Brian E. Raftery

Brian E. Raftery is a Partner, Co-Leader of the Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice and Global Co-Chair of the Family Office and High Net Worth sector at Dentons, focusing on Estate Planning. He brings his background as a certified public accountant to a practice focused on domestic and international estate planning, creditor protection through foreign and domestic asset protection trusts, estate planning for artwork, wealth preservation, life insurance planning, protective dynasty trusts and business succession planning.

His practice also covers trust estate administration, pre-immigration planning and post-immigration tax planning. He counsels clients on the preparation of simple and complex wills, trusts, limited liability company agreements, partnership agreements and pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and is experienced in litigating will contest cases and negotiating will contest settlements.

Brian represents numerous family offices and high net worth individuals, including celebrities, international families and professional athletes, and helps them find the solutions that best meet their planning needs.

He is recognised consistently in Best Lawyers in America for Trusts and Estates (2020–2026) and by Super Lawyers as a “Top Attorney” in estate planning and probate for the New York Metro area (2014–present). He has been published in the New York Law Journal and the Seton Hall Constitutional Law Journal, and has been interviewed by outlets including CNN, CNBC.com and Financial Advisor Magazine on estate planning and business succession planning.

Brian is Treasurer of the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation and a member of the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners (STEP), the New York State Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the American Academy of Attorneys and CPAs, where he is a past president of the New York Chapter. He holds an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law, a JD, cum laude, from Seton Hall University School of Law, and a BS, cum laude, from the University of Scranton.