This attorney has been selected for the recognitions mentioned herein, which have been conferred by the corresponding publications and/or organizations noted. An overview of the award selection methodologies for these recognitions can be found here. Links to certain specific methodologies are embedded in individual entries. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Overview

Families around the world look to Brian Balduzzi to plan and protect their legacies through conscientious client service and a collaborative approach. Brian provides comprehensive legal advice to help entrepreneurs, executives and families fulfill their goals, offering pragmatic, knowledgeable guidance on financial regulations, laws and trends. Combining his strong command of trusts and estates with his background in tax and investment management, Brian delivers timely and holistic counsel for intergenerational and business succession planning. Whether he is memorializing client wishes and goals in sophisticated estate plans, planning tax-efficient transfers and strategies to minimize personal income, gift, fiduciary and estate taxes, or partnering on business succession and growth needs, Brian listens to and understands clients’ goals and needs, and he delivers the legal strategies to help meet them.

Prior Experience

Brian started his legal career as a tax attorney for a mid-sized accounting firm, preparing federal and state tax forms for high net-worth individuals and counseling them on their family, corporate and partnership tax planning. Brian transitioned to a mid-sized law firm as a tax and estate planning attorney for technology entrepreneurs, intergenerational wealth-holders, and real estate developers before deepening his financial acumen by getting his MBA at Cornell University.

Brian integrated his financial and legal experiences while working at a leading trust company and financial services firm, starting as a fiduciary innovation strategist before being promoted to assistant vice president and operational and planning innovation manager.

Before joining Faegre Drinker, Brian practiced in the private client services group of another full-service law firm, working with media and corporate executives, entrepreneurs and intergenerational wealth-holders on sophisticated estate and tax planning, along with estate and trust administration needs.

Personal Interests

Brian is passionate about theatre, philanthropy, Shakespeare, running and college basketball.

Related Topics

ESG

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Massachusetts
New York
Pennsylvania
New Jersey

Court Admissions

U.S. Tax Court

Education

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
M.B.A. Cornell Business Journal (editor-in-chief) (2018)

Boston University School of Law
LL.M. in Tax (2014)

Boston University School of Law
J.D. Boston University Public Interest Law Journal (2013)

State University of New York College at Geneseo
B.A. in English and Secondary Education, summa cum laude (2009)

Insights & Events

Other Perspectives
  • Keystone State Strengthens Its Irrevocable Trusts with Grantor Trust Rules
    Republished by Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, February 2024
  • Splitting the Difference: Why Careful Structuring and Regular Monitoring of a Split-Dollar Life Insurance Plan Might Benefit Employers and Employees
    Insurance & Risk Management, October 2023
  • Getting to Know One of Our Members: Brian Balduzzi
    Published in Open Court, A Newsletter of the LGBTQ+ Committee, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Fall 2022
  • Stretching Expectations: Planning with the New Life Expectancy Tables for Retirement Plans’ Required Minimum Distributions
    Republished in Employee Benefit Plan Review, June 2022
  • The improved power to plan: NY amends its power of attorney forms and laws
    Brian M. Balduzzi & Alan D. Kroll, NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning, February 2021
  • Investment location planning: Tax, estate, and asset protection considerations
    Brian M. Balduzzi, et al., NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning, May 2020
  • The first state is first again: Delaware’s innovative new trust law provides an additional trust modification tool
    Brian M. Balduzzi, ABA Probate & Property, January 2020
  • Tax reforms equity market: A historical and present analysis of tax reforms’ effect on U.S. equity market
    Brian M. Balduzzi, Cornell Business Journal, December 2017
  • Book review: Taxation of entertainers, athletes and artists
    Brian M. Balduzzi, Cornell Business Journal, December 2016
  • Insuring equitable lives: Why states should amend their life insurance insurable interest statutes to provide equal protection for same-sex couples
    Brian M. Balduzzi, Boston University Public Interest Law Journal 219, 2014
  • A taxing divorce: A solution to DOMA’s tax inequities in same-sex divorce
    Brian M. Balduzzi

Leadership & Community

Pro Bono

  • Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association — Mentorship Committee, 2021 (Co-Chair); Board of Directors, 2020 (Treasurer)
  • Spruce Foundation — Board of Directors, 2020-present (Vice Chair of Development)
  • Cornell University Gay & Lesbian Alumni Association — Board of Directors, 2019-present (Vice President)
  • Independence Business Alliance — Board of Directors, 2019-21
  • Young Involved Philadelphia — Board of Directors, 2018-20 (Treasurer)
  • SpeakOut — Board of Directors, 2015-16 (Treasurer)
  • Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association — Board of Directors, 2015-16 (Co-Chair of Mentorship Committee, Co-Chair of Social Programming)
  • Weston Friendly Society of Performing Arts — Board of Directors, 2014-16 (Chair of Social Media, Chair of Playreading)

Professional Associations

  • American Bar Association (ABA) Young Lawyers Division — Real Property & Trusts and Estates, 2021-present (Chair)
  • ABA Real Estate & Trusts and Estates (RPTE) Section — Financial Planning & Risk Management Committee, 2021-present (Vice-Chair); RPTE Fellow, 2019-2021 (Non-Tax Financial Planning, Membership, State & Local Bar Outreach)
  • National Association of Estate Planners & Councils — Publications Committee, 2016-present
  • Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) — Personal Financial Planning Thought Leadership Committee, 2020-present

Civic Activities

  • Platinum Club of Advisors of Delaware Valley Legacy Fund, 2024
  • Young Professionals Council Advisory Board (Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia) — Board of Directors, 2021-present
  • Philadelphia Chapter of Compass — Project Team Leader/Consultant for Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County, 2020-21
  • New Leaders Council Fellow — Philadelphia Chapter, 2019

Honors

  • Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs — “Young Leader,” 2024
    This award is conferred by the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
  • Boston University School of Law — Young Lawyers Chair Award, 2024; Sylvia Beinecke Robinson Award, 2013; J. Esdaile Moot Court Director, 2013; Homer Albers Prize Moot Court Competition Quarterfinalist, 2012
    This award is conferred by Boston University School of Law. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers — “Rising Star,” 2023
    This award is conferred by Thomson Reuters. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
  • City & State PennsylvaniaForty Under 40, 2023
    This award is conferred by City & State Pennsylvania. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
  • American Bar Association — “On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers,” 2023
    This award is conferred by the American Bar Association. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
  • Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County — Community Partnership Award, 2022
  • AL DÍA — “40 Under Forty,” 2022
    This award is conferred by AL DÍA News Media. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
  • Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2022-23
    This award is conferred by Faegre Drinker. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
  • SUNY Geneseo — Rainbow Revolutionary Distinguished Alumni, 2022
  • Cornell University — Roy H. Park Leadership Fellow, 2016; Emerging Markets Institute Fellow, 2017; Environmental Finance & Impact Investing Fellow, 2017; Johnson Leadership Fellow, 2017; Graduate Teaching Assistant Fellow, 2017