Practices

Taxation
Tax Controversies and Litigation
Asset Protection Trusts
Wealth Planning and Preservation
Private Companies
Private Wealth Services
International Private Client Group
Private Wealth and International Capabilities
Trusts, Estates and Fiduciary Dispute Resolution
Offshore Tax Compliance

Education

American University, Washington College of Law, J.D.

Georgetown University, LL.M., Taxation

Georgetown University, A.B., Government

Bar Admissions

Virginia
Maryland
District of Columbia

Languages

French

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Leigh-Alexandra "Leigh" Basha

Partner
Northern Virginia
t: 703-720-8081

Leigh–Alexandra Basha is a partner in the firm’s Northern Virginia office. Ms. Basha serves on the firm's Directors Committee and is the chair of Holland & Knight’s International Private Client Practice. She focuses her practice on domestic and foreign estate and tax planning. Her practice attracts clients from across the globe to assist them with pre-immigration planning, tax compliance, business succession planning, estate and trust administration and family wealth preservation.

Quoted Articles

  • Washingtonian, "A Good Year to Die?," November 2010.

Professional Honors & Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America guide, Trusts and Estates, 2012
  • Citywealth Leaders List, 2009-2011
  • Women and the Law Leadership Award, American University Washington College of Law, 2011
  • Leading Lawyer, The Washingtonian, 2009, 2010
  • Best Lawyer, Washingtonian Magazine, Trust & Estates, 2011
  • Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers magazine, 2007-2011
  • Virginia Super Lawyers magazine, 2006-2011
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated
  • Outstanding Performance by a Speaker, International Bar Association, London
  • Service of the Year Award Finalist, Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce
  • Best Column, Legal Lines Column, Area Realtor Magazine, 1987

Memberships

  • American Bar Association - Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section, Group Vice Chair of the Income and Transfer Tax Planning Group (2010-2011)
  • International Bar Association, Chair of the Individual Tax and Private Client Committee
  • Committee of Individual Tax and Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts and Succession of the IBA, former Secretary
  • American Bar Association - Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section, former Chair - International Tax Planning Committee (2006-2009)
  • ABA/ACTEC Task Force on USA Patriot and Gatekeeper Regulation Committee, 2009-2011
  • American Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Communications Committee (2009-2010)
  • International Academy of Estate and Trust Law, Executive Council
  • STEP Worldwide, Secretary for Mid-Atlantic Branch (2009-2010)
  • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow, FATF Taskforce, International Estate Planning Committee
  • International Business Exchange Council (IBEC) of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, former Chair
  • International Practice Section of the Fairfax Bar Association, former Chairperson; former Program Chair
  • Wills Estates and Trusts Section of the Fairfax Bar Association, former Chairperson
  • Northern Virginia Estate Planning Council
  • French-American Chamber of Commerce, former Director
  • Brazilian-American Cultural Institute, former Director

