Jeff Kolodny is a member of the Estate Planning and Administration Department at Kleinberg Kaplan and concentrates his practice 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.

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 assists clients with the formation of limited liability companies, partnerships and corporations and counsels 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 has significant experience representing clients in connection with their participation in the Internal Revenue Service's voluntary disclosure program (and similar state and local programs) and the domestication of their offshore holdings.

Jeff is a full member of the New York Chapter of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), and a frequent contributor to "The CPA Report," continuing professional education seminars for accountants. 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 as a leading lawyer in Trust and Estates by “Best Lawyers” since 2019.

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 ADMISSION

New York

HONORS AND AWARDS

Best Lawyers - Trusts and Estates
2019

PUBLICATIONS

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

MEMBER

New York State Bar Association
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
The Hudson Guild