As president and CEO of the Policy and Taxation Group in Washington D.C., Jeff Cook advocates on behalf of family enterprises in their efforts to decrease the maximum federal estate tax rate and ultimately eliminate federal estate, gift and generation-skipping taxes. Mr. Cook led successful efforts to secure a lower 35 percent rate, higher $5 million exemption, and spousal portability and reunification; preserve repeal of the estate and generation-skipping taxes for 2010; and prevent the elimination of valuation discounts and limitations on grantor-retained annuity trusts. Currently, he is working to mobilize the estate tax relief coalition and lobby members of Congress to fight proposed tax increases and ensure family businesses have the best chance for sustainable tax relief. Mr. Cook received his undergraduate degree from Washington & Lee University and his law degree from NYU School of Law.

 

Jeremy Kahn’s 20 year career in information technology has included the successful creation and staffing of IT business units in large and midsize organizations. He has a proven track record of bringing new ideas and innovation to meet corporate business goals while remaining sensitive to the need for a strong ROI. His broad experience with innovative technologies ensures the organizations he manages are agile and cost effective.In technology roles over the last 20 years Jeremy has worked as the head of IT operations for Hartz Mountain Industries, AVP of Technology for Credit Suisse First Boston and Senior Systems Analyst for New York State Housing Finance Agency. In a prior lifetime Jeremy worked on the staff for New York Governor Mario Cuomo and as a housing economist for the State of New York. Few IT executives can boast such a strong background in real estate and the technologies related to all areas of real estate development. 

 

 

Susan von Herrmann, a partner in Schiff Hardin’s private clients and trusts and estates group, advises clients on strategies to minimize estate and gift tax liability and charitable planned giving. She assists clients with the formation of such entities as family limited liability companies, family limited partnerships, and private foundations, and advises family-owned businesses on succession planning. In addition to counseling traditional families, she has a significant breadth of experience in assisting non-traditional and blended families in estate planning matters. Ms. Von Herrmann received a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. She is a member of the American Bar Association, San Francisco Estate Planning Council, and State Bar of California.