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Tax Court

Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, "AICPA Trust, Estate and Gift Tax Technical Resource Panel," American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Meeting, November 9, 2011
  • Chair and Speaker, "Impact of the Marital Regime on Planning for the International Client," IBA Annual Conference, Dubai, October 30 - November 4, 2011
  • Speaker, "Family Offices," International Academy of Estate and Trust Law, Mexico City, Mexico, May 22-27, 2011
  • Co-Chair, ABA Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Annual Spring Symposia, Washington, D.C., April 28-29, 2011
  • Speaker, "Successful Lawyers Share Marketing Tips on Building the Bottom Line: Building a Law Practice in Real Estate or Trust & Estates Law," ABA Washington, D.C. Community Outreach Program , April 12, 2011
  • Speaker, "Rest in Peace: The Pitfalls of Multijurisdictional Inheritance Disputes," ABA Spring Meeting, Washington, D.C., April 7, 2011
  • Speaker, "United States Income and Transfer Taxation of Non-Resident Aliens: The Basics; Investing in U.S. Real Property by Non-Resident Aliens: Structure, Strategies and Solutions," STEP/NYSBA International Estate Planning Institute, New York, NY, March 24-25, 2011
  • Speaker, Women's Incentive - Women Taking the Lead: a Three-Part Series, Orlando, FL, March 14, 2011
  • Speaker, "Papering the file – necessity or source of risk?," IBA 16th Annual International Wealth Transfer Practices Conference: Private Clients in 2011, London, March 7-8, 2011
  • Speaker, "Foreign Trusts - 'What's New?'," STEP New York, New York, NY, February 16, 2011
  • Speaker, "The Reincarnation of the Death Tax - 2011 Tax Law Changes," Financial Planning Association, McLean, VA, January 28, 2011
  • Speaker, "Marketing," Holland & Knight Women's Initiative, Washington, D.C., January 12, 2011
  • "Managing Business Risk in a Changing World," FACC Breakfast Seminar, Holland & Knight, Washington, DC, October 20, 2010
  • Speaker, "Death as a Taxable Event and Its International Ramifications," Rome Congress, Rome, September 1, 2010
  • Speaker, Michigan Taxation Section Annual Conference, Novi, MI, May 20, 2010
  • Speaker, "Foreign Trust Compliance," New York State Society of CPAs, New York, NY, May 18, 2010
  • Keynote Speaker, Panel Chair and Panelist, STEP Pacific Rim, Santa Monica, CA, May 5-6, 2010
  • Moderator, "A Roadmap to Expanding Globally," Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce International Business Council Seminar, McLean, VA, April 21, 2010
  • Conference Co-Chair, Speaker, "Trusts v. Foundations," SWOT for Private Clients in 2010: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats They Face, IBA Annual International Wealth Transfer Practices Conference, London, England, March 1-2, 2010
  • Speaker, Wells Fargo Triangle Continuing Education Summit, Raleigh, NC, February 4, 2010
  • Speaker, "International Estate Planning," Connecticut Bar Association Joint Sections of Taxation and Trusts and Estates, New Haven, CT, February 1, 2010
  • Speaker, "Potpourri of International Hot Topics: What You Need to Know," HSBC, Washington, D.C., January 7, 2010
  • Speaker, "Navigating the Choppy Waters of International Estate Planning and Advising Clients on Offshore Compliance Responsibilities," Cassaday & Company, Virginia, November 4, 2009
  • Speaker, "Potpourri of International Hot Topics," National Association of State Bar Tax Sections, Washington, D.C., October 30, 2009
  • Speaker, "AICPA Trust, Estate and Gift Tax Technical Resource panel," American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Meeting, October 26, 2009
  • Speaker, "Potpourri of International Hot Topics," Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, October 15, 2009
  • Chair, "Constraints on Testamentary Dispositions," IBA Annual Conference, Madrid, Spain, October 4-9, 2009
  • "Foreign Bank Account Reports and More: Voluntary Disclosure. September 23 Deadline!," ABA Section of International Law Committee on International Taxation, August 20, 2009
  • Speaker, "Voluntary Disclosures & FBARs," ABA/AICPA Teleconference, August 20, 2009
  • Speaker, "Exit Tax & The Accidental American," The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, June 22, 2009
  • Speaker, "Foreign Investment in U.S. Real Property," STEP Chicago International Estate Planning Institute Conference, Chicago, IL, June 16, 2009
  • "FBARs," ABA/AICPA Teleconference, June 12, 2009
  • Speaker, "ILITs & Their Concerns," The Monitor Group, June 9, 2009
  • Speaker, "Strategies for Turning a Bad Market into a Good Opportunity by Capitalizing on a Low Interest Rate, Low Value Environment," Campbell Wealth, VA, May 28, 2009
  • Speaker, "Private Foundations and Donor Advised Funds," NVCF, May 15, 2009
  • Speaker, "FBARs and VCI," ABA Spring Symposium, Washington, D.C., April 30 - May 1, 2009
  • Speaker, JP Morgan, April 7, 2009
  • Speaker, "Tips for Attorneys Seeking to Expand International EP Practice," American University Washington College of Law, March 26, 2009
  • Speaker, "The World Bank Client: U.S. Estate and Gift Tax," Merrill Lynch, World Bank D.C., March 24, 2009
  • Speaker, "Strategies for Turning a Bad Market into a Good Opportunity by Capitalizing on a Low Interest Rate, Low Value Environment," Holland & Knight, March 17, 2009
  • Chair, "The Second Home Abroad," International Bar Association IWTP, London, England, March 2-6, 2009
  • Speaker, UBS, February 26, 2009
  • Speaker, "Foreign Investment in U.S. Real Property; Expatriation & Foreign Reporting," Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, Orlando, Florida, January 12-16, 2009
  • Speaker, "Foreign Investment in U.S. Real Estate," Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, Maryland, October 29, 2008
  • Chair, "Anti-Avoidance Structures (CFC's, PFIC's, etc..)," International Bar Association, Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 12-17, 2008
