Overview
Joel Sherman, a Director, concentrates his practice in the field of estate and business planning and the administration of estates. He counsels family-owned businesses, their principals and families on a variety of corporate and personal issues, including the transfer of business interests from one generation to the next, estate and succession planning, charitable planning, including the negotiation of major gifts with charitable institutions, and personal and family matters. Joel is frequently appointed Guardian Ad Litem by the Probate Courts in connection with the allowance of Fiduciaries' Accounts and other probate-related matters.
Representative Experience
· Successfully negotiated the settlement of several examinations of Federal Estate Tax Returns involving complex issues relating to the valuation of assets and deduction of expenses.
· Administered the estate of an individual with dual citizenship who left both United States and Israeli Wills disposing of assets in each jurisdiction and involving issues relating to the valuation of intellectual property interests.
· Mediated and successfully resolved the administration of an estate involving a 15 year dispute among five family members.
· Successfully negotiated a Lien Agreement with the Internal Revenue Service involving payments of the Federal Estate Tax in installments for an interest in a limited liability company owning a commercial shopping center.
· Represented third and fourth generations in gift tax and succession planning for a 100 year-old family owned business.
Professional and Community Involvement
· Boston Estate Planning Council
· Attorneys for Family Held Enterprises (AFHE)
· Family Firm Institute
· Fellow, Trustee and Executive Committee, Boston Bar Foundation
· Co-Chairman, Grants Committee, Boston Bar Foundation
· Board of Directors, Boston Children's Chorus
· Vice Chair, Project Interchange, (an American Jewish Committee Institute)
· Trustee for Life, Hebrew Senior Life
· Past Vice President and Life Trustee, The Rivers School, Weston, MA
· Past Chair of the Board and member of the Board of Governors, Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, Inc.
· Past Vice Chair, Board of Overseers, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Awards and Recognition
· Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent TM
· Massachusetts Super Lawyer, 2004-2007, 2009-2011
· Judge Learned Hand Human Relations Award, American Jewish Committee (1999)
· Circle of Excellence Award, Combined Jewish Philanthropies Lawyers' Team (2003)
Advisories
February 2011
Making the Most of the New Tax Law: Estate Planning and Wealth Transfer Strategies in 2011/12
February 2010
Is a Roth Conversion Right for You?
November 2008
Wealth Transfer Opportunities in the Current Economic Environment
Publications & Mentions
February 2012
Grantmaking in a Down Economy: Thoughts From the Boston Bar Foundation
Seminars & Events
March 2011
Engineering Your Estate Plan
April 2010
"Succession Planning--Unforeseen Issues: When Tragedy Strikes, Will You Be Ready?"