Seward & Kissel LLP

Our Private Clients/Trusts and Estates clients include wealthy individuals, both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals who reside in the United States and abroad.

Whether to preserve and build wealth for future generations, to achieve philanthropic ends, or to meet other objectives, we guide our clients on the use of domestic and foreign trusts and business structures, charitable gifts in trust, the creation of charitable foundations, and the exigencies for changes of residence, domicile and citizenship. We also handle litigated matters that arise in the trusts and estates context, such as construction questions, contested accountings, and legal capacity and undue influence allegations.

For our individual clients, we arrange third-party management of their assets when such a step becomes advisable, and provide advice on handling various life situations, such as ante-nuptial and separation agreements and protection of assets from future claims. We also furnish guidance in the administration of closely-held business interests and in their use to maximize the welfare of family members.

Our practice also encompasses all of the personal and financial issues presented by serious illness and death, including end-of-life matters, business succession issues, and estate and trust administration.

By bringing together the skills of our Private Clients/Trusts and Estates, Taxation and Investment Management groups, we have developed a highly specialized expertise in advising on the efficient transfer of wealth by the managers of private pooled investment vehicles, such as hedge funds and private equity funds of various kinds.