Private Client Services

Partners Michael Clear and Erin Nicholls explore the evolving landscape of estate planning, with a special focus on strategies for middle and high-net-worth clients in Connecticut. Their discussion offers practical gifting strategies to maximize the currently high exemption amount. Michael and Erin also highlight Connecticut’s advancements in trust modifications and non-judicial settlement agreements, and caution practitioners on the potential tax implications that may arise from enacting these strategies.

Private Client Services Partner Vanessa Maczko and Corporate Partner Jack Sousa share insights on estate planning strategies tailored for business owners, with a focus on succession planning for both family-run and non-family enterprises. Their discussion touches on the value of structuring ownership through voting and non-voting shares to strike a balance between control and marketability. They also explore liquidity planning tools, such as life insurance, that can facilitate smooth ownership transitions in the event of a member’s passing.

Partners Steve Malech and Matt Smith examine the effects of divorce and family disputes  on estate planning. They stress the critical importance of utilizing precise language in legal documents to prevent ambiguity and reduce the risk of costly litigation. Their discussion also addresses the complications that arise from multi-jurisdictional assets, which can further complicate estate administration. Throughout, they underscore the value of proactive legal guidance to help clients navigate these complexities and avoid misunderstandings that could lead to significant financial and familial disruption.

Navigating trusts and divorce can be complex. Learn how recent developments in trust laws may impact how assets are managed in divorce proceedings. Partner Matt Smith details how trusts can be structured to protect assets and the implications they may have during the divorce process, including how different states define marital and non-marital property, inheritance, and family trusts. Watch this video to gain valuable insights on safeguarding assets in the face of marital dissolution.

Dive into the key compliance requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which established a federal beneficial ownership registry to target privately held smaller to medium-sized LLCs, corporations, and partnerships. In this video, Partners Erin Nicholls, R.J. Kornhaas and Dimitri Tournas emphasize the critical need for business owners to understand and adhere to these new regulations, including filing timelines, who qualifies as a beneficial owner and the broad definition of a reporting company and the exemptions. The presentation delves into the specific information needed to meet the CTA’s obligations, offering a clear roadmap for achieving compliance and avoiding potential penalties.

Unlock the complexities of federal gift and estate tax exemptions and how they might change in 2026 with this insightful presentation by Partner Vanessa Maczko. Learn about the latest strategies for minimizing tax liabilities and maximizing your gifting potential, while keeping in-step with the changing tax landscape. This video also covers non-taxable gifts, such as those to spouses and direct payments for education or medical expenses and explores strategies to optimize exemptions while maintaining access to assets.

Dive into the latest hot topics in international estate planning presented by partner Carolyn Reers. Carolyn covers crucial updates and strategic approaches to assist high-net-worth clients seeking international residency or citizenship, driven by tax savings and political concerns. This video also delves into the complexities of expatriation taxes and compliance with U.S. tax laws regarding foreign assets and transactions.

Explore how our team can guide family offices and high net worth individuals through the complexities of managing substantial wealth. Presented by Partners Erin Nicholls, R.J. Kornhaas and Dimitri Tournas, this video describes how we address complex estate planning, venture capital investments, and sophisticated real estate transactions to provide personalized solutions for our clients. Watch our latest video for insights into how we can help secure your family’s multi-generational wealth management and strategic investment planning.

Life insurance trusts are an excellent estate planning tool to minimize your estate’s exposure to estate tax because insurance held in trust is entirely outside your taxable estate. Whether you are looking to purchase an insurance policy or already own a policy held in your name, you can take advantage of both tax and non-tax benefits of creating an insurance trust.

Whether you are contemplating your first or a subsequent marriage, a prenuptial agreement may be an excellent tool to preserve the rights and obligations of you and your future spouse rather than relying upon applicable state law in the event of death or divorce. Prenuptial agreements have specific requirements to be effective and must include several components to address separate property, marital property, inheritance rights and divorce.

A successful estate plan should consider the trusted individuals you will appoint to manage your financial and health care needs when you are unable to during your life and who will oversee the distribution of your estate after your death. During this video, a brief overview is presented of the following five main roles in an estate plan: (i) the Executor; (ii) the Guardian; (iii) the Trustee; (iv) the Agent under a Power of Attorney; and (v) the Health Care Representative.

A Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT) is an attractive estate planning tool for individuals whose asset base exceeds the amount that can be protected by available estate tax exemptions. It allows for a deferred gift of a residence to beneficiaries of your choice, thereby shifting wealth without parting with any liquidity. Thus, you can transfer an asset without any impact on financial security or income stream. However, there are specific rules that govern the creation and administration of a QPRT, which are covered, in part, in this video.

Many people think of their estate plan as only including their “will,” but a successful estate plan considers each of the following core legal documents: (i) a Will; (ii) a Revocable Trust; (iii) a Power of Attorney; and (iv) an Advance Medical Directive. Each document is essential to a successful estate plan to ensure your health care and financial needs are met during your lifetime and your wishes are carried out after your death.

When creating a trust, you should consider the roles and responsibilities of the Trustee and who would be appropriate to serve as Trustee. The Trustee is held to a high fiduciary standard and serves in (i) an administrative capacity by balancing checkbooks and paying taxes; (ii) an investment capacity by overseeing trust investments and often hiring an investment advisor; and (iii) a distributive capacity by deciding on appropriate distributions that can be made from the trust. 

We are a team made up of over two-dozen highly skilled attorneys, paralegals, fiduciary accountants and other business operations professionals serving as trusted counsel for our clients.

From business-succession planning to philanthropic arrangements to trust and estate issues, we provide sophisticated counsel that helps families and individuals with substantial assets maximize their wealth for themselves and future generations. In addition, we pay particular attention to each client’s unique family situation to develop an overall plan that addresses both economic and non-economic concerns.

This is not just business, it’s personal!