Evan S. Cowit​

Mr. Cowit handles all facets of estate planning and administration, including drafting wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, GRATs, QPRTs, intentionally defective grantor trusts, and SCINS. In addition, he is experienced in implementing family limited partnerships, corporate and business succession strategies (e.g., buy-sell agreements), tax and charitable planning, and counseling clients on tax implications of corporate strategies and business acquisitions (e.g., asset vs. stock sales, reorganizations, creation and choice of new entities, issuance and buyback of stock, and sales/use tax). He is also familiar with all facets of probate and administration in New York, New Jersey, and Florida, including the preparation of estate and gift tax returns, and helps clients develop charitable planning strategies, including creating and receiving IRS approval for 501(c)(3), (c)(4) and (c)(7) charitable foundations and drafting CRATs and CRUTs.

Mr. Cowit believes that the estate planning process is client, not attorney, driven and that an estate plan must take into consideration each client’s personal situation and tax circumstances. 

Mr. Cowit represents up-and-coming entrepreneurs as well as financially established individuals and is familiar with business succession planning and planning for future appreciation in assets. With proper planning, one can transfer assets, such as shares in a start-up company, now to his or her beneficiaries. When the company has a private placement, IPO, or other liquidity event, the beneficiaries will benefit from the appreciation while the entrepreneur’s taxable estate is reduced. In addition, many entrepreneurs, while busy building companies, overlook the need for business succession planning. Mr. Cowit assists these clients in ensuring that this issue is addressed to the maximum benefit of both shareholders and their families.

Mr. Cowit is skilled in income tax issues and works with clients on proper tax planning and helps them find ways to minimize income tax issues. He also represents clients in tax litigation. He works closely with the firm’s corporate attorneys to ensure that each transaction is structured for maximum income tax benefits.

Mr. Cowit lives in New York with his wife and son.