Overview
Michael Schwartz advises high net worth individuals, fiduciaries and family offices on sophisticated private client matters involving trusts and estates, including tax and succession planning. His practice focuses on domestic and multijurisdictional estate planning for high net worth individuals, extending to all facets of estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax planning. Michael also assists clients with succession and governance planning in contemplation of the transition of assets from generation to generation.
In addition, Michael advises fiduciaries and beneficiaries on all phases of estate and trust administration. He also has extensive experience with gift and estate tax audits.
Michael is a leading voice in the field of trusts and estates. He has been a frequent speaker, author and contributor to publications on issues relating to trusts, estates and succession planning. He has been a ranked practitioner in private client law in New York in Chambers HNW* since the inception of its rankings. In 2023, he was elected to serve as Chair of the Trusts and Estates Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, where he has also served as Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. He was a former member of the Board of Directors of the Estate Planning Council of New York City, where he currently serves as Co-Chair of the International Estate Planning Committee. In addition, Michael is a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). He is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Fordham University School of Law in New York City, teaching a class entitled Trusts and Estates Drafting, and is the co-author of the 14th edition of the Practicing Law Institute treatise entitled Stocker on Drawing Wills and Trusts, which is updated annually.
* No aspect of these advertisements has been approved by the highest court of any state. See Awards Methodology.
Education and Credentials
Education
- New York University School of Law, J.D., 2007
- University of Illinois, B.A., 2004
Admissions
- U.S. Tax Court
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- State of New York
Affiliations
- New York State Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Section, Chair, 2023; Vice-Chair, 2022; Secretary, 2021; Treasurer, 2020; First District Representative, 2019; Chair of the Estate and Trust Administration Committee, 2017-2018
- Estate Planning Council of New York City, International Estate Planning Committee, Co-Chair, 2022-2023; Board of Directors, 2019-2022
- American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Fellow
- Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
Recognition and Community
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See Awards Methodology.
Recognitions
Chosen for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.) for Trusts and Estates, 2023-2025
Chosen for inclusion in Chambers HNW Guide (Chambers & Partners) of recognized practitioners for wealthy individuals and families in New York, 2019-2024
Recipient of the Trusts and Estates Distinguished Author Award, 2017
Community Involvement
Fordham University School of Law, Adjunct Professor
In The Media
Publications
- Generational Resilience Through the Integration of Governance into Structure, The International Family Offices Journal, October 19, 2020
- It Takes A Village… Again, STEP Journal Vol. 28 Issue 4, September 3, 2020
- Generational Resilience Though the Integration of Governance into Structure, The International Family Offices Journal, September 2020
- Family Governance: Generational Continuity Through Risk Mitigation, 32nd Annual RPTE National CLE Conference, American Bar Association's Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section, May 14, 2020
- GST Allocations: Often Automatic, but Rarely Straightforward | January 2020, Tax Notes, January 6, 2020
- Miscellaneous Thoughts on Miscellaneous Itemized Deductions: Updates on Federal and New York Law, New York State Bar Association Trusts and Estates Law Section Journal, October 1, 2019
- Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Exemption Allocation: Often Automatic, But Rarely Straightforward, 34th Annual Spring Fiduciary Tax Day Conference, Committee of Baking Institutions on Taxation, July 17, 2019
- The Basics of Basis in Estate Planning | 2019, Tax Conferences in July, New York University School of Professional Studies, July 16, 2019
- The Anatomy of a Trust, New York State Bar Association, Trusts & Estates Law Section and the Committee on Continuing Legal Education, May 31, 2019
- The Trump Effect: Practical Drafting Tips for Estate Planners in Uncertain Times, The Current, November 1, 2017
- Who Needs a Decanting Statute?, NYSBA Trusts and Estates Law Section Journal, October 1, 2017
- New IRS Release of Estate Tax Lien Requirements, Probate and Property Magazine, March 1, 2017
- The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Trusts & Estates Magazine, May 1, 2016
- International Estate Planning for the Domestic Lawyer, Estate Planning Magazine, April 1, 2016
- 14th Edition of Stocker on Drawing Wills and Trusts, Practicing Law Institute, November 1, 2015
- Fiduciary Exception to the Attorney-Client Privilege, Estate Planning Magazine, February 1, 2015
- Lost Trusts in New York – The Case for Statutory Intervention, NYSBA Trusts and Estates Law Section Journal, June 1, 2014
- The Case for Eliminating Crummey Powers, Law360, May 28, 2014
- Decanting and Compulsory Accounting Under New York Law, The New York Law Journal, April 1, 2014
- "Rachal v. Reitz and the Evolution of the Enforceability of Arbitration Clauses in Estate Planning Documents, Probate and Property Magazine, November/December 2013
Media Mentions
- Attorneys 'On the Move', New York Law Journal, February 16, 2023
- Attorneys 'On the Move', New York Law Journal, February 10, 2023
- The Daily Docket Moves, Reuters' The Daily Docket Newsletter , January 25, 2023
- Curtis Trusts and Estates Pro Jumps to Day Pitney in NY, Law360 Pulse, January 26, 2023
Speaking Engagements
- New York Private Client Department Attorneys Michael S. Schwartz and Emma Pletenycky speak at Estate Planners Day on May 22 with Estate Planning Council of New York City, May 22, 2024
- "Planning for and Addressing Changed Circumstances," New York State Bar Association's Trust and Estates Law Section, January 17, 2024
- Essential Reads on Family Offices, Global Law and Business Ltd, November 7, 2023
- "Trusts and Estates Law Section 2023 Fall Meeting," NYSBA, September 29, 2023
- "The Many Benefits of Financial Modeling in the Estate Planning Process," New York State Bar Association's Trusts and Estates Law Section, April 27-30, 2023
- GST Allocations: Often Automatic, but Rarely Straightforward | 2020, American Bar Association Midyear Meeting, Tax Section, January 30-February 1, 2020
- Florida Trust Considerations for the New York Practitioner, May 16-18, 2019
- International Wealth Transfer Tax Planning after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, November 4-6, 2018
- The Anatomy of a Trust and the Fundamentals of Trust Administration, November 4-6, 2018
- The Basics of Basis in Estate Planning | 2018, July 17, 2018
- Sophisticated Estate Planning Techniques Made Easy, May 3-6, 2018
- The Trump Effect: Practical Estate Planning in Uncertain Times, April 23, 2018
- Planning with Revocable Trusts, February 7, 2018
- International Wealth Transfer Planning for the Domestic Wealth Transfer Advisor, November 2017
- The Basics of Basis in Estate Planning | 2017, July 2017
- Financial, Income Tax and Estate Planning for Retirement Plan Participants, Individual Retirement Account Owners, and Their Beneficiaries, November 2016
- International Estate Planning for the Domestic Lawyer | 2016, September 27, 2016