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Practices & Industries

  • American Bar Association
    Bar Association of Erie County
    Florida Bar Association
    Greensboro Bar Association
    North Carolina Bar Association
    New York State Bar Association
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • U.S. Tax Court

State University of New York at Buffalo, B.A.

State University of New York at Buffalo, J.D., cum laude

Peter is a leader in the field of trust and estates with decades of experience that allows him to calmly navigate crises and fearlessly address challenges. His practice focuses on assisting business owners and multi-generational families of wealth with matters pertaining to estate and tax litigation, estate and charitable gift planning, business succession planning, and the administration of estates and trusts.

In administering estates, he has participated numerous federal estate tax audits, several estate tax appeals, and one trial before the United States Tax Court. 

Peter’s experience in estate and trust litigation includes: prosecuting objections to probate; defending against will contests; prosecuting or defending against objections to estate and trust accountings; and, prosecuting proceedings to recover property due a decedent’s estate.  For clients, this experience means Peter achieves results that promptly resolves estate disputes and that also helps clients avoid costly tax audits.

The litigation in which he has participated has included countless motions, several trials and eight appeals.

Peter’s decades of experience in estate administration and estate litigation has given him valuable insight into how best to plan and draft probate documents with an eye toward preventing estate litigation and avoiding estate tax audits.

Peter is admitted to practice in New York, North Carolina and Florida, and actively practices in all three jurisdictions.

Since 1984 Peter has been a Fellow in the prestigious American College of Trust and Estate counsel, a peer-elected organization of many of the best trust and estate lawyers in the country.  As a Fellow, Peter participates in the ACTEC Listserv where Fellows post questions in regard to complicated issues, and receive input from other Fellows across the country. 

Honors

  • Listed, Best Lawyers in America (Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates) 2003 - 2024
  • Listed, Buffalo Estate Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” Best Lawyers in America 2022
  • Listed, North Carolina Super Lawyers, Estate Planning & Probate (2006-2013)

Professional Associations

  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Fellow, American College of Trust and Estates Counsel
  • Fellow, New York State Bar Foundation
  • President, Bar Association of Erie County (1989-90)

  • Delegate, New York State Bar Association, House of Delegates (1988-1992)

  • Lecturer, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Law – Gratuitous Transfers(Wills & Trusts)  (1984, 1987)