Profile
Linda B. Hirschson Chairs the New York Estate Planning Group and focuses her practice on virtually all aspects of estate planning and administration and is a past member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel (ACTEC). Linda develops estate plans for high net worth individuals, enabling them to dispose of their assets during life and at death in a manner that meets their personal goals and as tax efficient as possible. In the course of doing so, she helps form and administer private foundations and charitable trusts. Linda also is experienced in probate litigation and has authored numerous articles and lectured frequently on estate planning, income taxation and a range of other related topics.
Concentrations
- Gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax planning
- Wealth preservation planning
- Estate administration
- Individual income tax planning
- Estate litigation
- Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements
- Private foundation and charitable planning
Capabilities
Experience
- Develops estate plans for high net worth individuals including owners of closely-held businesses and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies which plans are geared to the minimization of taxes by taking advantage of various freeze, discount and similar techniques
- As a member of the EPTL-SCPA Legislative Advisory Committee, Linda acted as principal draftsperson of New York’s Right of Election law and New York’s Unitrust component of its new Principal and Income Act
- Administers multi-million dollar estates and trusts
- Helps form and administer private foundations
- Negotiates pre and post nuptial agreements
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Trusts and Estates, 1998-2025
- "Lawyer of the Year," New York City Trusts and Estates, 2012
- Listed, Chambers High Net Worth Guide, 2017 and 2021-2024
- Listed, Euromoney's Expert Guides: Women in Business Law, "Guide to the World's Leading Women in Business Law," 2014, 2017, and 2021-2022
- Listed, Crain’s New York, "Notable Women in Law," 2020
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, New York Metro Super Lawyers, 2006-2024
- Listed, "Top 50 Women New York Super Lawyers," 2006-2010 and 2012
- Listed, "Top 100 New York Super Lawyers," 2006-2007
- Shortlisted, Euromoney Legal Media Group’s Americas Women in Business Law Awards "Best in Wealth Management," 2016-2017
- Winner, “Best in Wealth Management," 2017-2018
- Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2010-2016
- Listed, Euromoney Institutional Investor's Expert Guides, "Guide to the World's Leading Women in Business Law," 2012
- Named, "Top Women Lawyers in the Northeast," Arrive magazine, 2011
- Featured, Worth Magazine's "The Top 100 Attorneys," December 2007 and December 2008
- Featured, "Who's Who in Trusts and Estates," New York Law Journal
- Outstanding Leader & Dedication Award, UJA Federation of New York, Trusts & Estates Group Lawyer Division, June 2000
- Rated, AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5
- Past Regent, American College of Trust and Estates Counsel (ACTEC)
- New York Downstate Chair, American College of Trust and Estates Counsel (ACTEC)
- Member, N.Y. EPTL-SCPA Legislative Advisory Committee
- Past Chair, Trusts and Estates Law Section, New York State Bar Association
- Past Chair, Transfer Tax Study Committee, American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel (ACTEC)
- Co-Chair, Committee on Governmental Submissions, Real Property Trusts and Estates Section of the American Bar Association
- Past Member, Supervisory Council of Real Property, Trusts and Estates Section of American Bar Association
- Member, BNA Tax Management Estates, Gifts and Trusts Advisory Board
- Member, Board of Editors, Warren's Heaton on Surrogates' Courts, Matthew Bender
- Past Chair, Committee on Mortimer H. Hess Memorial Lectures, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York
- Chair, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Professional Advisory Council
- Member, MOMA Planned Giving Advisory Committee
Credentials
Education
- LL.M., Taxation, New York University School of Law, 1973
- LL.B., cum laude, Columbia Law School, 1965
- A.B., Barnard College, 1962
Admissions
- New York
- U.S. Tax Court