Lara M. Sass, Esq., AEP
Lara is the founder of the firm and specializes in advising high net worth clients on lifetime and post-mortem strategies to reduce gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes on transfers of property, as well as trust and estate administration. Lara represents many of the wealthiest individuals and families in the country, including founders, owners of closely held businesses, corporate executives, professional athletes, entertainers, artists, real estate owners and developers, and principals at private equity firms and hedge funds. She also counsels beneficiaries, trustees and nonprofit organizations involved in the administration of estates and trusts.
As a mother, Lara understands that the estate planning process is not about clients benefiting themselves; it is about the family members and loved ones who will be left behind when something happens. Estate planning is truly a client's gift to their children and/or loved ones so that they can have the best transition possible upon the client's possible incapacity and inevitable death. It is for this reason that Lara works tirelessly to provide all of her clients with the most thorough and well-thought-out estate planning possible. Lara’s goal is to provide every client with peace of mind and every client's family with the long-term security that they deserve. Our firm is further committed to providing our clients with top quality legal services, delivered in a professional, yet compassionate manner.
Lara graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where she minored in Legal Studies at the Wharton School of Business. After summer internships at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP (formerly, Rosenman & Colin) and Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, Lara attended New York University School of Law and participated in summer associate programs at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and Willkie, Farr & Gallagher LLP. Upon graduating from NYU Law, Lara began working in Manhattan at Willkie, Farr & Gallagher LLP, where she practiced trusts and estates law for many years, focusing on sophisticated planning for high net worth individuals and their families.
Lara has an Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) designation, which is a graduate level specialization in estate planning, obtained in addition to already recognized professional credentials within the various disciplines of estate planning. It is awarded by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC) to estate planning professionals who meet stringent requirements of experience, knowledge, education professional reputation, and character.
Lara is a member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), where she serves on the Board of the New York Chapter as Engagement Chair. She is also a member of TIGER 21 Circle of Influence, New York State Bar Association - Trusts & Estates Section, Estate Planning Council of New York City, and National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. Lara is a prolific writer and has published articles in numerous publications, including Trusts and Estates magazine.
Andrea D. Reinhard, Esq.
Andrea D. Reinhard is a senior attorney at Lara Sass & Associates, PLLC. She has 14 years of experience assisting individuals, families and businesses in the various areas of estate planning, probate and administration. She works with clients living in the United States and those with dual citizenship living abroad. In particular, she counsels dual citizens regarding potential estate tax and probate issues while conferring with accounting and legal experts both domestically and abroad.
Andrea drafts both basic and complex Wills, trusts and related estate planning documents for clients requiring varying levels of sophistication in their planning. She works closely with her clients to ensure that they understand the complexities of their individual estate plan. Additionally, she assists high net worth clients with the formation of non-profit entities and the drafting of prenuptial agreements.
Andrea supports clients throughout the probate/administration process. She assists nominated Executors/Administrators in all required steps; from the collection and organization of all of the deceased financial information to the preparing and filing of all relevant probate/administration documents. Furthermore, she prepares estate tax returns, accountings and receipt and release agreements.
Her experience encompasses estate planning, probate, non-profit organization formation, elder law, residential real estate and prenuptial agreements. Prior to joining Lara Sass & Associates, PLLC, Andrea worked as both an associate and as a solo practitioner in the fields of Trusts and Estates, Real Estate Closings & Elder Law.
Andrea was admitted to practice law in both New York and New Jersey in 2009. She earned her Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University School of Law. She is a Yeshiva University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in History.
Donna Spicer, Esq.
Donna is an associate at Lara Sass & Associates, PLLC, specializing in advising high net worth clients on lifetime and post-mortem strategies to reduce gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes on transfers of property, as well as trust and estate administration. Donna brings to the firm over 35 years of legal experience, which includes over 20 years of experience involving drafting and reviewing legal documents, including wills, trusts, powers of attorneys, medical directives, and various other transfer documents-both intervivos and post-mortem.
Prior to this position, Donna’s practice included the preparation of oil and gas title opinions on a contractual basis, which involved the examination of all title transfer documents, including wills, trusts and probates, to determine ownership rights of mineral owners on lands located throughout Texas, including the Permian Basin and the Eagle Ford Shale. Donna prepared Original Drilling and Supplemental Title Opinions, Division Order Title Opinions, and Curative and Title Updates.
After obtaining her LLM in Taxation from the University of Houston Law School in 1998 through 2011, Donna practiced in a variety of areas but primarily as a Wills, Trusts, Tax and Estate Planning attorney and as a Title Clearance Officer for Primary Land Services, Inc., where she reviewed and interpreted legal documents to clear title and prepared curative documents for residential real estate closings.
After law school, Donna was commissioned into the United States Navy, Judge Advocate General Corps, where she prosecuted and defended naval service members. Upon her discharge from the Navy in 1990, Donna became a prosecutor for the Chesapeake Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Chesapeake, Virginia, and was appointed a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Donna is licensed in Texas, New York and Virginia.
Ryan Garman
Ryan is an associate at Lara Sass & Associates, PLLC. He earned his JD from Case Western in May 2013 and has worked extensively with high net worth clients and sophisticated planning concepts. He has over 10 years of experience with estate and tax planning, post-mortem trust and estate administrations, and corporate and real estate transactions. He counsels clients on estate and tax planning matters, including last will and testaments, revocable and irrevocable trust agreements, estate, gift, GST, and fiduciary income taxation planning, and estate planning for retirement accounts, including IRAs and 401(k)s. Ryan also assists clients with entity formation and selection and represents clients in corporate and real estate transactions.
Ryan will be earning his LLM in Taxation from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School this year, where his focus has included wealth transfer taxation, tax and estate planning for high net worth clients, post-mortem tax planning and charitable trusts.
Paul Edwards
At Lara Sass & Associates, Paul serves as Client Services Manager, as well as performing in his role as Legal Assistant. Paul provides the highest level of service to the firm’s clients. He also closely assists our attorneys with all estate planning and administrative, probate, trust administration, charitable giving and tax planning matters.
Paul graduated cum laude from both Southeast Missouri State University, where he received a BFA, and from Pace University, where he received an MFA.
Additionally, Paul is a member of the board of the Church of the Intercession and an annual panelist for the East Villiage Queer Film Festival.
Betsy Hogg
On the team at Lara Sass & Associates, Betsy serves as an Administrative/Legal Assistant. Her attention to detail comes from her parents, who met in law school at the University of Michigan, while her passion for clear and concise communication comes from over 25 years as a working actor.
Betsy graduated Cum Laude from Northwestern University. In addition to her work at the firm, and ongoing career as an actor, she loves volunteering with The 52nd Street Project, an organization offering free arts programming to young residents of Hell's Kitchen.