Nicole Rubin Sanci

Nicole serves as Counsel in the Firm's Personal Planning Practice.  With a focused expertise residing in complex trust and estate administration, Nicole guides fiduciaries through the challenges that arise in the management of multigenerational trusts and estates of affluent families.  Nicole assists fiduciaries in the navigation of sensitive family, financial and tax issues frequently occurring in the administration of estates and trusts.  Her guidance enables fiduciaries to achieve resolution through negotiated settlements, mediation and, when necessary, litigation.  Under Nicole’s guidance, fiduciaries are able to effectively implement best practices and mitigate their exposure to liability.  Nicole has substantial experience analyzing complicated and often convoluted estate tax returns and fiduciary accountings, representing both fiduciaries and beneficiaries in such matters. 

As well, Nicole advises a multitude of high net worth individuals and families on wealth preservation and charitable giving.  Nicole’s expertise in administration allows her to bring a fresh perspective to the planning side.  Her experiential knowledge in both spaces allows her to craft uniquely tailored solutions per the requirements of her clients, enabling them to meet their estate planning and philanthropic goals.

Work Highlights:

• Successful negotiation and settlement of estate dispute in excess of $1 billion between fiduciary, spouse, multiple charitable remainder beneficiaries and the state attorney general
• Effective implementation of decedent’s philanthropic goals after death in excess of $900 million
• Facilitation of the amicable resolution and mediation of various disputes and litigations involving fiduciaries, multiple generations of family members, and non-family member beneficiaries
• Favorable determination of Federal estate tax examinations
• Effective representation of individual fiduciaries in complex trust matters, including navigation of relationship with corporate co-fiduciary, concerns regarding asset concentrations, and treatment of family business assets
• Successful settlement and ultimate closure of intricate probate estate opened for over 25 years after multiple disputes relating to a family real estate business and involving multiple family branches and generations

Nicole is the co-author of the book entitled Irrevocable Life Insurances Trusts Line by Line.  The book is a comprehensive examination of an irrevocable insurance trust agreement for an estate planning attorney, covering key trusts and estates topics.  Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts Line by Line has been called a valuable resource for any practicing estate planning attorney, as well as for any law student interested in trusts and estates law.

Nicole earned her J.D., cum laude, from St. John’s University School of Law, where she was a member of the St. John’s Law Review.  She earned her B.A. from Binghamton University.