Private Wealth Services

  • As the largest private wealth practice in the United States, Holland & Knight's Private Wealth Services Group represents high-net-worth individuals, substantial closely held and family businesses, charitable organizations, educational institutions, banks and trust companies.
  • Our attorneys provide counsel on estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax planning; sophisticated charitable giving; probate and fiduciary litigation; tax controversies; using life insurance as a planning tool; business succession planning; asset protection; international wealth transfer; charitable organizations and private foundations.
  • We represent individuals in complex probate litigation and elder abuse situations and help to achieve optimum results through negotiation, litigation, trial, appeal and alternative dispute resolution methods in matters of fiduciary misconduct.
Family on Beach

Overview

Change – in tax laws, market conditions and family business situations – represents one of the most significant wealth management challenges for individuals, families, private companies, nonprofit organizations and fiduciaries. Highly qualified and highly responsive to change, both positive and negative, Holland & Knight’s Private Wealth Services Group is as committed to planning and protecting your financial interests as you are.

Private Wealth Client Commitment

Holland & Knight has among the most Fellows in the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel (ACTEC) of any law firm in the United States. ACTEC is the professional association of pre-eminent trusts and estates lawyers selected for membership by their peers and based upon their knowledge and experience. Holland & Knight lawyers comprise some of the current and past committee chairs and members of the governing body of the College.

Our clients benefit from the collective experience of a highly regarded, sophisticated and motivated group. You also benefit if your business or distribution of assets raise questions requiring representation in other jurisdictions or areas of the law. As one of the largest U.S.-based law firms, we represent clients in virtually all areas of the law. We integrate Holland & Knight's firmwide practices to provide access to the depth and breadth of experience you need.

Trusted Advisors

Our highly experienced wealth planning attorneys have prepared and implemented countless estate plans for high-net-worth individuals, multigenerational families and international clients using a broad range of sophisticated strategies and techniques, from traditional to esoteric.

Our Private Wealth Services Group is nationally recognized in diverse fields such as:

  • estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax planning
  • sophisticated charitable giving
  • probate litigation
  • IRS litigation
  • life insurance planning
  • business succession planning
  • asset protection
  • international taxation
  • charitable organizations
  • private foundations
  • prenuptial and postnuptial planning
  • planning for entrepreneurs
  • preferred partnerships
  • private placement life insurance

Estate Tax Preparation and Compliance

In addition to the estate administration process, our lawyers counsel clients on tax-related activities for businesses, individuals and estates, including the preparation of estate tax and income returns, planning to minimize transfer taxes, representation in estate tax law controversies and a full range of post-mortem planning (including qualified disclaimers and the use of the credit for tax on prior transfers).

Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Having trial experience in probate and trust litigation throughout the United States and in other countries, our team is equipped to handle complex probate litigation, including:

  • trust and will contests
  • defense and prosecution of fiduciary surcharge proceedings
  • contested conservatorship and guardianship matters
  • will and trust construction
  • interpretation and reformation proceedings
  • estate and gift tax litigation matters in many different state courts and the U.S. Tax Court

Working closely with dispute resolution lawyers to achieve optimum results through negotiation, litigation, trial, appeal and alternative dispute resolution methods, we have represented individuals, including celebrities, family businesses, charitable organizations, educational institutions, banks and trust companies.

Tax-Exempt Organizations

Entities of all types, such as United States or international charity, family or corporate foundation, educational institution or organization, professional association, religious organization or other tax-exempt organization, are assisted by our team. Our Private Wealth Services Group is well-versed in the specialized and complex laws relating to such entities. Our group includes lawyers that are nationally recognized for corporate governance issues, successful litigators of high-profile cases and authors of current tax regulations. We regularly advise tax-exempt clients on:

  • wealth protection and transfer
  • federal, state and local tax laws
  • corporate governance and transactions
  • management of nonprofit assets
  • charitable and planned giving
  • charitable solicitation
  • estate administration
  • business coordination issues
  • capture of bequests
  • employment law
  • intellectual property
  • real estate
  • litigation

Leading Lawyers on Your Side

Our Private Wealth Services Group has extensive experience handling a broad spectrum of work for our clients. Highly qualified and highly responsive to change, members of our team have been recognized as leaders in the private wealth industry by a variety of publications.

