Lester E. Lipschutz

Member

Lester concentrates his practice on sophisticated estate and tax planning for high net worth families, including the preparation of wills and trusts, insurance planning, family limited partnerships, defective grantor trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, residence trusts, asset protection planning, generation-skipping planning, dynasty trusts, and the preparation of prenuptial agreements. He also assists clients with business succession planning, including shareholders’ agreements, buy-sell and cross purchase agreements, insurance arrangements utilizing sophisticated funding arrangements and split-dollar planning, deferred compensation, and tax planning.

Lester assists clients with complex estate administration, including probate, asset valuations, disclaimers, income tax planning, maintenance of accounting records, the preparation of estate tax returns, post-mortem planning, assisting beneficiaries with distributions, settlement of estates on a formal or informal basis, and representation of executors in estate tax audits with the Internal Revenue Service. He also counsels clients on charitable planning, including the creation of private charitable foundations, supporting foundations, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, and the negotiation of contributions to charitable institutions.

Lester has significant experience handling the unique planning issues associated with private art collections, and works routinely with international and regional auction houses, museums, and art appraisers in overseeing the acquisition, maintenance, gifting and sale of works of art.  

Lester is actively involved in the community, providing assistance to charitable organizations with planned giving, probate, and trust law issues. In addition to his professional activities, he is a board member of Kohelet Yeshiva High School and adviser to the Kohelet Foundation, and he served on the board of Trustees of Jewish Family and Children’s Services. 

Lester serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School where he teaches the course Gift and Estate Tax in Practice.

Lester earned his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from New York University and his law degree, with honors, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. 

News

How to Use Tech to Create an Ethical Will

December 15, 2022

Lester Lipschutz is quoted in a WIRED Magazine article that discusses the importance of having an ethical will and how to use technology to create one. While financial wills are typically read after death, ethical wills can be shared while you’re still living. The article provides a step-by-step process on how to start drafting one today.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Cozen O’Connor and Two Attorneys Recognized in the Chambers 2022 High Net Worth Guide

July 25, 2022

The firm has been ranked Band 1 in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide along with two members of the firm’s Private Client, Trusts and Estates Practice Group.

49 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 01, 2022

Super Lawyers has selected 49 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Cozen O’Connor and Three Attorneys Recognized in the Chambers 2021 High Net Worth Guide

August 30, 2021

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that the firm has been ranked Band 1 in the Chambers 2021 High Net Worth Guide under the category “Private Wealth Law.”

More Than 205 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 20, 2020

Best Lawyers selected 201 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).

138 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named to the Best Lawyers in America

August 28, 2019

Best Lawyers selected 138 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 21 of the firm’s national offices for inclusion in the 2020 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

126 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named to the Best Lawyers in America

August 22, 2018

One hundred twenty-six Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 20 of the firm’s national offices have been selected for inclusion in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Publications

End-of-Year Estate Planning [Private Client Services Alert!]

December 07, 2009

End-of-Year Estate Planning - Private Client Services Alert! - As we move quickly toward year end, consider the following for this year and for 2010"End-of-Year Estate Planning".

Education

  • University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., 1991
  • New York University, B.A., cum laude, 1988

Awards & Honors

Best Lawyers in America, 2019-2023

America's Leading Lawyers in Private Wealth Law in Pennsylvania by Chambers and Partners - High Net Worth Guide, 2017-2022

Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2005

Super Lawyers, 2022

  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • American Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Philadelphia Estate Planning Council