Me in a minute

David A. Stein

Partner | San Francisco, New York, New Haven

David is a partner in the private client and tax team.

He is involved in tax, trust and estate planning for wealthy US and international families, with particular emphasis on planning for closely held businesses and investment vehicles. David’s work for clients involves a range of matters, from creating tax-efficient wealth transfer structures to addressing income tax issues arising from investments and operating businesses.

In addition to helping families with their philanthropic endeavors, he also advises both public charities and private foundations on various matters, including tax exemption, tax aspects of operation and investments, and structuring of charitable gifts.

David has been featured as one of the 21 People to Know When Starting a Family Office by Business Insider and is a frequent speaker at professional and private family organization events on income tax issues, estate planning and charitable giving and has written on tax matters for various publications.

See our Spanish site
See our Japanese site
Full profile

Secretary Beth Parmelee

+1 203 974 0420
‘‘

David is my attorney and a trusted advisor for many clients I work with. He helps clients identify objectives and draws from a vast knowledge of tax and T&E to address the need. I depend on David for all aspects of my financial and family plans.

Hedge fund manager
‘‘

I feel fortunate to have met David Stein as a person and professional. He is extremely earnest, honest, intelligent, generous and fair while always maintaining composure. He stands out as a leader in his field of business.

Leading financial advisor
‘‘

He does great work, both domestically and cross-border.

Chambers HNW Guide 2020
‘‘

He’s quite an intellect – very thoughtful and great to collaborate with.

Chambers HNW Guide 2020
‘‘

He is our go-to estate lawyer. He is incredibly smart and very creative in terms of designing the best estate plan for our principal.

Chambers HNW Guide 2020
‘‘

He is phenomenal, fantastic and a very smart lawyer.

Chambers HNW 2019, New York
‘‘

He is very much the classic smart trusted adviser with a great bedside manner. A very strong technical lawyer.

Chambers HNW 2019, New York
‘‘

He understands complex structures and he is always up to the task in hand.

Chambers HNW 2019, New York
‘‘

He is known for working with high net worth fund manager clients. He often comes up with good and creative ideas.

Chambers HNW 2019, New York
‘‘

I am a huge fan of David Stein’s. When I have a complicated matter and when I want to bounce ideas around with someone, David is someone I go to. He will spend time going through new developments with you, which not a lot of people do these days. He’s just a great resource and always willing to spend time with clients. David’s my go-to.

Chambers HNW 2018, New York (From a Fellow Trust Attorney)

Focus areas

Families and family offices

Charities and non profit

Philanthropy

High-net-worth individuals

Family businesses

Founders

Admissions

Publications

Memberships

Talks

State of New York, 1999

State of Connecticut, 2005

Registered Foreign Lawyer in the UK, 2005

State of California, 2012

‘Here Are the 21 People to Know When Starting a Family Office,’ Business Insider - July 13, 2021, quoted

‘‘Life and law go on’: How attorneys are working through New York City’s lockdown,’ Spear’s - May 12, 2020, quoted

‘Heirs of Ultra-Wealthy Can Profit Even When Markets Plunge,’ - March 6, 2020, quoted

View All

Government Relations Committee, Non-Profit Coordinating Committee of New York

Board of Directors, International Festival of Arts and Ideas

Board of Directors, Hamptons Shakespeare Festival

New York State Bar Association

American Bar Association

‘Legal issues faced by founders, entrepreneurs, executives and wealthy family members amid the coronavirus outbreak,’ Withers webinar - April 17, 2020, speaker

‘Tax reform and the family office’, Withers New York and Greenwich office event, June 2018

‘Same, but different – A comparison of family offices around the world’, Withers Singapore office event - April 9, 2018, speaker

View All

Education

New York University School of Law, J.D. magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, Law Review
Yale University, B.A. cum laude

Languages

  • English

Dates

Joined

2004
Partner

2005

Recognition

San Francisco

505 Sansome Street,

2nd Floor,

CA 94111

View Office

New York

430 Park Avenue,

10th Floor,

NY 10022-3505

View Office

New Haven

12th Floor,

157 Church Street,

CT 06510-2100

View Office

Insight

View all Firm insight

Regularly works with...