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Richard P. Breed, III

Richard P. Breed, III

Member
Biography

Rick has substantial experience working with wealthy families to preserve and protect their beneficiaries’ inheritance from excessive transfer taxes and from possible interference by third parties, including creditors and divorcing spouses. Rick specializes in business succession planning for owners of privately-held enterprises. Rick also advises business enterprises at all stages of their development, including organizational, operational, and merger and acquisition issues. He has acted as counsel to various fiduciaries and beneficiaries in matters of trust and estate administration, and has testified as an expert witness regarding drafting of trusts to hold closely-held business interests.

Publications

Quoted: "Power Grab!", Wall Street Journal, May 14, 2011

Because I Said So! A Practitioner's Guide to Preserving the Client's Intent when Disposing of the Family Business to an Irrevocable Trust, Estate Planning, Volume 38, Number 3

Quoted: "The Year of No Estate Tax" The Street, October 19, 2010

"The State Matters," Private Wealth, April/May 2008, with Jennifer Civitella Hilario

Quoted: "Where there's a will...," Boston Business Journal, October 19, 2007

Co-Author "Using Acquisitive, Divisive Reorganizations to Achieve Estate Planning Objectives," Estate Planning

"Increase of Trust Benefits Through Situs Change" Finance and Estate Planning

Co-Author "Final Regulations Under §501(c)(9) Present New Planning Opportunities"

"Using a Corporate Stock Purchase Agreement in Establishing Value for Estate Tax Purposes"; and sole authorship "Highlights of the New Massachusetts Sponge Tax," Lifenotes

"Despite Risks, Personal Holding Companies Provide Many Opportunities for Estate Planners"; "When and How to Change the Situs of an Irrevocable Trust Without Adverse Effects"; and "Knowledge of the IRS's Approach Can Increase Taxpayers' Success on Questions of Valuation" Estate Planning

"New Tax Bill Enhances §529 College Savings Plans" Policy Matters

"Charitable Remainder Trusts – Having Your Cake and Eating it Too!" The Massachusetts Life Underwriter

"New Chapter 14 Rules Affect Buy-Sell Agreements" Estate Planning, News and Views

Community and Charitable Organizations
  • Judge Baker Children's Center, Boston, MA; Chair, Board of Trustees
  • Northeast Arc, Danvers, MA; Advisory Board
  • AIDS Action Committee, Boston, MA; Pro bono estate planning for Aids Action clients
  • Tedesco Country Club, Marblehead, MA; President
Teaching
  • New England School of Law 1986-1987, Adjunct Professor, Advanced Corporate Tax and Business Planning
  • Suffolk University Law School, Boston 1989-1997, Adjunct Professor, Estate Planning
  • Bentley College Twenty-Fourth Annual Federal Tax Forum Estate and Gift Tax Workshop
  • Various seminars for Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.
Achievements
  • 2011-2024 U.S. News Best Lawyer for Trusts & Estates
  • Named Massachusetts Super Lawyer by Thompson Reuters 2004-2021
  • Named an Accredited Estate Planner by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils, 2009
  • Member, Estate Planning Curriculum Committee, MA Continuing Legal Education, Inc.
  • AV Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Member, Board of Directors, Fiduciary Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts; and Audit Committee
Credentials

Education

  • Suffolk University Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1978)
  • Boston University Law School (LL.M. in Taxation, 1981)
  • Bowdoin College (B.A., 1971)

ADMISSIONS

  • Massachusetts Bar
  • U.S. Tax Court
  • U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts

Education

  • Suffolk University Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1978)
  • Boston University Law School (LL.M. in Taxation, 1981)
  • Bowdoin College (B.A., 1971)

Admissions

  • Massachusetts Bar
  • U.S. Tax Court
  • U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts