Biography of Alison Schrag

Alison Schrag is a law partner at a firm where she focuses on trusts and estates planning and administration. She has significant experience advising clients in these areas and addressing trust and estate litigation, including contested accounting proceedings The firm operates in New York and New Jersey, providing services across a range of practice areas These areas include estate planning and administration, as well as art, media and entertainment law, corporate law, internal investigations, real estate, banking and financial services, broker‑dealer litigation and arbitration, intellectual property and technology, litigation, and taxation
Two Decades of Experience
She is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey and has almost twenty years of experience as an attorney. She started her legal career as a litigation associate at a firm where she represented financial institutions and corporate trustees in both commercial disputes and breach of fiduciary duty proceedings At that firm, the practice areas included bankruptcy, business finance, litigation, corporate securities, real estate, trusts and estates, and equipment leasing Before joining her current firm, she was a partner at another practice that specialized exclusively in trusts and estates located in New York City
Alison Schrag’s Role at Sherman Atlas
Alison Schrag of New York works closely with families and individuals to create and implement comprehensive estate plans. She guides those she serves in making informed decisions about planning for the future, including minimizing taxes, ensuring orderly distribution of assets, addressing the possibility of incapacity, and reducing the risk of future conflicts.
Estate planning is a vital step in creating a meaningful legacy She takes the time to understand the priorities and concerns of those she works with, making sure she has a thorough understanding of their needs and objectives By doing this, she helps those she serves to create estate plans tailored to their wishes, family dynamics, and financial circumstances
Many of the people she works with have complex estate planning needs These needs often arise from situations such as family business succession planning, cross border estate planning, special gifting arrangements, and other nuanced questions. The people she serves typically include first-generation entrepreneurs, owners of closely held or mid-market businesses, and those pursuing sophisticated charitable or philanthropic objectives.
She understands the importance of designing effective estate planning strategies that reflect the goals of those she serves, ensuring that available planning tools are utilized effectively to minimize federal and state estate taxes, gift taxes, and income taxes
Representing Clients in Judiciary Proceedings
She has in depth knowledge of the practice and procedure of the Surrogate’s Court. She has represented many clients in proceedings that range from probate and estate administration to contested accountings and kinship determinations.
Throughout her career, she has worked closely with individual executors, trustees, personal representatives, and beneficiaries in New York Surrogate’s Court proceedings. She has also advocated for those seeking to establish their right to inherit from an estate, relying on genealogical evidence and witness testimony to support their claim
If contested claims arise, she is committed to ensuring that the interests of those she serves are fully protected She works diligently to secure their rightful share of an estate and guides them through the proceedings with a calm, measured approach.
With a thorough understanding of Surrogate’s Court rules and a focus on making sound legal decisions, she provides those she serves with clarity and peace of mind during challenging moments