On this page
Overview
Frederick Bjørn is Managing Partner of Payne Hicks Beach and a highly regarded private wealth adviser specialising in UK and international tax, trust and succession planning. He advises entrepreneurial families, business owners, trustees, beneficiaries and internationally mobile individuals on the long-term structuring of wealth, family governance and cross-border tax matters (including cross-border relocation planning). He typically advises on trust, family investment companies and associated wealth preservation structures.
Frederick has particular expertise in advising family businesses, international families and clients with Scandinavian connections. He regularly coordinates advice across multiple jurisdictions and works closely with international advisers to provide integrated solutions for clients with global interests.
Frederick also advises on wills, estate planning and powers of attorney, helping clients navigate complex personal and family wealth issues with practical and commercially focused advice.
Expertise
Freddie specialises in:
- Trusts and estate planning
- Succession planning
- Family business succession
- Family governance
- Family investment companies
- International tax planning
- Cross-border relocation
- Residence and domicile issues
- Pre-arrival and pre-departure tax planning
- Offshore and onshore trusts
- Trustee and beneficiary advice
- International families and entrepreneurs
- Wills and estate administration
- Lasting Powers of Attorney
- Advises entrepreneurial and business-owning families on long-term succession planning through trusts, family investment companies and bespoke private wealth structures.
- Advises internationally mobile individuals on UK tax, residence and domicile implications arising from relocation to and from the UK.
- Acts for onshore and offshore trustees and beneficiaries in relation to trust governance, taxation and succession planning issues.
- Coordinates international advice for families with assets and beneficiaries across multiple jurisdictions.
- Frequently advises Scandinavian families and individuals.
- Advises wealthy families on family business succession and governance matters.
Qualifications & Accreditations
Frederick trained and qualified at Slaughter and May, joining the firm’s Corporate Tax team in 2008. He joined Payne Hicks Beach in 2010, became a Senior Associate in 2013 and was promoted to Partner in 2015. He currently serves as the firm’s Managing Partner.
His professional qualifications include:
- STEP Diploma in Trusts and Estates – Distinction
- STEP Advanced Certificate in UK Tax for International Clients – Distinction (2015)
- STEP Advanced Certificate in Advising the Family Business and Family Business Governance – Distinction (2022)
Frederick served as member of the STEP Business Families Global SIG Steering Committee from 2023 – 2026.
Awards & Accolades
- Chambers HNW 2026 – Ranked for Private Wealth Law (London Firms).
- Chambers HNW 2026 – Ranked for Private Wealth Law Denmark (Foreign Expertise Based Abroad).
- Spear’s 500 2026 – Ranked Top Recommended for Tax & Trust Lawyers with a focus on wills, trusts and estate planning.
- Legal 500 UK 2026 – Ranked as a Leading Partner for Personal Tax, Trusts & Probate.
- Legal 500 UK 2026 – Recognised as a Recommended Key Lawyer for Personal Tax, Trusts & Probate.
- Chambers HNW 2025 – Ranked for Private Wealth Law (London Firms).
- Chambers HNW 2025 – Recognised in the Foreign Expertise Spotlight for Denmark.
- Legal 500 UK 2025 – Ranked as a Leading Partner for Private Client: Personal Tax, Trusts & Probate
- Legal 500 UK 2024 – Ranked as a Leading Individual.
- Legal 500 UK 2023 – Ranked as a Leading Individual.
- Chambers HNW 2023 – Ranked as a Leading Individual.
- Chambers HNW 2022 – Ranked as a Leading Individual.
- Spear’s 500 2024 – Recommended Tax & Trust Lawyer.
- Spear’s Tax & Trust Adviser’s Index 2024 – Recommended Tax Lawyer.
- Citywealth Leaders List 2023 – Leading Lawyer (Estate Planning).
- Private Client Global Elite 2019 – Listed.
