About Robert E. Friedman

Robert Friedman joined the predecessor firm of Rosenman & Colin in 1975 fresh out of law school, first as an associate and since 1983 as a partner, and now Of Counsel to Katten. For over 40 years Robert has created estate plans for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, those of more modest means who have inherited wealth, artists and art collectors, and entrepreneurial business owners.

Helping estates, businesses and people realize future goals

Robert's comprehensive knowledge and experience in estate planning and administration include the creation of tax-efficient trusts, family limited partnerships and limited liability companies and other estate planning vehicles, both domestic and cross-border. Although most of his clients are US citizens, they also include families with ties to multiple countries. He has helped individuals planning for immigration to the United States and those expatriating to minimize the resulting tax consequences.

Robert has also developed succession plans for closely held businesses, advised clients on charitable giving and crafted wills and trusts that fully reflected his clients' wishes, no matter how complex.

He assists in the administration as well as the planning of estates and trusts. This includes advising on post-mortem estate options, dealing with the valuation of complex assets and preparing estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax returns, including defending them on audit with the IRS. Robert is widely considered by his peers as highly skilled and knowledgeable with regards to the income taxation of estates, trusts and their beneficiaries.

As an adjunct professor of Law at Fordham University School of Law, Robert taught both income taxation of estates and trusts and estate planning. In doing so, he helped young attorneys learn how to plan and administer estates that work in the real world. He has also lectured on estate planning for the Cambridge Institute, the National Business Institute, the New York State Bar Association and before numerous other professional associations.

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Practice Focus

  • Private wealth

News

Publications

Presentations and Events

Practices
Industries
Education
  • Fordham University School of Law, JD, cum laude
  • Harvard University, AB
Bar Admissions
  • New York
Court Admissions
  • US Supreme Court
  • US District Court, Eastern District of New York
Community Involvements
  • American Bar Association, Section on Real Property, Probate and Trusts Law
  • Dutchess County Bar Association
  • Association of the Bar of the City of New York