Attorneys

William D. Brick
Partner
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.
New York, NY, 10020
T: (212) 554-5250
F: (212) 554-5251
E: wbrick@brickpatel.com
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Bill Brick focuses his practice on estate planning, estate and trust administration, fiduciary and tax controversies and charitable planning. He regularly advises individuals on sophisticated estate planning strategies. Mr. Brick is well versed with federal, state and local tax laws, as well as the state and local rules that impact the disposition of property. Mr. Brick’s planning advice is guided by his extensive experience in administering estates and trusts of all sizes and complexities. He has successfully represented fiduciaries and beneficiaries of estates and trusts in a variety of situations, including alleged breaches of fiduciary duties, contested judicial accountings and the administration of international estates. In representing fiduciaries and beneficiaries, Mr. Brick has handled complex IRS audits involving income taxes, estate and gift taxes, foreign bank account reporting and charitable planning. Finally, Mr. Brick routinely advises charitable organizations on best practices and compliance with tax rules and fiduciary duties.

Mr. Brick serves individuals, fiduciaries, beneficiaries, family offices and charitable organizations. Whatever the issue, Mr. Brick provides seasoned, thoughtful and practical advice. In keeping with the Brick & Patel philosophy, he views his role first and foremost as a problem solver for his clients.

Professional Experience:
2011-presentPartner at Brick & Patel LLP
2006-2011Partner and Counsel at Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti LLP
1999-2006Associate at Dewey Ballantine LLP
1998-1999Associate at Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP
1996-1997Law Clerk to the Hon. Peter D. Pizzuto, Tax Court of New Jersey

Education:
1998LL.M in TaxationNew York University School of Law
1996J.D.The College of William and Mary - Marshall Wythe Law School
1991B.A.Trinity College

Bar Admissions:
New York1997
New Jersey1996
Pennsylvania1996

Dilip B. Patel
Partner
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.
New York, NY, 10020
T: (212) 554-5220
F: (212) 554-5221
E: dpatel@brickpatel.com
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Dilip B. Patel focuses his practice on estate planning and related tax advice, estate and trust administration, asset protection planning, succession planning for businesses and charitable planning. Mr. Patel also serves as general counsel to many of his clients where he advises them on a broad range of areas including corporate, tax, employment and family law, with a particular emphasis in the investment management area.

Mr. Patel is a seasoned problem solver who works with a variety of clients including entrepreneurs, executives, artists, philanthropists, charities and family offices. In every engagement, Mr. Patel’s goal is to identify the client’s objective and develop a solution that effectively and efficiently meets that objective. Mr. Patel recognizes that clients do not have infinite time or resources and that, first and foremost, they are looking for a practical, not convoluted, legal solution. With his years of experience, Mr. Patel draws on a wide breadth of knowledge to identify issues effectively and design creative and straightforward solutions for his clients.

Mr. Patel has offered advice in a variety of matters including:

  • Advising principals of investment funds (hedge and private equity) on estate planning, corporate and tax issues

  • Representing individuals, families and their trusts and businesses on complex multi-jurisdictional estate and tax planning, including pre-immigration planning, expatriation planning and global tax minimization

  • Advising charities on formation, operation and compliance issues, including resolution of issues related to overseas operations

  • Planning with special assets such as artwork, carried interests, real estate, and domestic and foreign operating businesses

  • Representing fiduciaries and beneficiaries in the administration of estates and trusts, including judicial settlement of accounts, family controversies and IRS audits

  • Representing families and their fiduciaries in the formation and operation of their family offices



While a large portion of Mr. Patel’s practice involves estate and tax advice, some of Mr. Patel’s more memorable matters in recent years have included development of a sophisticated estate plan for a multinational family to deal with family businesses and vast holdings in hedge fund and private equity fund interests effectively, providing general counsel services in the launch of several successful hedge fund businesses, securing 175 lbs. of pure platinum bars from London for a client event and overseeing the development and construction of a community center.

