TRUSTS AND ESTATES
PLANNING * PROBATE * ADMINISTRATION
Lara M. Sass, Esq., AEP®
Lara specializes in advising high net worth clients on lifetime and post-mortem strategies to reduce gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes on transfers of property, as well as trust and estate administration.
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As a mother, Lara understands that the estate planning process is not about clients benefiting themselves; it is about the family members and loved ones who will be left behind when something happens. Estate planning is truly a client's gift to their children and/or loved ones so that they can have the best transition possible upon the client's possible incapacity and inevitable death. It is for this reason that Lara works tirelessly to provide all of her clients with the most thorough and well-thought-out estate planning possible. Lara’s goal is to provide every client with peace of mind and every client's family with the long-term security that they deserve. Our firm is further committed to providing our clients with top quality legal services, delivered in a professional, yet compassionate manner.
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Lara graduated magna cum laude from University of Pennsylvania, where she minored in Legal Studies at the Wharton School of Business. After summer internships at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP (formerly, Rosenman & Colin) and Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, Lara attended New York University School of Law and participated in summer associate programs at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and Willkie, Farr & Gallagher LLP. Upon graduating NYU Law, Lara began working in Manhattan at Willkie, Farr & Gallagher LLP, where she practiced trusts and estates law for many years, focusing on sophisticated planning for high net worth individuals and their families.
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Lara has an Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) designation, which is a graduate level specialization in estate planning, obtained in addition to already recognized professional credentials within the various disciplines of estate planning. It is awarded by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC) to estate planning professionals who meet stringent requirements of experience, knowledge, education professional reputation, and character.
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Lara is a member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), TIGER 21 Circle of Influence, New York State Bar Association - Trusts & Estates Section, Estate Planning Council of New York City, and National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. Lara is a prolific writer and has published articles in numerous publications, including Trusts and Estates magazine.
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Please view the LinkedIn profile for Lara Sass at:
Stuart A. Weichsel, Esq.
Stuart Weichsel is a trust and estates attorney with extensive experience with estate and trust planning, administration and litigation, as well as advising with respect to fiduciary duties of a trustee.
Stuart's practice also focuses on income tax and corporate law matters, including corporate, partnership, international and employment tax issues. His corporate experience includes working with clients on domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, and the formation, restructuring, and dissolution of limited liability companies.
Stuart has advised clients on a wide range of corporate and real estate transactions, including taxable and tax-exempt acquisitions, real estate development and work-out transactions.
Stuart graduated cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center and clerked on the U.S. Tax Court with the late Chief Judge Theodore Tannenwald.
Andrea D. Reinhard, Esq.
Andrea D. Reinhard, Esq. assists clients with their estate planning, probate and administration matters. Andrea drafts both basic and complex Wills, trusts and related estate planning documents for clients requiring varying levels of sophistication in their planning. In addition, Andrea supports clients throughout the probate process. Her experience encompasses estate planning, probate, non-profit organization formation, residential real estate and prenuptial agreements. Prior to joining Lara Sass & Associates, PLLC, Andrea worked as both an associate and as a solo practitioner in the fields of Trusts and Estates, Real Estate Closings & Elder Law.
Andrea was admitted to practice law in both New York and New Jersey in 2009. She earned her Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University School of Law. She is a Yeshiva University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in History.
Mikhail E. Lezhnev, Esq., LLM, CPA
Mikhail E. Lezhnev (Mike) is an attorney and CPA who serves as counsel to Lara Sass & Associates, PLLC. He focuses on Federal and state tax audits, estate planning and transactional tax planning, and advises with respect to related corporate documents and business agreements.
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Mike has served as general counsel to a tech and telecommunications company for three years. Prior to that, he practiced tax and trusts and estates law at two New York law firms. Mike has worked on matters involving high to ultra-high net-worth individuals, family offices, privately-held businesses, asset protection, and tax controversy. His transactional tax matters have included liquidations, corporate contributions and distributions, as well as stock and asset acquisitions. He has also represented and counseled clients in income and estate tax audits and voluntary disclosures of non-compliant foreign assets before the IRS, state tax departments and the IRS Appeals Office. Mike has also advised on the 2017 Tax Reform, compensation tax planning, international asset tax compliance and tax basis planning, as well as corporate and partnership formation and organization.
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Mike completed a JD/MBA program coordinated between Brooklyn Law School and Baruch’s Zicklin School of Business. There, he gained experience with the IRS Chief Counsel’s Office, United States Attorney’s Office and Gucci Group’s International Tax Counsel. Post JD/MBA, Mike also completed an LLM in Tax Law with the Boston University School of Law, where he achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA.