I often meet with families whose lives and legacies are not confined to a single state—or even a single country. A client might have a business partner in London, a child living in Tel Aviv, and a property inherited from parents back in their country of origin. The documents they sign here in New York must account for laws and family dynamics thousands of miles away. This isn’t just a legal puzzle. It’s a human reality that requires a particular kind of counsel—one with a perspective as broad as the family’s own.
These families are why I am proud to introduce Karen Delfin, an attorney who recently joined our practice. When building a team, I don’t look for identical resumes. I look for unique strengths that compound each other. Karen’s background, both in law and before it, adds a valuable dimension to the work we do for our clients.
A Different Path to the Law
Many attorneys follow a straight line from college to law school to a firm. Karen’s path was more deliberate. She began her career in the business world, first as an administrator and later as a director of marketing and business development. She spent years inside companies, seeing firsthand how decisions made in a boardroom affect real people and long-term growth. That experience matters.
An estate plan isn’t just a collection of documents—it’s a multi-generational business plan for a family. It requires an understanding of finance, operations, and human nature. When we advise a family on passing down a business, we are not just talking about tax implications. We are talking about preserving a life’s work, managing personalities, and creating a structure for future success. Karen’s time in the corporate world gives her a practical grounding that you don’t learn in a law library. She understands the world our clients have worked so hard to build because she has been in it.
Her decision to pursue law was intentional—a choice to apply her practical skills to a discipline that demands precision and a deep sense of duty. That combination of real-world experience and legal rigor is rare and immensely valuable.
Bridging Jurisdictions and Cultures
Karen is a member of both the New York and Philippine Bars. This dual qualification is a testament to her ability to master two distinct legal systems. For the families we serve, particularly those with ties to Asia, this is significant.
When a New York resident’s estate includes assets overseas, we must consider how foreign courts will interpret a New York will or trust. The New York Estates, Powers and Trusts Law (EPTL) has provisions for this—for example, EPTL § 3-5.1 sets forth the rules for determining the validity of a will executed in another jurisdiction. But the statute is just the starting point. Successfully managing a cross-border estate requires a fluency in different legal cultures and an ability to anticipate how another system’s rules will interact with our own.
Having an attorney on our team who has been admitted to practice in both a civil law tradition (the Philippines) and a common law tradition (New York) gives us an edge. It provides an intuitive understanding of potential conflicts and a built-in sensitivity to the questions we need to ask. It allows us to better serve the diverse, international families that make up the fabric of our city.
A Commitment to Stewardship
Before joining our firm, Karen volunteered her time with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, providing legal counsel to those who could not otherwise afford it. This tells me something fundamental about her character. She sees the law not just as a profession, but as a form of service.
This aligns perfectly with our firm’s philosophy. We see ourselves as stewards. Our role is to be the custodian of a family’s legacy, to provide prudent counsel, and to honor the trust placed in us. Every attorney in our firm has a profound fiduciary duty to the client—a duty to act with undivided loyalty and in their absolute best interest. Karen’s history of service demonstrates that this is a principle she has already taken to heart.
A great estate planning attorney is more than a technician. They are a counselor and a strategist, guiding families through some of life’s most significant transitions. Karen embodies this spirit. Our clients will be better served for it, and we are glad to have her with us.
If your own family’s circumstances involve assets or beneficiaries in more than one country, your estate plan likely requires a specific review. I invite you to schedule a consultation with our team to analyze the cross-border implications for your legacy.
