Overview
Todd Angkatavanich focuses his practice on advanced wealth and succession transition planning. He regularly creates and implements wealth planning and investment structures to provide for the orderly and tax-efficient transition of family assets from one generation to the next while providing for the effective stewardship of family assets for future generations. He also educates future generations on the non-tax concepts of engagement and flexible stewardship for families to achieve effective, long-term wealth preservation coupled with beneficial enjoyment.
Todd represents both national and international families and family offices in structuring multigenerational wealth transfer, preservation and business succession vehicles, with an emphasis on navigating the transfer tax pitfalls that often arise under Chapter 14 of the Internal Revenue Code. Todd’s practice often involves structuring vehicles such as Sales to Grantor Trusts, Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs), Family Limited Partnerships, Preferred “Freeze” Partnerships as well as “Vertical” and “Non-Vertical” approaches to planning with carried interests in private investment vehicles.
Todd has published articles in publications such as Trusts & Estates, the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel (ACTEC) Law Journal, Estate Planning, Bloomberg/Tax Management, the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP) Journal and other publications. Todd is co-author of Bloomberg/Tax Management Portfolio No. 875, entitled “Wealth Planning with Hedge Fund & Private Equity Fund Interests.” A frequent speaker, Todd has given presentations for a number of organizations including the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, ACTEC, the Notre Dame Tax & Estate Planning Institute, the University of Southern California Tax Conference, the Seattle Estate Planning Conference, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) as well as numerous other estate planning conferences and family office groups.
Results
- Structured numerous “Vertical” and “Non-Vertical” wealth transfer structures for fund professionals*
- Structured numerous Preferred “Freeze” Partnerships between individual and trust partners to “super charge” family structures*
- Structured and conducted lifetime “diagnostic stress tests” of numerous family limited partnerships*
- Structured GRATs, Sales to Grantor Trusts and other trust vehicles*
- Conducted a number of Diagnostic Stress Tests of overall family, trust and entity structures to proactively identify vulnerabilities and avenues for fortification*
- Consultation in connection with family office profits interest structures and related Chapter 14 implications*
*Matters handled prior to joining McDermott Will & Emery
Recognitions
- 2012 recipient of the award for “Private Client Lawyer of the Year” from Family Office Review
- Listed in the Best Lawyers in America® (for New York City, Greenwich and New Haven, Connecticut)
- Recipient of the Best Lawyers® 2015 Trusts & Estates “Lawyer of the Year” award for New Haven, Connecticut
- Listed in Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Private Client
- Featured in Business Insiders “These are the 21 people powering the huge growth in family offices,” August 2, 2021
- Listed in Super Lawyers
- Rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
- Chambers High Net Worth Guide, 2016 and 2017
Community
- Fellow of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel (ACTEC), member of Program Committee, Business Planning Committee and Estate, Gift & Trust Committee
- Member of the Society of Trusts & Estates Practitioners, (STEP)
- Member of Trusts & Estates magazine Editorial Advisory Board
- Advisory Board (formerly Chair) for Bloomberg/Tax Management Estates, Gifts & Trusts
- Fellow of the American Bar Foundation
Credentials
Education
New York University, LLM, 1998
Rutgers University Graduate School of Management, MBA, 1993
Rutgers University School of Law, JD, 1993
Fairleigh Dickinson University, BA, 1989
Admissions
Connecticut
New Jersey
New York
