Profile

At a Glance

Philip L. Burke is a Partner in the Family Wealth and Estate Planning Department. He concentrates his practice in estate planning, charitable giving, estate administration, probate, estate tax law and, long-term care planning. He works closely with clients and their advisors to develop appropriate estate plans for them and their families, including drafting of Last Wills and Testaments, Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts, Family Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies, Business Succession Documents, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills and Health Care Proxies and other related documents. Mr. Burke is also a firm liaison to Meritas, an international association of law firms, and a former member of its Board Of Directors.

Mr. Burke received his J.D. degree from Albany Law School and his B.A. degree with Distinction from Boston University. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and also a Fellow of the New York State Bar Foundation.

Honors

• Named a 2015 "Leader in Law" by the New York Daily Record
• Included in the current editions of "Best Lawyers in America" and "Super Lawyers" for his work in the Trusts & Estates field.
• Listed in 2007 as one the Top 50 "Super Lawyers" in Upstate New York

Other

• Authored many articles and is a frequent lecturer on estate planning and estate tax subjects

Practice Areas

Industry Expertise

Education

Albany Law School of Union University, J.D.

Boston University, B.A. with Distinction

Bar Admissions

State of New York

United States District Court for the Western District.

Key Representative Matters

• Successfully represented three major international art museums working with Trust & Estate Litigation Group in Will contest resulting in clients receiving art work valued in excess of $1,000,000.

• Successfully sued major life insurance company resulting in favorable settlement of benefits claim.

• Successfully represented disabled estate beneficiary in settlement of reimbursement claims brought by New York State.

• Extensive experience in representing fiduciaries and beneficiaries in trust and estate administration, claims, Will contests & contested accountings.

Professional Affiliations

• Member of Meritas Board of Directors & US Leadership Team
• Member of the Monroe County and New York State Bar Association and an Officer on its Executive Committee
• Member of the Monroe County Bar Associations' Lawyer Succession Registry Committee
• Member of the New York Uniform Trust Code Legislative Advisory Group
• Former member of the Monroe County Bar Associations Task Force on Lawyer Advertising
• Past Chair of the New York State Bar Association's Trusts and Estates Law Section
• Past member of the Board of Trustees of the Monroe County Bar Association, past Dean of its Academy of Law and past Chair of its Trusts & Estates Section
• Past president of the Board of Directors of the Upstate New York Chapter of the Financial Planning Association
• Past member of the Board of Directors of the Estate Planning Council of Rochester

Community Involvement