Dual Admission – A Unique Advantage
Dr. Peter K.-D. Barandt is one of very few lawyers worldwide admitted both as a Rechtsanwalt in the Federal Republic of Germany and as an Attorney and Counselor at Law in the State of New York (USA). This dual admission allows him to represent clients in cross-border legal matters fully on both sides – without engaging a second law firm in the other country.
Qualifications
- LL.M. (SMU – Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas)
- Rechtsanwalt (Frankfurt am Main)
- Attorney at Law (New York State Bar)
- Certified Specialist in Tax Law (Fachanwalt für Steuerrecht)
- Diplom-Kaufmann (Master of Commerce)
- Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
- Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A. / Vereidigter Buchprüfer)
- Doctor of Laws (Dr. jur.)
- More than 30 years focused on German-American inheritance law
Focus
From the very start of his legal career, Dr. Barandt has concentrated exclusively on German-American inheritance law, estate law and trust law. He advises and represents clients through every stage of cross-border estate matters – from the first orientation and estate planning to the final administration and distribution.
Tax Expertise in German-American Estates
Cross-border estates are not only a civil-law but above all a tax-law challenge. A German heir receiving US assets – or a US citizen leaving an estate in Germany – is frequently confronted with two tax systems at once: German inheritance tax (Erbschaftsteuer) and US federal estate tax. This is one of the firm's core strengths. As a Certified Specialist in Tax Law and at the same time a Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.), Dr. Barandt combines the legal and the tax perspective of both countries in one person.
Without careful planning, the same estate can be taxed twice. The estate, inheritance and gift tax treaty between Germany and the USA mitigates this, but its application is complex in practice and requires precise knowledge of both tax regimes. Dr. Barandt determines which country may tax what and to what extent, which credits and exemptions apply, and how the tax burden can be lawfully minimized through forward-looking planning – for example through trust structures.
In practical terms, the dual qualification means: the German inheritance tax return and the US estate tax return are prepared in a coordinated way from a single source. There is no friction between separate advisers on two continents, no translation errors and no missed deadlines. You have one point of contact who not only knows both legal and tax systems but is admitted and qualified in both.
The Firm
The firm is based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany's financial center and one of Europe's most important international legal hubs. From here Dr. Barandt is ideally accessible to both German and international clients.
Languages
- German (native)
- English (fluent, business proficient)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does dual admission in Germany and New York mean for me?
Dr. Barandt is at the same time a Rechtsanwalt in Germany and an Attorney at Law in the State of New York. He can therefore represent you in cross-border estate matters on both sides directly, without engaging a second lawyer in the other country.
Do I also need a US attorney?
Usually not. Because Dr. Barandt is admitted to the New York State Bar, he handles representation before US courts and authorities himself – saving the cost and friction of a separate US firm.
Why does the tax qualification matter?
As a Certified Specialist in Tax Law and a Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.), Dr. Barandt covers both the legal and the tax side of an estate in one person. For US estate tax and German inheritance tax in particular, both returns are prepared in a coordinated way.