Sahel A. Assar

Counsel, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney

Sahel Assar is a seasoned international tax lawyer, well-versed in the legal needs and legal issues of relevance to large international families and entrepreneurs in Europe, the Middle East and Asia with U.S. connections. She has extensive experience advising ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWI) and their closely held business interests and real property holdings with respect to international cross-border tax planning (inbound and outbound), international trusts and estates for families of substantial wealth, and compliance with U.S. tax reporting requirements such as assistance with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). In addition, Ms. Assar assists individuals with respect to reporting matters before the IRS, including representation in matters pertaining to the IRS Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program(s) and the IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures, among others. She is recognized as a thought leader on matters pertaining to taxation of cryptocurrencies and is Chair of the firm’s Blockchain and Crypto Assets Practice group.

Foreign financial institutions, fiduciaries and family offices find her years as a practitioner in Zurich, Switzerland to be particularly helpful when it comes to providing them with advice related to U.S. tax reporting, regulatory, banking and ad hoc international cross-border matters. Her practice also focuses on tax planning, structuring and related business advice for a wide range of corporations, LLCs, partnerships, trusts and individuals in both domestic and international tax matters. Ms. Assar counsels foreign individuals with respect to investments in the United States, pre-immigration planning, expatriation, the application of tax treaties, U.S. withholding obligations, offshore tax compliance, residency issues triggering U.S. taxation, and income, transfer tax and reporting obligations of foreigners.

In addition to providing advice to clients with respect to her area of expertise, she often acts as a trusted advisor to a number of wealthy families and as an ambassador to financial institutions, family offices and UHNWI by finding the best resources at Buchanan to assist them with their overall legal needs.