The story of St Matthew
You want to know who is behind your UK plan. Here is how St Matthew started in London, how it grew and where it stands today.
2006: a small office in London
Sebastian Sauerborn starts St Matthew in London in 2006. The idea is simple. Entrepreneurs and private clients from the German-speaking countries who deal with Britain need someone who knows UK tax inside out and can explain it to them in their own language. The big firms look after groups; the high-street accountants look after British clients. There is room in between.
The name has stayed ever since. Plenty of London firms carry a saint's name, since so many of the city's streets and parishes do. We chose Matthew, traditionally the patron saint of accountants, bankers and tax collectors. For a firm that spends its days on tax, that seemed about right.
Twenty years in six steps
Some dates are on record; other changes happened gradually. We write them down as precisely as we know them for certain.
- 1
2006: founded in London
Sebastian starts St Matthew in London and advises German-speaking clients on UK tax and UK companies from there.
- 2
2008: Sebastian moves to the US
Sebastian moves to the United States. During this time his brother runs the London office.
- 3
The partnership with Wendy
Later Wendy, a qualified accountant, joins as a partner. With her the UK side of the work grows.
- 4
2017: back in the UK, for a while
From 2017 Sebastian lives in Britain again for a period, and later leaves again.
- 5
The pandemic: the office does not come back
Until the pandemic St Matthew keeps an office in London. Then the landlord goes bust, and the partners decide to go fully virtual anyway.
- 6
Wendy takes over, Sebastian carries St Matthew on
Later Wendy buys Sebastian out of the joint UK practice. St Matthew is part of Perspektive Ausland today and is run from Austin.
Sebastian Sauerborn
Founder of St Matthew. At home in UK tax since 2006.
Sebastian advises you on any UK tax question with an international angle: arriving and leaving, inheritance, property, your own company, the account on the islands. By phone, Zoom or Signal.