Trusts and Estates
Season 5, Episode 10: One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and Current Landscape of Estate Planning
In this episode, guests Jonathan Blattmachr and Martin Shenkman share their thoughts on key OBBBA provisions and the Act’s impact on estate and tax planning with host Kristin Yokomoto. Planning considerations include use of non-grantor trusts for charitable planning, basis-focused income tax planning, and more. They will also discuss the benefits of reviewing existing SLATs and other irrevocable trusts, as well as the importance of preparing customized estate plans that address family dynamics to minimize the chances of litigation.
Guests: Jonathan G. Blattmachr and Martin M. Shenkman
Host: Kristin Yokomoto

Jonathan G. Blattmachr is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of Interactive Legal, and Co-Author of Wealth Transfer Planning™. He is a principal in ILS Management, LLC and a retired member of Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy LLP in New York, NY and of the Alaska, California and New York Bars. He has written and lectured extensively on estate and trust taxation and charitable giving. Jonathan graduated from Columbia University School of Law cum laude, where he was recognized as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and received his A.B. degree from Bucknell University, majoring in mathematics. He has served as a lecturer-in-law of the Columbia University School of Law and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at New York University Law School in its Masters in Tax Program (LLM). He is a former chairperson of the Trusts & Estates Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and of several committees of the American Bar Association. Jonathan is a Fellow and a former Regent of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and past chair of its Estate and Gift Tax Committee. He is author or co-author of eight books and more than 500 articles on estate planning and tax topics.

Martin M. Shenkman, CPA, MBA, PFS, AEP (distinguished), JD, is an attorney in private practice in Fort Lee, New Jersey and New York City. He is the founder of Shenkman Law, a boutique firm focused on the legal needs of high-net-worth individuals, professionals, close business owners, and real estate owners and developers. Martin’s practice includes estate and tax planning, planning for closely held businesses, and estate administration. He is the author of 42 books and more than 1,000 articles. Martin is an Editorial Board Member of Trusts & Estates Magazine, CCH (Wolter’s Kluwer), and the Matrimonial Strategist. He has previously served on the editorial board of many other tax, estate and real estate publications. Martin earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Wharton School with concentrations in accounting and economics, MBA from the University of Michigan with concentrations in tax and finance, and law degree from Fordham University School of Law. He is admitted to the bar in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. and is a licensed CPA in New Jersey, Michigan, and New York.

Kristin Yokomoto, Esq., is a partner at Baker & Hostetler LLP in Costa Mesa, California. She practices in the areas of estate planning for high net worth clients, business succession planning, trust administration, and probate. Kristin is a Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law certified by the State Bar of California. She is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Executive Committee Member of the CLA Trust and Estate Section (TEXCOM), and Committee Member of the Orange County Bar Association Professionalism & Ethics Committee.
Listen to Interactive Legal’s 4-Part webinar series on OBBBA.