Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced the continued expansion of its Tax Practice Group with the addition of veteran trusts and estates partner Paul Collins in New York. Collins enhances Akerman's domestic and international experience in trusts and estates planning and litigation.
"Paul brings many years of experience in trusts and estates planning, probate and fiduciary disputes," said Jonathan Gopman, chair of Akerman's Trusts & Estates Practice. "He will be a trusted resource for clients who need help navigating the delicate situations that often arise in family-related disputes and wealth preservation strategies."
Collins has more than 30 years of experience in the planning and administration of trusts and estates, both domestic and international. His particular strength is in fiduciary litigation, such as contested probate and accounting matters, guardianships, disputes over inherited property, and the construction of wills and trusts. He has represented clients in the Surrogate's Courts and other courts in New York, as well as Connecticut courts, and often seeks to resolve disputes through mediation or arbitration.
Collins has represented various charitable organizations in establishing and then advising on their ongoing operations. He has also administered the estates of a number of authors and artists.
Collins joins one of the country's leading tax teams, according to Law360, which recently named Akerman "Tax Practice Group of the Year" for achieving some of the greatest client successes in the industry. In addition to expanding the breadth and depth of the Tax Practice Group across the United States, Akerman continues to see rapid growth in the New York market. Collins is the sixth partner to join the office since January, including labor and employment litigators Bran Noonan and Sarir Silver; corporate lawyers Lorenzo Borgogni and Jack Habert, and real estate transactions lawyer Dianne Greenberg Penchina.
About Akerman LLP
Akerman LLP is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle market M&A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice. With more than 600 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 20 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The American Lawyer (2016). Akerman also is ranked among the top 50 law firms for diversity in The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard (2015).
Akerman advises domestic and foreign corporations, partnerships, individuals, and nonprofit institutions on a wide range of international, federal, and state and local tax issues, tax audits, and tax litigation. The Trusts & Estates Practice concentrates on assisting high-net-worth individuals and families with international and domestic estate planning, implementing foreign trust structures, business planning, and general tax planning. The team also provides tax planning associated with in-bound and out-bound investments in Latin America and the Caribbean as well as counsel to foreign companies and individual investors looking to do business in the United States.