What Should Estate Planners Do Now? An InterActive Legal Post-Election Video Roundtable Event

By Vanessa L. Kanaga Esq., Jonathan G. Blattmachr Esq., Abigail E. O'Connor Esq. and Martin M. Shenkman Esq. Last updated Nov 30, 2021

Estate Planning Tax Proposals

Election Day 2020 is now behind us. As of this writing, most election results are in, though opinions vary about when we will know the full makeup and distribution of power between the Executive and Legislative branches. Court challenges, recounts, and run-offs all move forward, with the latter not taking place until January. Given that we may not have certainty for weeks (and in some cases months), estate tax planners charged with advising their clients on how to proceed for the balance of the year are in a bit of limbo. Advisors must determine whether to recommend taking action now or wait for more information, and come up with a plan for going forward after all results are finalized. In this live video roundtable ten days after the election, our panelists will work to separate what we know from what we don’t know, and highlight issues for both planners and their clients to consider. Regardless of the final outcome of the elections, tax and estate planning will remain important, and quick action may be advisable for some clients.

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Vanessa L. Kanaga Esq.

Vanessa Kanaga currently serves as InterActive Legal’s Special Advisor on Estate Planning and Legal Strategy. She is the former CEO of InterActive Legal. Vanessa received her J.D. from Cornell Law School and holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Wichita State University, as well as an Advanced Professional Certificate from New York University School of Law. She is licensed in New York, Kansas, and Arizona, and currently lives in Arizona.

Prior to joining InterActive Legal in 2013, Vanessa practiced in New York, at Milbank LLP and Moses & Singer LLP, and in Kansas, at Hinkle Law Firm, LLC. She has experience in a range of estate planning matters, including high net worth tax planning and asset protection planning.

In 2024, Vanessa returned to the practice of law. She is an Associate Attorney at Greengard Law Firm, PLC in Phoenix, Arizona.

Jonathan G. Blattmachr Esq.

Mr. Blattmachr is a Principal in ILS Management, LLC and a retired member of Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP in New York, NY and of the Alaska, California and New York Bars. He is recognized as one of the most creative trusts and estates lawyers in the country and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America. He has written and lectured extensively on estate and trust taxation and charitable giving.

Mr. Blattmachr graduated from Columbia University School of Law cum laude, where he was recognized as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and received his A.B. degree from Bucknell University, majoring in mathematics. He has served as a lecturer-in-law of the Columbia University School of Law and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at New York University Law School in its Masters in Tax Program (LLM). He is a former chairperson of the Trusts & Estates Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and of several committees of the American Bar Association. Mr. Blattmachr is a Fellow and a former Regent of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and past chair of its Estate and Gift Tax Committee. He is author or co-author of eight books and more than 500 articles on estate planning and tax topics.

Among professional activities, which are too numerous to list, Mr. Blattmachr has served as an Advisor on The American Law Institute, Restatement of the Law, Trusts 3rd; and as a Fellow of The New York Bar Foundation and a member of the American Bar Foundation.

Abigail E. O'Connor Esq.

Abigail O’Connor is a trust and estates attorney in private practice in Anchorage, Alaska. Her practice focuses on estate planning and trust administration. She is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Vice President of the Alaska Trust and Estate Professionals, Member of the Executive Board of the Estate Planning and Probate Section of the Alaska Bar Association, and Past President of the Anchorage Estate Planning Council.

Martin M. Shenkman Esq.

Martin M. Shenkman is an attorney in private practice in Fort Lee, NJ, and New York City. His practice concentrates on estate and tax planning, planning for closely held business, and estate administration. Mr. Shenkman is an author of over 42 books and more than 1,000 articles. He is an editorial board member of Trusts & Estates Magazine and the Matrimonial Strategist, and an advisor for InterActive Legal. He is the recipient of many awards including being a 2013 recipient of the prestigious Accredited Estate Planners (Distinguished) award from the National Association of Estate Planning Counsels. Mr. Shenkman was named Financial Planning Magazine 2012 Pro-Bono Financial Planner of the Year for his efforts on behalf of those living with chronic illness and disability. Investment Adviser Magazine featured him on the cover of its April 2013 issue naming as the lead of their “all-star lineup of tax experts.”