What We Do
Expertise with Concierge-Level Service
We are a concierge Trusts and Estates law practice located in Greenwich, Connecticut serving successful individuals and families in Connecticut and New York. We provide tailored legal solutions for our clients with the express goal of becoming their "lawyers for life" - advisors who serve as a continual resource for them long after the initial engagement ends.
Our practice areas provide clients with estate planning and protection from contested estates, administration, general asset protection and litigation. Our expertise in trusts and estates litigation enables us to provide you with an estate plan that will deliver on your wishes.
Estate Planning*
A well-crafted plan goes beyond simply providing for your family’s future security. We take the time to get to know our clients, so their wishes and intents are met now and respected going forward. Our courtroom experience has yielded a deep knowledge of how wills and trusts are challenged; we anticipate and defend against those attacks. We’re also diligent about staying abreast of all new tax laws that may affect your estate planning.
Estate Litigation*
Even the best-crafted trusts can be challenged by litigious parties. We provide pragmatic and superior legal services on litigation matters for individuals and families who find themselves embroiled in this unfortunate occurrence, delivering the best result possible within the realities and structure of trust and estate litigation law.
Estate and Trust Administration
Whether you’re an executor, administrator, guardian or trustee, we can help you carry out fiduciary duties and responsibilities—without inadvertently stepping on the wrong side of the law. (Fiduciaries have extreme personal liability; “good faith” efforts are not rewarded.) We can help in all the particulars—from filing the will for probate to discovery of claims, re-titling assets, dealing with the IRS, and handling taxes levied at death.
Asset Protection
The best time to safeguard your wealth is now—before you find it subjected to a creditor’s claims. Legal, strategic planning can include asset protection trusts, family limited partnerships, and gifted real estate.
Business Advisory and Litigation
Plan to succeed… and be prepared for challenges. We can help you safeguard your company’s assets with strategic business transition planning, preparing for unforeseen events, advising on valuing your business, and defending against litigation.
*Proper planning doesn’t just ensure your intent is respected; it can also save your family money if a trust instrument is challenged. See what Bloomberg BNA/Estate Tax Blog (June 9, 2017) had to say in the matter of the New York County Surrogate’s opinion, In re Hoppenstein (Jason J. Smith, Esq., for the Trustees)
"This case reinforces that the Settlor's intent is what matters most when looking at the four corners of a well-constructed trust instrument... (and) imparts great significance to the proper construction of an estate plan that uses flexible drafting techniques tailored to the client's foreseeable and unforeseeable estate planning goals and objectives. Ultimately, the excellent drafting saved the client time and money by not having to engage in extensive litigation..."
Who We Serve
Wealth Planning & Protection for Families & Individuals
The work we do today secures our clients’ significant assets for future generations. We have experience in every area, from planning and administration of trusts and real estate holdings to best practices for protecting marketable securities, family businesses, art and collectables.
Families
We represent entire families and assist in all phases of tax and estate planning. We can help our clients create the estate plan that delivers on their wishes and secures their family for generations. This process is deeply personal and private, and we accomplish your goals with the greatest discretion and consideration.
Individuals
We represent successful individuals interested in tax planning and building an estate framework that will evolve along with them. Our expertise lies beyond your financial advisor’s purview; we understand tax and estate planning, and can guide you from an early stage so your future generations’ wealth will be protected from the moment you start working with us.
Concierge-Level Service
When you engage us, you can be confident you’re receiving the highest level of attention and deepest expertise—and that it will be done safely, securely, and in the most economical way possible.
Communication
You will always have a direct line to your lawyer. In most cases he or she will pick up immediately or get in touch soon thereafter; but always within 24 hours. You can also expect follow up care after your initial engagement ends; we will check in with you as necessary to provide important updates regarding regulations, laws, and court decisions that impact you and your family.
Location
Concierge-level service means physical convenience, as well. We can meet with you anywhere, from our offices in Greenwich and Manhattan to your home or business. We can also set up video conferences.
Smart Technology
We keep your original documents in a secure storage environment. Other materials are kept in secure cloud storage, enabling our staff to serve your needs from any location. From billing to calendaring and document management, our technology enables us to stay focused on work that provides exceptional, customized legal services.