Cris is the senior partner at Wenthur Law Group, LLP, (“WLG”) a boutique law firm in San Diego specializing in the acquisition of yachts, jets and vintage cars as well as income, partnership, corporate and estate tax planning. The firm’s main focus is yachts and includes anything to do with a yacht, including acquisitions, operations, regulatory compliance and sales thereof. The firm is known and well respected world wide and recognized as a leader in representing clients wanting to build their own racing sailboat or luxury yacht domestically or internationally which entails putting together design and naval architecture teams, negotiating and writing extremely complex yacht construction contracts, dealing with construction milestone issues, the myriad of domestic and international regulatory issues, crew issues and finally all the various sales tax, use tax, property tax, VAT and U.S. Customs duty issues related thereto. WLG has successfully handled over 12,000 yacht transactions in its 40 year history.
In addition to yachts, WLG specializes in jet and vintage car acquisitions, taxation, ownership and operational structuring.
Approximately 30 years ago, Cris created the “One-Vessel Offshore Delivery” which revolutionized how yacht deliveries take place both in California, the United States and internationally. Prior to that yacht buyers had to literally jump from ship to ship while in the open ocean. WLG was the first firm that proactively filed for SBE/CDTFA sales and use tax exemptions by the filing of WLG Proactive Offshore Delivery Compliance Packages, a system now copied around the United States. When the maritime industry was in turmoil because of the change in law from the “90 Day Test” to the “12 Month Test” Cris then created the Yacht MIPA which now accounts for approximately 90% of all yacht transactions in California and approximately 40%-50% nationwide.
Cris’ passion is working with the America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race Teams where he has served as legal counsel for Oracle and various other teams for over 20 years. Each year Cris speaks internationally at various superyacht events around the world. He is a past Director of the United States Superyacht Association and annually either puts on, or is intimately involved in, the State of California Yachts and the Law Legal Seminar.
When Cris is not working or golfing he enjoys backpacking with his wife of 40 years or fly fishing or sea kayaking up in Alaska, a place very near and dear to his heart.
WLG has a large highly skilled staff, including Cris’ son Dane who also holds a LL.M.in taxation, ready to assist you or your clients needs.
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