Michael Kosnitzky Advises Ultrawealthy Families on Tax Planning and Family Office Strategy

Michael Kosnitzky is a senior partner and Chairman Emeritus of the Private Client and Family Office practice at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. He advises ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families and family-owned businesses on a broad range of legal matters, including tax planning, estate planning, asset protection and family governance.

He maintains offices in both New York and Miami and is admitted to practice in Florida, New York, the District of Columbia and Colorado. He is also a certified public accountant, a background that informs his approach to tax and financial issues.

What Does Michael Kosnitzky’s Private Client and Family Office Practice Cover?

Kosnitzky advises on tax planning, estate and trust planning, family office structuring and governance, mergers and acquisitions, and succession planning for family-owned businesses. His practice also covers private aircraft ownership, art and collectibles planning, charitable giving, charitable organizations, insurance products, private trust companies, citizenship and residency planning, and international tax matters.

That range reflects how wealth tends to work in practice. A family’s assets rarely sit in one place, and a decision about a business sale, a trust or a property can affect the tax position of everything else. His practice addresses the intersection of tax law, wealth management and domestic and international compliance.

What Is Private Wealth Law?

Private wealth law is the area of practice that helps individuals and families plan for, protect and pass on significant assets. It typically combines tax planning, estate and trust planning, business succession and, for larger families, the specialized legal structure of a family office.

The work is as much about coordination as technique. Lawyers in this field often work alongside accountants, investment managers and trustees, and the goal is a plan that holds together across tax, legal and family considerations. Because every family is different, the right approach depends on the facts, and anyone considering a plan should consult a licensed attorney.

What Is a Family Office, and Why Does It Need Legal Counsel?

A single-family office is a private, family-owned organization that manages the financial and administrative affairs of a wealthy family. These families typically have a net worth exceeding $100 million, often substantially more. Depending on its size, it may oversee investments, tax compliance, philanthropy, real estate and household operations, and it often acts as the hub that coordinates outside advisors. A properly structured family office is designed to optimize income and estate tax efficiency and minimize other financial and regulatory risks.

A family office requires careful legal structuring. Questions include how it is owned and governed, how it complies with securities laws and other regulations that apply to it, and how decisions are made when several family members are involved. Kosnitzky brings more than 45 years of combined experience in public accounting and legal practice.

What Does a Holistic Approach to Wealth Planning Mean?

Kosnitzky takes a holistic approach to assessing risk, integrating tax planning, estate planning, asset protection and family governance. In plain terms, that means looking at the whole picture rather than treating each issue on its own.

For example, a decision about how to hold a business can affect estate taxes, creditor exposure and how control passes to the next generation. A private aircraft purchase and subsequent operations involve contract drafting, state and local income taxes, sales and use taxes, estate planning, FAA considerations, and asset protection planning. Reviewing those questions together can reveal conflicts that a single-issue review would miss. Asset protection, in this context, refers to lawful planning done in advance, and what is possible varies by jurisdiction and circumstances. Related reading: What is a SLAT?, What is a GRAT? and What is a directed trust?.

Why Does a CPA Background Matter for a Wealth Lawyer?

Kosnitzky holds a B.B.A. in accounting from the University of Miami and is a certified public accountant. He previously worked in public accounting at Ernst & Ernst and Ernst & Whinney, predecessor firms of EY. His accounting background informs his work on tax and estate matters, including his analysis of financial statements, business valuations and tax reporting, and his coordination with clients’ accountants and financial advisors.

Where Did Michael Kosnitzky Study, and Where Is He Admitted to Practice?

He earned a B.B.A. in accounting from the University of Miami in 1979, magna cum laude, and a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1983, where he graduated first in his class, magna cum laude. His law degree was earned through the night program while he worked in public accounting. After leaving Ernst & Whinney, his first legal job was as a tax associate with the Wall Street firm Davis Polk & Wardwell. He is admitted to practice law in Florida, New York, the District of Columbia and Colorado.

What Recognition Has Michael Kosnitzky Received?

Kosnitzky has been recognized by Chambers USA, Chambers High Net Worth, Best Lawyers in America, The Legal 500 U.S. and Lawdragon as a leading income tax, private wealth and family office attorney. In 2017, the National Law Journal named him a Trust and Estates Trailblazer.

He is frequently featured in legal and financial media, including Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, where he comments on wealth planning, family office operations and changes to the tax landscape. He is a Platinum member of the Haute Lawyer Network, and an Attorney Talk feature on him was published on May 25, 2026.

What Types of Clients Does Michael Kosnitzky Represent?

Kosnitzky represents ultra-high-net-worth individuals, prominent families, family offices, owners of family businesses, fund managers, technology and digital asset entrepreneurs, entertainment industry professionals and real estate developers. Most of his family office clients have a net worth of more than $200 million, and several exceed $1 billion.

Discretion and confidentiality are a core part of the client relationship.

What Should Families Look for When Choosing a Private Wealth Lawyer?

Families should discuss which jurisdictions their assets and circumstances involve, whether the lawyer is admitted there or will work with appropriately qualified local counsel, and how the lawyer will coordinate with their accountants and investment advisors. Availability and responsiveness are also essential. Clients expect ready access to their lawyer and timely, substantive responses.

It is also worth asking about experience with situations like yours, such as a business succession, a cross-border family or a family office, and how fees are structured. No lawyer can promise a tax result, and a good answer will describe the risks as clearly as the opportunities.

Rankings and credentials are a reasonable starting point, but a conversation is the best way to judge whether an approach and a working style fit your family.

Where Does Michael Kosnitzky Work?

Kosnitzky is based in Pillsbury’s New York office at 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019, and its Miami office at 600 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2600, Miami, Florida 33131. His practice serves clients in both cities and addresses domestic and international tax and compliance matters. Pillsbury has offices throughout the United States and in strategic locations around the world.

How Can You Contact Michael Kosnitzky?

You can reach Michael Kosnitzky through Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. His email is michael.kosnitzky@pillsburylaw.com, his New York office number is +1.212.858.1002, and his Miami office number is +1.786.913.4884. The firm’s website is pillsburylaw.com.

Please do not send confidential information before an attorney-client relationship has been established.

Attorney Advertising. This article is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or tax advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Details are drawn from the attorney’s published profile and information provided by the attorney, and have not been independently verified. Rankings and recognition are attributed to the organizations named. Legal services are provided by the attorney and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, not by Haute Living.