Firm Profile

From 1984 through 1993, Michele O’Brien practiced as a civil trial attorney (business/commercial cases and consumer disputes) representing both plaintiffs and defendants.

Since 1988, Ms. O’Brien’s legal practice has focused on:

Estate-tax Minimization (establishing a separate entity (ies) i.e., Irrevocable Trust, Grantor Trust, Corporation (C or with an S election), Limited Partnership, Limited Liability Company, etc.) coordinated with disposition, tax planning and special estate management techniques.

Special Needs Planning (including Special Needs Trusts and other vehicles) within general Estate Planning as well as “First Party Special Needs Trust” implementation to attain or maintain eligibility for government “needs tested” programs.

Guardianship (person and estate) set-up and follow through on the Application, managing contested issues, Hearing(s), annual reporting, special motions and requests by the guardian and annual estate accounting.

Estate Management  Implementing distribution planning which includes, Probate of Self-Proved and other types of Wills, Determination of Heirship (person dies without a Will) and Estate and Trust Administration. Counseling and implementing specific goal directed Trusts (including management of Trusts).

Business Reviewing available alternatives in Entity formation, proceeding with setup, organization, management and long range planning of limited liability vehicles.

Since 1989 Ms. O’Brien has served as an Alternative Dispute Resolution Neutral (mediator and arbitrator) in over 2,000 cases mediated and over 500 cases arbitrated (served on neutral panels in several national class action settlements from 1993-2000). Panels member: American Arbitration Association – Commercial cases, mediation; NASD panelist (security arbitration)

Achievements

Michele O’Brien participates in Seminars (local school districts) to advise parents of the options in Special Needs Planning for their children as they mature.

Clients

The Law Office of Michele O’Brien, PC serves a broad mix of clients – those with modest accumulation, more expansive personal accumulation as well as inherited and transferred weath and those with charitable and philanthropic goals.  Estate tax minimization goals are explored and implemented.  Clients are business owners ranging from very small to quite large, in a wide range of industries and categories.

Those families that need to incorporate special needs planning and management for protection will develop a secure, confident plan.

The firm also serves as a neutral in Alternative Dispute Resolution (mediation and arbitration) since 1988.

Specialties

AAA Panel Member in Commerical Law (arbitration and mediation)
FINRA Panel Member (arbitration)