in the UK.

Tobias has advised clients on the UK tax treatment of offshore trusts and companies with UK resident beneficiaries or participators, as well as the legal impact of foreign inheritance contracts. Tobias also has experience administering cross-border estates. Recent cases have involved assets and interests in the USA, Germany, China, Switzerland, Italy, France, Singapore, Jersey, Latvia and Australia.

Tobias has worked with owners of family businesses, preparing family constitutions and charters, advising on succession and inheritance tax, working alongside our Corporate Team to restructure shareholdings to pass economic value and/or income rights to the next generation whilst preserving control with business founders, and assisting owners with managing relationships with (and expectations of) those family members not involved in the business.

Tobias has experience advising landowners on the inheritance tax, succession and trust aspects of land developments, often working collaboratively alongside accountants, land agents and other advisors involved in the project.  He is part of the Birketts Landed Estates Practice Group, with a particular focus on UK estates held in offshore structures or with non-resident or non-domiciled owners.

As well as creating new trusts, Tobias has worked extensively with trustees of long-established family trusts, advising on trust variations, resettlements, tax events, winding up, removal of trustees and beneficiary rights.  This has included trusts of landed estates, chattels trusts and business trusts as well as trusts holding more typical investments.

Prior to joining Birketts Tobias gained experience in a wide range of private client matters, including drafting wills, tax planning, advising on business and agricultural reliefs, estate administration, creating and administering trusts, and lasting powers of attorney. Tobias has previously advised a broad range of clients including business owners, farming families and trustees, high net worth individuals, international clients and owners of landed estates. He has considerable experience of different family circumstances, including step families and estranged families.

As well as spending lots of time with his young family, Tobias is actively involved with St Andrew the Great Church in Cambridge city centre, serving as a trustee on the Parochial Church Council and in various committee functions.  

Awards and Memberships

Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners

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