  • Speaker, "International Update," ABA Joint Fall CLE Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 11-13, 2008
  • Speaker, "Estate Planning for the Global Client: The Basics US and Taiwan," TASS, Maryland, September 6, 2008
  • Speaker, "International Tax," Goodman & Company, Richmond, VA, June 26, 2008
  • Speaker, "Grandma Died with a Cook Islands Trust: What Now?," American Bar Association Spring Symposium, May 1, 2008
  • Speaker, "International Estate Planning: Potential Traps and How to Avoid Them," Montgomery County Bar, April 2, 2008
  • Speaker, "International Estate Planning and Foreign Administration of Estates," D.C. Bar, March 20, 2008
  • Speaking, "International Estate Planning: Potential Traps and How to Avoid Them," H&K All Attorneys Meeting, Orlando, FL, March 14-16, 2008
  • Speaker, "From the Backyard to Abroad -- What Financial Advisors Should Know Domestically and Internationally," Cassaday & Company, March 13, 2008
  • Panel Chair, "Offshore Tax Fraud," IBA International Wealth Transfer Practice Conference, London, England, March 4, 2008
  • Chair, "Transformation and Transparency: The Current State of Offshore Trusts," ABA E-CLE, February 28, 2008
  • Speaker, "How to Avoid the Traps Clients and Their Advisors Trip on in the International Arena," Washington Association of Money Managers, January 23, 2008
  • Speaker, "Referral Sources: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly," DEAD Call, January 16, 2008
  • Panel Chair, "Transformation and Transparency: The Current State of Offshore Trusts," American Bar Association, January 15, 2008
  • Speaker, "Current Developments in International Tax and Private Client Planning," STEP, Washington, D.C., October 23, 2007
  • Panel Chair, "International Estate Planning for the Asian Client," International Bar Association Annual Conference, Singapore, October 18, 2007
  • Chair, "US/Canada Cross Border Estate Planning and Philanthropy," ABA Joint Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, September 27-29, 2007
  • Speaker, "How to Avoid the Traps Clients and Their Advisors Trip On in the International Arena," Northern Virginia Estate Planning Council, September 25, 2007
  • Speaker, "10 Deadly Sins and a Few Venial Ones," HSBC, Washington, D.C., June 28, 2007
  • Speaker, "International Estate Planning of the Married Couple (including QDOTs) Expatriation & Reporting," Massachusetts CLE, Boston, MA, June 26, 2007
  • Chair, IBEC Legal Panel Seminar - India, May 15, 2007
  • Chair, "Transformation and Transparency: The Current State of the Offshore Trust," ABA Symposium, Washington, D.C., April 26, 2007
  • Speaker, "10 Deadly Sins and a Few Venial Ones," Virginia State Bar, Advanced Planning Seminar, Homestead, Virginia, April 22, 2007
  • Speaker, "International Estate Planning," H&K Partner Meeting, March 15-16, 2007
  • Chair, Moderator and Speaker, "Current Developments in International Estate Planning," IBA International Wealth Transfer Practice Conference, London, England, March 5-7, 2007
  • "Civil and Common Law Planning for the Private Client," IBA International Wealth Transfer Practice Conference, London, England, March 2007
  • Speaker, "Top 10 Caveats in Dealing with the International Client: From Estate Planning and QDOTS to Reporting for the Client on the Move," D.C. Bar, Washington, D.C., February 13, 2007
  • Speaker, "Top 10 Estate Planning Pitfalls," Financial Planning Association of the National Capital Area Symposium, Washington, D.C., January 19, 2007
  • Chair, Gateway to India, IBEC Meeting, McLean, VA, December 4, 2006
  • Speaker, "Asset Protection Planning: Just What the Doctor Ordered," Holy Cross Hospital Continuing Education Seminar, Maryland, October 12, 2006
  • Speaker, "10 Biggest Mistakes Clients Make In Regards To Estate Planning," Nick Yrizarry Symposium, Reston, VA, October 11, 2006
  • Speaker, IBA Conference, Chicago, IL, September 18-21, 2006
  • Speaker, "Top 10 Issues Facing Financial Advisors and Their Solutions," NY&A Presentation, August 29, 2006
  • Speaker, "U.S. Estate Tax and Gift Tax Considerations," Goodman & Company, LLP, June 26, 2006
  • Speaker, "2005-2006 Virginia Law Recent Developments in Estate Planning and Administration," D.C. Bar Update, June 15, 2006
  • Speaker, "Recent Development in International Tax Presented to the American Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Tax Trust Section," ABA San Diego, May 5, 2006
  • Speaker, SunTrust, May 1, 2006
  • Speaker, IBEC, April 25, 2006
  • Speaker, "Foreign Investment in U.S. Real Property from a Franco-American Perspective," The International Bar Association/American Bar Association International Wealth Transfer Conference, London, England, March 2005
  • Speaker, "Estate Planning for Non-Citizens," The 17th Annual Mid-Atlantic Retreat for Financial Planners, Washington, D.C., October 2004
  • Speaker, "Equity Participation Arrangements: Knowing Your Options," IBA International Wealth Transfer Practice Conference, London, England, October 2003
  • Estate Planning for Women, American Association of University Women, April 2003
  • "Augmented Estate Tricks and Traps," Virginia State Bar, March 2003
  • "International Business Succession Planning," IBA International Wealth Transfer Practice Conference, London, England, March 2002
  • Recent Tax Law Changes Affecting Non-U.S. Citizens, Foreign Trusts and International Clients, Colorado State Bar Annual Conference, Colorado, September 1998
  • Speaker, "Options for Real Estate in the Estate Planning Process, Including Family Limited Partnerships," Virginia State Bar, December 1995
  • Speaker, "The Virginia Limited Partnership: Its Use in Estate Planning," National Business Institute, March 1995
  • Speaker, "Planning Opportunities with Living Trusts," National Business Institute, June 1994
  • Speaker, "Augmented Estate," Virginia Society of CPAs, 1992

Published Articles & Books