Profile: Donald Schapiro

Corporate Tax

Biography: Corporate Tax

Donald Schapiro is a partner in both the tax and the trust and estates and personal planning group practices at Chadbourne & Parke LLP. He has been involved in a variety of tax, business, and trusts and estates matters involving both domestic and international questions.

Mr Schapiro's practice centres on advising individuals owning closely-held businesses or significant family wealth regarding transfers of business interests and wealth taking into account inter-generational issues and tax aspects. He advises clients on purchases and sales of businesses; on the organisation of jointly owned entities to carry on business activities after the founder is no longer active; on organising and operating charitable foundations; and in drafting wills and trusts.

Mr Schapiro has participated personally in a number of successful business ventures for which, in addition to contributing capital, he provided insights as to methods of structuring the transactions. This experience, together with his background in accounting and finance, permit him to achieve what he regards to be his principal function as a lawyer-adviser: to persuade clients to do the obviously correct thing; and to persuade clients not to do the obviously wrong thing.

Mr Schapiro taught legal accounting at Yale Law School for many years; served as assistant chief counsel to a congressional investigating committee; and is past chair of the Tax Section of the New York State Bar Association. He is the author of many articles on taxation, and has participated actively in the drafting of tax legislation.