Steve is a trusted advisor to high-net-worth individuals, families, and privately held businesses, with close to 30 years of experience in estate planning, trust and estate administration, and business law.

He helps clients navigate the technical aspects of tax and wealth transfer planning with a focus on clarity, strategy, and long-term outcomes. Known for his accessibility and practical guidance, Steve works closely with clients to ensure their estate and business plans reflect not only their financial goals, but also the personal and family dynamics that shape those decisions.

Steve is deeply committed to educating clients about their options, translating complex tax and legal concepts into language they can understand and use to make informed choices. His experience spans a wide range of planning and administration matters, including business succession, estate and gift tax strategies, and the ongoing administration of trusts and estates.

He holds the Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) designation from the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils—an advanced credential awarded to professionals who demonstrate a high level of expertise, experience, and ethics in estate planning.

Active in the Greater Boston estate planning community, Steve has held multiple leadership roles within the Boston Estate Planning Council, including serving as President of the 700-member organization. He regularly participates in council events and continues to support interdisciplinary collaboration in the field.

Earlier in his career, Steve served as a Senior Attorney with the Internal Revenue Service Office of Chief Counsel, where he litigated cases before the United States Tax Court and represented the IRS in Bankruptcy Court as a Special Assistant United States Attorney. He also provided legal training and counsel to IRS personnel. Steve began his career as a Senior Tax Consultant at Deloitte.

CREDENTIALS

Education

  • LLM, Taxation, Boston University School of Law
  • JD, cum laude, University of Pittsburgh School of Law
  • BA, Union College

Bar Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • US District Court of Massachusetts for the District of Massachusetts
  • US Tax Court
AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Experience recognized

  • Best Lawyers in America, Trusts & Estates, 2023-2026
  • Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers, Trusts and Estates, 2022-2025
  • Massachusetts Super Lawyers, 2011-2025
  • Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2008-2010
  • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Go To Trusts & Estates Lawyer, 2021
  • National Association of Estate Planners & Councils, Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) Designation
  • Boston Magazine Five Star Wealth Managers 2011-2018
  • When is the Right Time to Consider Life Insurance?, Sapers & Wallack, Inc. (August 2024, Co-Author)
  • Good News from the IRS: Relief for Missed Portability Election, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (Co-Author)
  • Incorporating Flexibility into the Estate Planning Process, The Boston Foundation’s Philanthropic Advisor Newsletter (Writer)
  • The Federal Tax Implications of Choice of Entity, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (Co-Author)
  • Basic Estate Planning for Accountants and Their Clients, Boston Tax Institute (Speaker)
  • Estate and Gift Taxation, Northeastern University Masters in Taxation Program (Lecturer)
  • Estate Planning Basics, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (Panelist)
  • Incorporating Flexibility into Estate Planning, The Boston Foundation (Speaker)
  • The Sandwich Generation: Helping Your Clients Balance Their Lives and Their Parents’ Growing Needs, Boston Estate Planning Council (Speaker)