I primarily focus on complex estate tax planning and sophisticated estate planning for high net worth individuals. I provide estate planning and tax advice to executives, entrepreneurs and owners of closely held businesses. Having started my career at Stradley Ronon in the Tax Practice Group and obtaining my Master of Laws degree in Taxation (LL.M.) from New York University School of Law, a major emphasis of my practice focuses on the tax implications of estate planning.In addition, I counsel clients in the area of asset protection and the creation of domestic and offshore asset-protection vehicles – vital components of estate planning for high-net-worth individuals, executives and entrepreneurs.I am a past chair of the taxation committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Probate Section. In addition, I lecture frequently in the areas of wills, trusts and estate planning, with a focus on reducing or eliminating federal estate taxes.I have been included in The Best Lawyers in America from 2008 to 2020, regarded as a definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States. Selection for Best Lawyers is based on a peer-review survey in which more than 1.8 million individual evaluations are reviewed.Notably, I represented a client in a record-setting auction sale of a rare pre-revolutionary pie-crust table attributed to the Garvan carver, which dates back to the early 1760’s. Auctioned by Christie’s on Oct. 3, 2007, the antique table sold for more than $6.7 million.In addition, I also advise charitable organizations on planned charitable giving programs. Such advice includes forming the program, establishing policies and procedures, addressing corporate governance issues, describing the types of planned giving documents available to donors, providing organizations with sample documents, and providing specific advice to the organization when a donor expresses an interest in making a planned charitable gift.

After a 10 year hiatus, I have again assumed the role of Chair of the Trust, Estates, and Personal Planning Group at Stradley. My goal in this position is to create a team environment where everyone in the Group feels like they serve an important role (as they do!). The characteristic hierarchy of a law firm can, at times, have the effect of making some colleagues feel like they are not as important as others. This is a genuine falsehood as everyone on the team serves an important and critical role in the operation of the Group. I hope to stress this point so that all team members understand and maintain this perspective.

For eight years I chaired the Trusts, Estates & Personal Planning Group at Stradley. This is a dynamic and growing Trusts and Estates practice and one of the largest Trusts and Estates departments at any large law firm in the City of Philadelphia. This was a personally rewarding experience.