Buchalter represents high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals, families, and family offices in estate planning, wealth transfer, trust and estate administration, and private client disputes. Our attorneys advise clients at every stage of the wealth lifecycle—from planning and implementation to administration and litigation—often involving complex tax, business, and family considerations.
We work closely with clients, fiduciaries, and professional advisors to provide practical and effective solutions tailored to each client’s objectives. Our approach emphasizes discretion, efficiency, and coordination across the client’s broader advisory team.
Family Law often intersects with private wealth. When marriage, divorce, or family restructuring impacts wealth, we coordinate with Buchalter’s Family Law team on marital agreements and high-asset family law matters, aligning strategy around support, valuation, multistate/international issues, and mediation with the client’s estate plan, entity structure, and tax objectives.
Estate & Wealth Transfer Planning
Planning designed to preserve and transfer wealth across generations, including closely held businesses, real estate portfolios, charitable objectives, and multigenerational families.
Trust & Estate Administration
Guidance for fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and families in complex and contested administrations, including fiduciary duties, tax matters, and family dynamics.
Trust & Estate Litigation
Representation in state and federal courts involving will and trust contests, fiduciary duty claims, and related disputes.
Family Office & Fiduciary Advisory Services
Governance, succession planning, fiduciary matters, and coordination with tax, investment, and philanthropic advisors for single and multi-family offices.
Marital Agreements
Marital agreements (premarital and post-marital) tailored for founders, executives, and families—coordinated with estate, tax, real estate, and closely held business planning.
Family Law (High-Asset Matters)
High-asset divorce and support matters, property and business valuation, multistate/international issues, and mediation—coordinated with private wealth planning when appropriate.
Capabilities
Estate & Wealth Transfer Planning
Advanced planning for multi-generational goals, liquidity events, and concentrated wealth.
- Policies, controls and vendor management
- Investment and transaction support
- Privacy, cyber and risk coordination
Business Succession & Family Enterprise
Succession strategies aligning ownership, governance, and tax efficiency for closely held businesses.
- Founder transition planning and governance
- Entity structuring, valuation and liquidity planning
- Coordination with corporate teams
Family Office Counsel (SFO/MFO)
Structuring, operations and day-to-day legal support for single and multi-family offices.
- Policies, controls and vendor management
- Investment and transaction support
- Privacy, cyber and risk coordination
Philanthropy & Tax-Exempt Organizations
Charitable vehicles, governance and compliance aligned with family mission and legacy goals.
- Private foundations and donor advised funds
- Governance, compliance and grantmaking strategy
- Mission preservation and succession planning
International Private Client
Cross-border planning for global families — assets, entities, and people across jurisdictions.
- Inbound and outbound planning considerations
- Coordinating counsel across jurisdictions
- Reporting, residency and treaty-driven issues
Private Client Tax Planning & Controversy
Integrated advice on income and transfer tax exposure, audits, and dispute resolution.
- State and federal tax exposure planning
- Audit defense and controversy support
- Transaction structuring and reporting strategy
Marital Agreements
Thoughtful marital agreement counseling for founders, executives, and families (confidential and collaborative).
- Asset characterization and disclosure strategy
- Coordination with estate and succession planning
- Negotiation support with discretion
