Sahel A. Assar

Sahel is a seasoned international 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. 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.

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, Sahel 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. She also provides advice pertaining to taxation and reporting of cryptocurrencies (e.g. Bitcoin).

Her practice also focusses 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. Sahel 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, Sahel 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.

Clients can expect to find Sahel professional, thorough and dedicated, with a high drive for excellence. The most important aspect of her success is her relentless presence and availability to each of her clients.

Education:

• Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M., 2015, Taxation
• Georgetown University Law Center, Certificate International Taxation, Estate Planning, 2014
• Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M., 2010, Securities & Financial Regulation
• American University, Washington College of Law, J.D., 1998
• University of Maryland, College Park, B.A., 1992