John focuses his practice in the areas of estate planning, business succession planning, charitable giving and asset protection. His clients include private business owners, public company executives, investment fund managers, individual and corporate fiduciaries, and tax-exempt organizations.
John assists clients with virtually all aspects of estate and trust administration including probate, the preparation and audits of estate and gift tax returns, fiduciary income tax returns, and judicial and non-judicial accountings, and the creation and management of private trust companies. He also regularly advises trustees on issues involving taxation and fiduciary liability, and is very experienced in drafting and interpreting gift agreements to colleges and universities.
He works closely with clients to develop plans for securing and protecting their assets. These plans usually involve the use of appropriate structures, such as limited partnerships, limited liability companies and so-called “asset protection” and “spendthrift” trusts, in various jurisdictions throughout country and around the world. He also regularly counsels foreign individuals making investments in the United States.
Aside from such counseling and planning work, John is frequently called upon to represent individuals and corporate fiduciaries in litigious matters related to estate and trust administration such as will contests, contested accountings, and tax controversy matters.
Due to his deep knowledge in the field, John is often quoted in Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal and other publications on matters of estate and tax planning
Professional and Community Involvement
Former chair, New York City Bar Association Committee on Trusts, Estates and Surrogate’s Courts
Member, New York City Bar Association Committee on Estate and Gift Taxation
Member, New York City Bar Association
Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
Former president, Columbia Law School Association
Honors
The Best Lawyers in America, 2024-2025
New York Super Lawyers, 2023-2024
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