ExperienceJohn’s practice has focused on personal estates and wealth transfer between generations for 35 years. He has successfully dealt with an extraordinary range of estate and estate tax issues, including representation of his clients before the IRS and the Virginia Supreme Court. His typical clients are businesses seeking tax advice or individuals who need help with estate planning, estate administration or a dispute involving an estate or family business. John has also developed extensive experience in commercial real estate sales and purchases.
In the course of his career, John has handled:
Estate planning for estates of all sizes, working with individuals and their financial advisors to minimize taxes, preserve assets, avoid probate and effectuate charitable donations
Business succession planning for closely-held companies, often family businesses
Post-death estate administration for trustees and beneficiaries
Disputes among beneficiaries
John’s career has involved hundreds of individuals wishing to create estates, their eventual fiduciaries and their eventual beneficiaries. One of John’s clients was the minor son of a decedent, who faced a challenge to the will from his father’s fourth wife. Another case concerned a deceased wife’s husband, involved in a dispute with his brother-in-law over management of a multi-million-dollar family business. John frequently represents adult children in will contests with the parent’s surviving spouse, as well as adult children trying to deal with elderly parents who are unable to manage their affairs effectively. He also works with fiduciaries and trustees who wish to anticipate and avoid possible claims from beneficiaries.
News & Publications
Speaker, Estate Planning When There Is an Addict in the Family, through CARON, January 2015
Awards
National Law Journal. 2017 Top Rated Lawyer, DC Metro Area (2017)
Peer-rated ‘preeminent’ by Martindale-Hubbell (2016)
Named Top-Rated Tax Lawyer, Corporate Counsel Magazine (2014)
American Lawyer “Legal Leaders” (2013 - 2014)
Named to the “Top Lawyers” list for Estate Planning by Northern Virginia Magazine (December 2011)