Professional Experience:
2011-presentPartner at Brick & Patel LLP
2008-2011Partner and Counsel at Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP
1999-2008Associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
1997-1999Associate at Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP

Education:
1996J.D. with HonorsUniversity of Texas at Austin
1993B.S.M.E. with HonorsUniversity of Texas at Austin

Bar Admissions:
New Jersey1996
New York1997
Connecticut2014

Joseph Bergman
Partner
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.
New York, NY, 10020
T: (212) 554-5280
F: (212) 554-5281
E: jbergman@brickpatel.com
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Joseph Bergman primarily represents private investment funds, investment advisers, and investors in connection with securities law issues, regulatory compliance and investment transactions.   He has extensive experience structuring a broad range of private investment funds.  Mr. Bergman also represents investment advisers and fund managers in connection with their day-to-day legal and compliance functions, including review of marketing materials, drafting compliance policies and procedures, negotiation of managed account agreements, compliance with Regulation D, filings under Sections 13 and 16 of the Securities Exchange Act, and negotiation of marketing, administration, prime brokerage, futures and derivative agreements.  Mr. Bergman has represented investment managers and investors in reviewing, structuring and negotiating a broad range of investments, including seed capital arrangements, secondary sales of private investment fund interests, the sale of investment advisory businesses and joint venture arrangements.   Mr. Bergman’s prior experience includes serving as the general counsel and chief compliance officer of a registered investment adviser.


Professional Experience:
2014-presentPartner at Brick & Patel LLP
2012-2014General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at HedgeMark Advisors, LLC
2011-2012Managing Director and Senior Counsel at HedgeMark Advisors, LLC
2010-2011Partner at Bergman & Rothstein LLP
2004-2010Associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher
1999-2004Associate at Kane Kessler PC
1997-1999Associate at Serchuk & Zelermyer LLP

Education:
1997J.D.Columbia Law School
1994B.S.(Accounting) Touro College

Bar Admissions:

New York

1997


Meryl G. Finkelstein
Partner
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.
New York, NY 10020
T: (212) 554-5230
F: (212) 554-5231
E: mfinkelstein@brickpatel.com
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Professional Experience:
2016-PresentPartner at Brick & Patel LLP
1990-2016Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

Education:
1990J.D. cum laudeFordham University School of Law
1983B.A. with honorsState University of New York at Binghamton

Bar Admissions:
United States Tax Court2005
New York1991

Lindsay H. Brown
Partner
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.
New York, NY, 10020
T: (212) 554-5240
F: (212) 554-5241
E: lbrown@brickpatel.com
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Lindsay Brown is partner at Brick & Patel LLP concentrating in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, trust administration and charitable planning. Ms. Brown advises individuals and families on the preservation, transfer and management of wealth. She assists non-profit organizations in formation and counsels them in their administration and day-to-day operations, including compliance with corporate and tax requirements.

Ms. Brown is a member of the Trusts and Estates Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York where she has served on the Estate and Gift Taxation Committee. She has co-authored various publications for the New Jersey Law Journal, Trusts & Estates Magazine, the NYSBA Trusts and Estates Law Section Newsletter and the New York State Bar Association Journal. Her most recent article, "The New York Marriage Equality Act: Navigating the Estate Planning Landscape," was published in the NYSBA Trusts and Estates Law Section Newsletter in Summer 2012.

