Best Lawyers Near You in New York, New York for Trusts and Estates
Elyse G. Kirschner advises clients on domestic and international tax and estates planning matters. Elyse’s areas of experience include charitable giving techniques, the formation and taxation of private trust companies, tax-exempt organizations and the taxation of foreign trusts. Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/kirschner-elyse-g/
Sandra Viana is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Sandra, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sandra is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Gary S. Moriwaki has more than forty years of experience in estate planning and administration. His clients include domestic and foreign business owners, professionals and executives from a spectrum of industries. Mr. Moriwaki is well-versed in advising clients who have complex, multi-national issues involving ownership of assets in multiple jurisdictions, domestic and foreign estate and inheritance taxes, choice of laws and succession concerns. As a member of various charitable organizations...
Linda B. Hirschson focuses her practice on virtually all aspects of estate planning and administration and is a past member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel (ACTEC). Linda develops estate plans for high net worth individuals, enabling them to dispose of their assets during life and at death in a manner that meets their personal goals and as tax efficient as possible. In the course of doing so, she helps form and administer private foundations and c...
Carlyn S. McCaffrey provides legal counsel on domestic and international tax and estate planning for high-net-worth individuals. She also advises individuals and institutions on charitable planning matters. Carlyn is co-head of the Private Client practice in the Firm’s New York office. Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/mccaffrey-carlyn-s/
Cristine Sapers advises high net worth individuals and families on their estate, charitable and income tax planning, helping clients identify and reach their personal planning goals while minimizing taxes along the way. Her clients include executives of public companies, investment fund managers, owners of closely held businesses, family offices and individuals with inherited wealth. Cristine’s practice covers all areas of estate planning, will and trust drafting, and administration of ...
Toni Ann Kruse is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Toni Ann, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Toni Ann is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jerry Levine concentrates his practice on estate planning, estate and trust administration, and income and estate taxation. He represents closely held businesses, real estate owners and developers, entertainment and media clients, private investors and entrepreneurs, and executives of publicly held companies. Jerry’s experience encompasses wills and trusts, estate and gift tax audits, valuation of closely held businesses, estate and trust accountings, domicile disputes, Tax Court procee...
Barbara E. Shiers is a partner in our Estate Planning & Administration Group. Ms. Shiers previously served as co-chair of the group, and as a member of the firm’s management committee, for many years. Ms. Shiers represents high net-worth individuals, professionals, and entrepreneurs in domestic and international estate , gift, and income tax planning, estate and trust administration, IRS audits, and probate and tax litigation. She has extensive experience advising individuals and fi...
Herb Nass is one of the country’s most sought-after trusts and estates lawyers. During his more than 35-year career, he has earned a reputation among high net-worth and celebrity families for smart planning and counseling aimed to preserve their wealth and minimize tax obligations during transitional life events. Clients come to Herb for airtight wills drafted and executed to withstand future scrutiny or objection in court. His ability to anticipate potential disputes with solid no-cont...
Ms. Steckler focuses on providing counsel to families concerning all aspects of estate planning, estate administration and elder law. She helps clients transfer family wealth to minimize or eliminate federal and state tax liability. Clients seek her guidance in creating sophisticated estate plans, disability planning to help individuals with special needs preserve their eligibility for public benefits, charitable giving, LGBTQ+ planning, will and trust preparation, advanced directives, powers...
Christina Baltz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Christina, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christina is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Anita S. Rosenbloom concentrates in the areas of estate planning, business succession planning and estate and trust administration and litigation. She has particular expertise concerning estate, gift, generation-skipping and fiduciary income taxes and the use of life insurance and other trust vehicles in estate plans to reduce tax liability. Since joining Stroock in 1980, Ms. Rosenbloom has represented individuals, corporations, closely held businesses and other entities in transactions invol...
Christiana Lazo is a partner in the Trusts and Estates Practice Group of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Christiana concentrates her practice on representing ultra-high net worth individuals, their family offices and closely held businesses in developing and implementing sophisticated domestic and international tax and estate plans. Christiana regularly works with principals of private equity and venture capital funds on their estate planning and also has significant experience counseling global cl...
Edward A. Vergara is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Edward A., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Edward A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.