Recent recognitions include:

  • Law Firm of the Year in Trusts & Estates Law, 2023 U.S. News – Best Lawyers guide; firm also earned same honor in 2017
  • USA Private Client Team of the Year for the East Coast, 2020 Chambers High Net Worth guide
  • Leading firm for Nationwide Private Wealth Law, 2016-2023 Chambers High Net Worth guide
  • Band 1 ranking for Private Wealth Law in Florida, Massachusetts, Oregon and Tennessee; Private Wealth Disputes in California; and Private Aircraft in Global-wide; Band 2 for Private Wealth Law-USA, Private Wealth Disputes-Florida and Family Offices and Funds Structuring; Band 3 ranking for Private Wealth Law in Texas, 2023 Chambers High Net Worth guide
  • First-tier ranking in Trusts & Estates Law, 2014-2023 U.S. News – Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" guide

Case Studies

Multimedia

CTAIsraelStill
What Israeli Investors and Their Counsel Need to Know About Recent U.S. Transparency Developments
The Corporate Transparency Act and Its Impact on Private Client Transactions
The Corporate Transparency Act and Its Impact on Private Client Transactions
Funding Your Revocable Trust and Other Critical Steps Still
Funding Your Revocable Trust and Other Critical Steps
STEP Webinar Still
How Do U.S. Trusts Work in Latin America?
The Supreme Court Punts in In re Grand Jury. Where Does That Leave Attorney-Client Privilege and Tax Advice?
The Supreme Court Punts in In re Grand Jury. Where Does That Leave Attorney-Client Privilege and Tax Advice?
FBAR Latest Developments
FBAR Latest Developments
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Esoteric Tax Planning Strategies for American Businesses with Matthew Kirk (Ep. 95)
Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Rules: What You Need to Know
Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Rules: What You Need to Know
CPA Webinar
What You Should Know About U.S. Sanctions Imposed on Russian Elites, Proxies and Oligarchs
Revocable Trusts and Titling Accounts
Revocable Trusts and Titling Accounts
Reformas 2022 en Materia de Comercio Exterior y Fiscalización
Reformas 2022 en Materia de Comercio Exterior y Fiscalización
Mexico Tax Reform 2022
Mexico Tax Reform 2022
Reforma Fiscal 2022
Reforma Fiscal 2022
Trusts and Divorce: I Say "Depo," You Say, "Oh No!"
Trusts and Divorce: I Say "Depo," You Say, "Oh No!"
Identity Protection for High-Net-Worth Individuals and Family Offices
Identity Protection for High-Net-Worth Individuals and Family Offices
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U.S. Tax Reform and its Impact on Family Offices
Structuring Investments into the U.S.
Structuring Investments into the U.S.
The Attorney/Client Privilege Under Attack
The Attorney/Client Privilege Under Attack
U.S. Tax Considerations and Planning for Investing Abroad
U.S. Tax Considerations and Planning for Investing Abroad
Giving for Good Around the Globe
Giving for Good Around the Globe: International Charitable Planning and Tax-Exempt Organizations Discussion
You Can Run But You Can't Hide from the IRS Opening Slide
You Can Run But You Can't Hide from the IRS
Navigating the U.S. Immigration System in a Time of Uncertainty
Navigating the U.S. Immigration System in a Time of Uncertainty
Ongoing Post-Election Coverage Issues for International Clients
Ongoing Post-Election Coverage Issues for International Clients
Title Slide
Divorce in a Post-Tax Reform World with a Focus on Cross-Border Issues
Cross Border Prenuptial Agreements: Navigating the Dangerous Shoals of Love, Wealth and Marriage Involving Multiple Countries of Origin, Domicile and Residence
Cross Border Prenuptial Agreements: Navigating the Dangerous Shoals of Love, Wealth and Marriage Involving Multiple Countries of Origin, Domicile and Residence
HNW Taxpayers webinar
Planning During Uncertain Times: How The U.S. Elections May Impact HNW Taxpayers
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Celebrity Estates: Richard Pryor's Elder Abuse
Zoom Panel
Part 3: Potential Issues Associated with Pursuing a Potential Senior-Level Political Appointment
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Part 2: Legal Issues Associated with Potential Involvement in the 2020 Elections
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Part 1: What do Changes to the Electoral Map Mean to UHNW Clients?
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IRS Guidance on Stranded Nonresident Aliens
Non U.S. Tax and Financial Advisors Webinar Still
What Non-U.S. Tax and Financial Advisors Should Know About U.S. Taxation Relief in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
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How Today’s Political Environment Impacts Estate Planning for Family Business Owners and High-net-worth Individuals (Podcast)
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Mickey Rooney, Elder Abuse and Post-Death Litigation
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CLA 2019 Annual Meeting: CYLA – Evidence Strategy Tips and Section Updates
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Pre-Death Litigation

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