Premier boutique law firm Kleinberg Kaplan has been recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 edition of “Best Law Firms” for providing outstanding legal counsel in three practice areas: Trusts & Estates, Commercial Litigation, and Tax. Kleinberg Kaplan was named a Tier 1 law firm for Trusts & Estates at both the National and…
JEFFREY B. KOLODNY
PARTNER
Jeff Kolodny is Co-Chair of the Trusts & Estates Practice Group. He advises clients on complex international and domestic estate planning and administration, with a focus on wealth preservation through effective tax planning, structuring, and personal planning for high-net-worth individuals, multinational families and family-owned businesses.
Practices
About
Jeff handles a wide range of estate planning, tax, and other legal matters for international and domestic clients. He frequently advises clients with respect to their wealth transfer and tax planning, obligations as fiduciaries, and rights as beneficiaries of estates and trusts. He also represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in accounting proceedings, will contests, and other Surrogate’s Court proceedings.
Jeff frequently counsels managers of hedge funds and private equity funds in connection with their transfer tax planning and also advises family-owned businesses regarding the development and implementation of business succession plans.
For international clients, Jeff often creates plans and structures that achieve wealth transfer and other objectives while minimizing taxes when multiple legal and tax systems apply. He frequently represents foreign individuals acquiring or owning U.S. property, individuals and fiduciaries with assets in multiple jurisdictions, and U.S. nationals with assets abroad.
Jeff is a full member of the New York Chapter of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Jeff is also a member of the Board of Trustees of The Hudson Guild, a 501(c)(3) multi service community organization serving those who live, work or go to school in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, with a focus on those in need.
Jeff has been recognized by Best Lawyers® (Trusts & Estates) since 2018.
Education
New York University School of Law (L.L.M., 1998)
New York University School of Law (J.D., 1995)
SUNY Albany (B.S., 1989)
Bar Admissions
New York
Accolades
Best Lawyers – Trusts and Estates
2019
Publications
Bloomberg Tax Management Estates, Gifts, and Trusts Journal, September 2020, Co-Authored with Joshua M. Kaplan
To Do: Year-End Estate Tax Planning
SmartPros, December 2018
Unpredictable Treatment – Should trusts be used in jurisdictions unfamiliar with the concept?
Trusts & Estates, November 2011
The New Expatriation Tax Regime
New York Law Journal, January 2010, Co-Authored with Rachel E. Small
Ties to U.S. and Canada
New York Law Journal, September 2007, Co-Authored with Michael Galligan and Rachel E. Small
Modern Inheritance Develops in China
New York Law Journal, February 2007, Co-Authored with Hao Wang and Michael W. Galligan
Insights
U.S. News – Best Lawyers® Awards Kleinberg Kaplan Top Rankings in “Best Law Firms” 2022 Edition
November 4, 2021Firm NewsUpdate: Ways and Means Committee Proposes New Legislation
October 6, 2021Client AlertsKleinberg Kaplan recently sent a Trusts & Estates Client Alert discussing potential changes to the tax law that were proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee (click here for the Client Alert). A recent report issued by the House Budget Committee regarding the proposals has important implications concerning the proposed provisions related to grantor…
Ways and Means Committee Proposes New Legislation
September 28, 2021Client AlertsThe House Ways and Means Committee recently released a draft of the tax portion of the proposed reconciliation bill. Some of the proposals affecting individual taxpayers, estates and trusts are described below. Termination of Temporary Increase in Gift and Estate Tax Exclusion Amount The gift and estate tax exclusion amount is presently $11.7 million (indexed…