Wayne R. Landesman

Wayne R. Landesman, one of the founding partners of the firm, concentrates his practice on tax, trusts and estates and corporate law. His clients include closely-held businesses and high-net-worth individuals who come from diverse industries, including real estate investment and development, advertising, financial services, venture capital and private equity funds, entertainment, internet and telecommunications, fashion and apparel, cooperative housing corporations and condominium associations and tax-exempt organizations.

Mr. Landesman advises clients on all aspects of taxation, including planning, acquisition and disposition of businesses in the most tax-efficient manner, and structuring purchases and sales of real estate using the most advantageous legal structure. In the international arena, Mr. Landesman advises foreign and U.S. clients on the tax aspects of cross-border transactions, both inbound and outbound, including the use of joint ventures and the effects of tax treaties. He also counsels tax-exempt organizations, advising them on the issues relating to obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status. Finally, Mr. Landesman maintains a tax controversy practice, for which he works to help clients being audited by tax authorities (including the IRS, the State of New York and New York City) obtain a beneficial resolution in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

Mr. Landesman’s trusts and estates practice focuses on estate planning and administration, including the preparation of wills and trusts, advising clients on related tax issues, the preparation of estate, gift and fiduciary tax returns, probate proceedings, and estate and trust administration. His goal in developing estate plans for clients is to achieve significant tax savings without sacrificing his clients’ personal objectives.

Mr. Landesman’s corporate practice focuses on a broad range of corporate, partnership and limited liability company transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions of businesses, reorganizations and other forms of restructurings, formation of business entities, private securities offerings, investments by venture capital and private equity funds, executive compensation arrangements, and leveraged buyouts. In connection with this transactional advice, he prepares all forms of corporate agreements, including acquisition and disposition agreements, shareholder, partnership and limited liability company operating agreements, executive employment agreements, private placement memoranda and stock option, restricted stock and other types of incentive compensation agreements.