Call us on +44 (0)20 7465 4300

Frederick Bjørn

Frederick-Bjorn
Partner
T: 020 7465 4313
Frederick-Bjorn

Frederick advises a broad range of UK and international clients on personal tax and trust issues, but with his practice increasingly focused on advising entrepreneurial, business families on long term structuring and succession planning (often through the use of trusts).

A number of Frederick’s clients are UK resident non-domiciliaries, who he advises on UK tax, residence and asset structuring (including ‘pre-arrival planning’). Frederick’s offshore work has a particular focus on Scandinavia (and as part of this initiative he was awarded Gold in the Citywealth Future Leaders 2016 Awards for “Business Development Initiative of the Year”) but he also advises clients from a number of other jurisdictions including those with a US angle. Consequently Frederick is used to working with advisors in multiple jurisdictions to coordinate consolidated advice for clients with international connections.

 

Frederick joined Payne Hicks Beach in 2010 from Slaughter and May (where he trained and qualified in 2008 into the Corporate Tax team).

In 2013 he was promoted to senior associate and became a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP); having been awarded an overall distinction in the STEP Diploma in Trusts and Estates.

In 2015 he was promoted to partner, awarded a distinction in the STEP Advanced Certificate in UK tax for International Clients and named as a “Top 35 Under 35” Private Client Adviser.

In 2022 he was awarded a distinction in the STEP Advanced Certificate in Advising the Family Business and Family Business Governance.

In 2023 he was elected to the STEP Business Families Global SIG Steering Committee.

Frederick has been listed in the law directories for many years: Chambers UK, Chambers HNW and The Legal 500 UK: recognised as a leading UK private client lawyer and a specialist private wealth adviser assisting wealthy clients with tax planning and cross-border migration matters.

Recent highlights include:

The Legal 500 UK 2025 ranks Frederick Bjørn as a ‘Leading Partner’ for the ‘Private Client: Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate’ category.   

The Legal 500 UK 2024 lists Frederick as a “Leading Individual” in his specialist field of private client: personal tax, trusts and probate.

The Legal 500 UK 2023 lists Frederick as a “Leading Individual” in his specialist field of private client: personal tax, trusts and probate. A commentator says ‘‘Freddie Bjørn –  has introduced some useful new perspectives regarding the current operation and future development of [our family] trust which has been assisted by PHB for over 50 years. He responds promptly and concisely to all queries and provides useful advice regarding opportunities and harms.”

Chambers HNW 2023 ranks Frederick as a “Leading Individual”, one comment reads “I have found his engagement, attention to detail, commercial awareness and soft skills quite exemplary.” another individuals says that “Frederick brings solutions to the table and executes promptly.” The directory recognises Frederick for his expertise in both Private Wealth Law (London) with a focus on “succession planning, trusts, and family governance issues” where “he often advises wealthy families, often with an entrepreneurial background, as well as non-domiciliary individuals” and Private Wealth Law (Denmark – as an expert based abroad) where he is “well known in the London market as a strong choice for private wealth work involving Scandinavia” and “works with private clients on tax and trust issues, succession planning and the long-term structuring of assets.”

Chambers HNW 2022 ranks Frederick as a “Leading Individual” noting he “…is well known in the London market as a strong choice for private wealth work involving Scandinavia.”

One commentator says: “He listens well, provides big-picture advice, helps me to focus on what is important to implement and brings matters to a practical conclusion.” The source continues: “He is wise, practical and patient. He also has great technical competence and precision.” With the directory recognising him with expertise based abroad in Denmark, one Danish lawyer describes Bjørn as “a great lawyer and a smart guy – the first choice for UK/Danish crossover work,” and another says that “when I need advice in London, he is the person I go to. He is very to-the-point and precise, and very efficient.”

Frederick features as a “Recommended Tax & Trust Lawyer” in The Spear’s 500 2024, commended for being “remarkably efficient, polite and calm”.

Frederick Bjørn is listed in the Spear’s Tax & Trust Adviser’s Index 2024 as a “Recommended ” Tax Lawyer. 

Citywealth Leaders List 2023 features Frederick as a “Leading Lawyer” for estate planning and Legal Week lists him in its Private Client Global Elite 2019.