The law rarely gets as personal as in our Private Client Services Practice Group. With relationships that span generations, the firm has been honored by the longtime trust so many families have placed in it to handle the most personal of matters.
Much of our work starts with trust and estate planning and administration. We serve as advisors and fiduciaries to individuals and their families, many of whom have business interests tied to their personal lives. We are there to guide them through major life decisions — most notably succession planning — and we manage not just the legalities but also the sensitivities and unique needs of each family.
With relationships that continue for many decades, we have walked clients through the complex and continuously changing tax laws and keep our clients current with optimal tax strategies, such as establishing charitable trusts. Yet we’re careful not to let the tax component drive the overall planning. We understand that security and comfort for the future looks different for each client.
At a time when traditional family relationships are under strain from many directions, we listen carefully to our clients’ goals. They trust us to understand their worries about family members and their concerns for their business, and we help them plan for the futures of all involved. When family disputes arise — as is inevitable in these litigious times — we work with family members to lower the temperature, avoid litigation and move the discussion toward a more amicable accommodation. In the event that litigation is unavoidable, our clients remain in safe hands. Our skilled litigators guide them through estate-related litigation, including will contest, fiduciary accounting and guardianship proceedings and valuation disputes.
We often work collaboratively with the firm’s other practice groups to understand how our clients’ personal and business lives intersect, and to create customized legal options and solutions attuned to their unique goals.