Professional Experience:
2020- Present
Partner at Brick & Patel LLP
2012-2019Counsel at Brick & Patel LLP
2008-2012Associate and Senior Associate at Fulbright & Jaworski LLP
2007-2008Associate at Lowenstein Sandler LLP
2004-2007Associate at Fulbright & Jaworski LLP

Education:
2004J.D. magna cum laudeFordham University School of Law
2000B.A. magna cum laudeBoston College

Bar Admissions:
United States Supreme Court2019
United States Tax Court2007
New York2005
New Jersey2004

Heather W. Kenny
Partner
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.
New York, NY, 10020
T: (212) 554-5260
F: (212) 554-5201
E: hkenny@brickpatel.com
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Heather Kenny’s practice at Brick & Patel LLP focuses on the structuring and implementation of sophisticated estate, gift and generation-skipping tax planning techniques for wealthy individuals and families.  She has broad experience advising principals of hedge funds and private equity funds on structuring involving fund interests.  Ms. Kenny regularly advises clients on complex tax issues, investment concerns and personal/intra-family dynamics involved in the transfer of wealth from one generation to the next. She assists clients in achieving a creative, personally tailored plan for the preservation and transfer of their assets in a tax-efficient manner. 

In addition to estate planning, Ms. Kenny’s practice includes estate and trust administration and charitable planning.  Ms. Kenny represents corporate and individual fiduciaries in the probate and administration of estates and trusts in various New York counties. Her practice also includes the formation of and advice to private foundations and charitable trusts.

Professional Experience:
2020- PresentPartner at Brick & Patel LLP
2011-2019Counsel at Brick & Patel LLP
2000-2004Vice President at Morgan Stanley (Client Strategy Group)
2000Associate at Kay Collyer & Boose
1996-2000Associate at Dewey Ballantine LLP

Education:
1996J.D. University of Virginia
1992B.A. magna cum laude University of Vermont

Bar Admissions:
New York1997
Colorado2019

Katy H. Donlan
Partner
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.

T: (212) 554-5204
F: (914) 500-2368
E: kdonlan@brickpatel.com
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Katy Donlan advises high-net-worth individuals and families on structuring their wealth to minimize income, estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes. She counsels clients on optimizing governance to facilitate continued ownership and operation of family-owned enterprises while balancing the unique needs, goals and skills of individual family members. Katy also has experience advising on the wealth transfer tax planning opportunities of IPOs and other events by which clients divest control of high value assets. She has worked extensively with family offices and advisors to provide comprehensive, holistic and strategic advice. Katy also counsels clients on achieving their charitable objectives, including through the creation and ongoing management of private foundations. 

Katy is experienced in a wide range of transfer tax planning strategies, including grantor retained annuity trusts, sales to grantor trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, family limited partnerships and limited liability companies, life insurance trusts, dynasty trusts and charitable split-interest trusts. She is also experienced in restructuring dynastic trusts and relocating the situs of trusts to maximize flexibility and duration, while minimizing state income tax exposure. Additionally, Katy has worked with multi-national families on a range of cross-border planning issues and opportunities.

Katy’s practice also includes advising fiduciaries on the administration of complex estates and trusts and working with fiduciary litigators on tax, trust and estate matters.

Professional Experience:
2022- PresentPartner at Brick & Patel LLP
2021-2022Counsel at Brick & Patel LLP
2016-2021Counsel at Herrick, Feinstein LLP
2008-2016Associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Education:
2008LL.M. in Taxation New York University School of Law
2007 J.D. Florida State University College of Law
2003 B.S. Florida State University

Bar Admissions:
Florida2007
New York2008

Ellen Deringer
Partner
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.
New York, NY, 10020
T: (212) 554-5206
F: (212) 554-5201
E: ederinger@brickpatel.com
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Ellen J. Deringer advises high-net-worth individuals on all aspects of estate planning, including federal income, estate, and gift taxation. Her practice includes advising family business owners on creative and tax-efficient family business succession planning. Ellen also advises clients on charitable giving planning.

Professional Experience:
2023-PresentBrick & Patel LLP, Partner
2021-2023Morgan Lewis, Partner
2010-2021Morgan Lewis, Of Counsel
2002-2010Morgan Lewis, Associate

Education:
2000University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D.
1995Brown University, B.A.

