Joshua J. Goldstein

Attorney at Law

jjg@privateclientlawoffice.com · Direct (917) 523-9359

Biography

Josh began his career working on complex securities and derivatives transactions as an associate at large international law firms, including Morrison & Foerster, McKee Nelson and Ashurst, and at a Swiss investment bank. A fortuitous introduction led him to work directly with individuals and families, and he found the connection that comes with that work more gratifying than transactional practice. He reoriented his career to trusts and estates and has built his practice there since.

He represents individuals, families and fiduciaries across the full range of trusts and estates work. On the planning side, that means wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney and health care directives, along with the tax and asset protection strategies that sit behind them. On the administration side, it means guiding executors, administrators and trustees through Surrogate’s Court and the marshaling, accounting and distribution work that follows a death. And when matters become contested, he handles will contests, contested accountings, discovery and turnover proceedings, and applications concerning the conduct of fiduciaries.

Working across all three has shaped how he practices. He drafts with an eye to the provisions that generate litigation, and he administers with an eye to the disputes that can still be headed off.

Josh is a magna cum laude graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where he finished in the top five percent of his class, served as an Acquisitions Editor of the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal, and was a Heyman Scholar and a member of the Order of the Coif. He holds an A.B. from Duke University with a dual degree in Economics and Public Policy Studies.

He is an avid college basketball fan, a regular theatergoer, and never misses a Brooklyn Open Studios event.

Education

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, 2006

Order of the Coif · Heyman Scholar · Acquisitions Editor, Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

Duke University

A.B., Economics and Public Policy Studies, 1999

Bar Admissions

New York

New Jersey

Activities and Affiliations

Bar Association of the City of New York

Trusts, Estates and Surrogate’s Court Committee, Member (2022 to present)

Estate and Gift Tax Committee, Affiliate Member (2020 to 2023)

New York State Bar Association

Trusts and Estates Law Section, Member

Estate Planning Committee

Surrogate’s Court Committee