Featured Private Wealth Attorneys in New York

A private wealth attorney advises high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families on estate planning, trust administration, wealth transfer, business succession, charitable planning, and tax-efficient strategies for preserving and transferring wealth across generations.

New York imposes its own estate tax with an exemption significantly below the federal level. If a New York estate exceeds the exemption by more than 5%, the cliff effect eliminates the entire exemption — meaning the full estate is subject to New York estate tax. This makes New York-specific planning essential for high-net-worth residents.

A family office manages the investments, estate planning, tax strategy, and administrative affairs of one or more ultra-high-net-worth families. Private wealth attorneys advise family offices on trust structures, governance, generational transfer, philanthropy, and legal compliance.

A financial advisor manages investments and financial planning. A private wealth attorney provides legal advice on estate structures, trust documents, tax planning strategies, and wealth transfer — work that requires legal expertise and bar admission.

New York imposes a state estate tax with an exemption that is significantly lower than the federal exemption. If a New York estate exceeds the exemption by more than 5%, the cliff effect eliminates the benefit of the exemption entirely — meaning the full estate value is subject to New York estate tax. This creates significant planning considerations for high-net-worth New York residents that differ substantially from federal estate tax planning alone.

A family office is a private organization that manages the investments, estate planning, tax strategy, and administrative affairs of one or more ultra-high-net-worth families. Private wealth attorneys advise family offices on trust structures, governance, generational transfer, philanthropy, and legal compliance. Engaging private wealth counsel is appropriate when your estate, investment portfolio, or family business creates planning complexity beyond standard estate planning.

Every attorney in the Haute Lawyer Network is individually reviewed by Haute Living's editorial team. Attorneys may be members of a paid editorial visibility program. Inclusion does not constitute a legal recommendation or guarantee of any outcome.

Verify bar admission and check disciplinary history at the New York State Bar at iapps.courts.state.ny.us/attorneyservices. The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel at actec.org provides a directory of ACTEC fellows — an invitation-only credential recognized in trust and estate law.