Bar Admissions:
Pennsylvania 2001
New York2000

Josh Cender
Partner
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.
New York, NY, 10020
T: (212) 554-5205
F: (212) 554-5201
E: jcender@brickpatel.com
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Josh Cender focuses his practice on a wide-range of corporate, commercial, and transactional matters. Before joining Brick & Patel LLP, Mr. Cender spent 17 years as general counsel and chief operating officer of three family offices, and 10 years as a corporate generalist at a major international law firm. He has extensive experience representing individuals, family offices, corporations, and funds in acquisitions, joint ventures and minority ownership stakes, private equity and venture capital, bank financing, cross-border tax structures, trust compliance, corporate secretary matters, employment issues, bankruptcy, insurance, real estate, marital and elder law, art collecting, philanthropy, nonprofits, internal investigations, and litigation management.

In addition to his legal experience, Mr. Cender was president of a family office focused on sourcing and executing direct investments, served on the boards of directors of investment portfolio companies, refocused the business plans of family-owned businesses, chaired an internal investment committee, and led investment teams through every stage of analyzing, structuring, and closing successful transactions. Mr. Cender has also overseen tax compliance, accounting, cash management, financial reporting, IT systems, and long-term strategic planning in his prior roles.

Mr. Cender’s experience as a business executive gives him the multidisciplinary financial, operational, and legal acumen that makes his advice both comprehensive and comprehensible. He has a nuanced understanding of how his clients run their business and investment affairs, and gives goal-oriented practical guidance. Mr. Cender is an expert generalist and skilled advocate who transforms complex problems into straightforward solutions for his clients.

Mr. Cender serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of City & Country School in New York City.

Professional Experience:
2023-PresentPartner at Brick & Patel LLP
2022-2023General Counsel & Chief Operating Officer at a private family office
2018-2022General Counsel & Chief Operating Officer at a private family office
2006-2018President, General Counsel & Chief Operating Officer at a private family office
1996-2006Attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Education:
1996New York University School of Law, J.D.
1993University of Pennsylvania, B.A.

Bar Admissions:
NY1997

Christina K. Juhn
Counsel
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.
New York, NY, 10020
T: (212) 554-5212
F: (212) 554-5213
E: cjuhn@brickpatel.com
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Christina Juhn is counsel at Brick & Patel LLP concentrating in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration and charitable planning. Ms. Juhn’s practice focuses on the structuring and implementation of sophisticated estate, gift and generation-skipping tax planning techniques for wealthy individuals and families. She has broad experience advising clients on structuring involving hedge fund and private equity fund interests and real estate.

Professional Experience:
2018-presentCounsel at Brick & Patel LLP
2017-2018Associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
2014-2017Associate at Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
2012-2014Associate at Roberts & Holland LLP
2009-2011Associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Education:
2009J.D. New York University School of Law
2006B.A. University of Pennsylvania

Bar Admissions:
New York2010

Lauren L. Morales
Associate
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.
New York, NY, 10020
T: (212) 554-5270
F: (212) 554-5271
E: lmorales@brickpatel.com
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Lauren Morales is an associate at Brick & Patel LLP concentrating in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration and charitable planning. Ms. Morales’s practice focuses on drafting wills and trust instruments. Ms. Morales has broad experience administering decedents’ estates.

Professional Experience:
2018-presentAssociate at Brick & Patel LLP
2013-2017Associate at Fulton Vittoria LLP

Education:
2013LL.M in Taxation New York University School of Law
2012 J.D. summa cum laude Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center
2008 B.S. Boston College

Bar Admissions:
New York2013
New Jersey2012

Jonathan Kane
Associate
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.
New York, NY, 10020
T: (212) 554-5263
E: jkane@brickpatel.com
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Jonathan Kane is an associate at Brick & Patel LLP concentrating in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration and charitable planning. Mr. Kane solves problems for individuals, families, and charitable organizations. He draws on a broad base of knowledge and experience, from his work in real estate and insurance prior to law school, his international law degree, and his legal career.

