Family and Closely-Held Business Planning

On December 19, Governor Hochul vetoed legislation that would have amended the definition of certain terms contained within the New York LLC Transparency Act (NYLTA).  The governor’s veto means the terms “beneficial owner,” “reporting company,” and “exempt company” will continue to mirror those found in the federal Corporate Transparency Act. As such, when the reporting

As the new year approaches, we present our annual year-end advisory for 2025.  This edition highlights noteworthy estate and gift tax changes and outlines planning opportunities for year-end and beyond. We also take a moment to recognize some of our accomplishments in 2025 and provide our outlook for the new year.

2026 ESTATE, GIFT, AND

In this episode of Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning, host Michael Clear welcomes Corporate Partner Daniela Spanos to dive into planning strategies tailored for founder-owned businesses navigating an exit or a transition to a new form of ownership. They examine the key drivers behind seller decisions, such as liquidity needs and retirement goals, and explore

On this episode, host Michael Clear is joined by Wiggin and Dana Litigation Partner Joseph Merschman. Joe and Michael explore the concept of “business divorce,” referring to conflicts among co-owners of closely held companies. These disputes often arise from family tensions, unequal contributions, or shifts in the business’s direction. The episode highlights the importance

In this episode of Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning, hosts Michael Clear and Erin Nicholls are joined by Corporate Partners Scott McClure and Len Gray to discuss how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is expanding opportunities with qualified small business stock (QSBS). OBBBA brought about key updates to QSBS, including an increased

In the final episode of the Speaker Showcase, Partners Steve Malech and Matt Smith discuss the complexities of estate planning, particularly in the context of divorce and family disputes. They highlight the importance of clear definitions in legal documents, the potential for costly litigation, and the challenges posed by multi-jurisdictional assets. They emphasize the need

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has adopted an interim final rule that significantly narrows the scope of beneficial ownership information (BOI) filing requirements. The interim final rule (i) removes the requirement for U.S. companies and U.S. persons to report BOI, and (ii) revises the definition of “reporting company”  to mean only those entities that

FinCEN announced on February 27 that it will not enforce the current reporting deadline of March 21 under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). FinCEN will not issue any fines or penalties or take any other enforcement action against any companies based on any failure to file or update beneficial ownership information (BOI) reports pursuant to

A federal district court judge in Texas signed an order on February 17 lifting the last remaining nationwide injunction blocking beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA).

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) enforces BOI requirements and has promised a 30-day filing delay to allow reporting companies to comply. On February

When families clash over control of substantial wealth, whether in connection with the testamentary wishes of a loved one or the management of assets in an estate or trust, hiring the right fiduciary and probate litigator can make all the difference. In this episode, Partner Michael Clear sits down with Wiggin and Dana Partner and