Professional Experience:
2020-present Associate at Brick & Patel LLP
2019-2020Associate at Reed Smith LLP
2018-2019 Associate at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

Education:
2023LL.M in Taxation New York University School of Law
2018 J.D. magna cum laude Fordham University School of Law
2018 LL.M in International and European Business Law Universidad Pontificia de Comillas
2010 B.A. Brandeis University

Bar Admissions:
New York 2019
Connecticut 2019

Sophie Muller
Associate
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.
New York, NY, 10020
T: (212) 554-5275
F: (212) 554-5201
E: smuller@brickpatel.com
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Sophie Muller is an associate at Brick & Patel LLP concentrating in the areas of estate planning and estate and trust administration. Ms. Muller’s practice focuses on drafting wills and trust instruments and administering decedent’s estates.

Professional Experience:
2023-present Associate at Brick & Patel LLP

Education:
2023J.D. cum laude St. John’s University School of Law
2011M.Phil in Modern European History City University of New York
2007B.A. summa cum laude Macaulay Honors College at Lehman College

Bar Admissions:
New York 2023

Julianne Toia
Associate
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.
New York, NY, 10020
T: (212) 554-5208
F: (212) 554-5201
E: jtoia@brickpatel.com
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Julianne Toia advises high net worth individuals, family offices, and institutional fiduciaries on sophisticated estate, gift, and income tax planning matters, including tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies, business succession planning, charitable giving, the negotiation of premarital agreements, and estate and trust administration. Ms. Toia also assists charitable organizations with formation, governance, determination of tax-exempt status, grantmaking, and other ongoing operations.

Professional Experience:
2024-presentAssociate at Brick & Patel LLP
2022-2024Associate at Williams, Mullen, Clark & Dobbins P.C.
2021Associate at McGuireWoods LLP
2018-2020Associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Education:
2018J.D. University of Virginia School of Law
2015B.A. with honors Grinnell College

Bar Admissions:
New York2019
Virginia2021

Fred R. Gander
Attorney
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.
New York, NY, 10020
T: (212) 554-5276
E: fgander@brickpatel.com
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Mr Gander is a US federal income tax lawyer with over 30 years of experience advising clients across a wide range of complex tax issues. He spent 26 years in the Washington D.C. and London offices of a major New York law firm and recently joined the Firm after 7 years as a partner with one of the Big Four public accounting firms. He advises high net worth clients, large public companies, financial institutions and investment funds. In particular, he has specialized in structuring multi-party investment transactions, mergers and acquisitions, financial instruments and cross-border tax issues including the application of international tax treaties and the taxation of overseas income earned by US taxpayers.

Professional Experience:

Education:

Bar Admissions:

Jane Tse
Of Counsel
Brick & Patel LLP
600 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl.
New York, NY, 10020
T: (212) 554-5210
F: (212) 554-5201
E: jtse@brickpatel.com
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Jane Tse is counsel at Brick & Patel LLP concentrating in tax-oriented domestic and international and estate planning. Ms. Tse specializes in multi-jurisdictional tax planning for non-U.S. individuals with heirs or investments in the United States, as well as U.S. individuals with foreign interests. She advises domestic financial institutions on estate planning products for private clients (U.S. and foreign), and foreign financial institutions on U.S. compliance. She also assists both individuals and charities in structuring tax-advantaged charitable giving.

Ms. Tse is currently an active member of the Estates and Surrogate’s Courts Committee in the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and a member of a subcommittee making recommendations for the revision of New York trust law. She has been a member of the Estate and Gift Taxation Committee (2008-2010) in the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. She has also participated in numerous speaking engagements and panels on international and domestic tax planning topics, sponsored by the Practicing Law Institute, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, IBC USA Conferences and Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, and has been published in Trusts & Estates Magazine.

Professional Experience:
2011-presentCounsel at Brick & Patel LLP
2000-2010Counsel at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
1980-2000Counsel and Associate at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

Education:
1980J.D.Columbia University
1977B.A.Vassar College

Bar Admissions:
New York1981