With 115 years of experience, Cummings & Lockwood LLC has established itself as a leading law firm, one particularly adept at trust and estate planning and handling the sophisticated legal needs of its affluent clients, their families, family offices, businesses and charitable entities.
The firm’s Private Clients Group offers a full spectrum of legal services, from strategies to ensure that assets pass as intended in a tax-efficient manner to succession planning for closely-held businesses. Despite the complex nature of trust, estate, gift and income tax laws, Cummings & Lockwood maintains a simple philosophy: preserve and enhance the financial well-being and quality of life for individuals interested in safeguarding their future.
Caroline Demirs Calio, a Principal in the Private Clients Group, has spent considerable time helping families and business owners navigate the intricacies of estate tax and asset protection planning.
"We're fostering long-term relationships that often extend through generations," she explains. "We work with clients to navigate changing tax landscapes and to protect their resources through thoughtful planning." Caroline emphasizes the firm's multifaceted approach: from guiding young families in appointing guardians for their children to advising seasoned entrepreneurs on sophisticated asset protection and business succession planning strategies. She affirms that trust and estate planning isn't solely about managing the transfer of substantial wealth; it's also about making strategic decisions to ensure that clients’ assets are handled according to their wishes, regardless of size and value.
Marc Finer, another Principal and an integral Cummings & Lockwood team member, brings his unique blend of skills that bridge income tax planning and business law. He also highlights the firm's all-encompassing, proactive approach.
"Many clients come to us for estate planning and discover we can assist with much more, from real estate deals to complex business transactions." This integrated approach ensures that clients receive comprehensive solutions tailored to their unique needs. "We help clients ask the right questions, often ones they haven't considered. This way, they're not just planning for the future; they're actively shaping it," Marc shares. This involves a detailed understanding of each client's immediate family, business dynamics, and long-term aspirations.
Beyond tax and business planning, Cummings & Lockwood also advises its clients on various charitable giving strategies. Many clients wish to leave behind a philanthropic legacy, beyond their immediate family, which involves making charitable contributions or setting up various charitable trusts or foundations. The firm assists in structuring these gifts to maximize the benefits delivered to both the donor and the charity.
Cummings & Lockwood’s approach to every client matter reflects the spirit of community and a commitment to delivering highly personalized client service. "We consider our clients as part of our extended family. We're here to protect their interests and ensure their legacy thrives," Caroline adds passionately.
Client relationships are at the heart of Cummings & Lockwood's practice. Firm attorneys stress the importance of personally understanding their clients’ specific needs. "We see our role as not just advisors but partners in our clients' long-term journeys," says Caroline.
The firm's legal practice is built on a foundation of trust and mutual respect, ensuring that each client feels heard, understood and valued. "It’s about more than just legal outcomes," Marc notes. "It's about ensuring our clients are prepared for the future, protecting what matters most to them."
For residents of West Hartford, Glastonbury, and beyond, Cummings & Lockwood represents more than a law firm; it is a lifelong partner in navigating the complicated legal landscape. “We endeavor to provide our private clients with industry-leading knowledge and expertise; sophisticated, client focused strategies; stability and continuity for multi-generational families and their businesses; and an exceptional client experience,” states Heather J. Rhoades, Chair of the firm’s Private Clients Group. By blending sophisticated legal strategies with an exceptional personal touch, the firm ensures that clients' legacies are protected and their wishes are honored, making the complexities of estate and business planning more navigable and less daunting.
To learn more about Cummings & Lockwood’s Private Clients Group and the broad range of legal services they provide, visit their website at cl-law.com or contact Marc Finer or Caroline Demirs Calio directly.
Cummings & Lockwood LLC
Blue Back Square
75 Isham Road, Suite 400, West Hartford
Phone: 860.313.4900
Online: cl-law.com
Marc T. Finer, Esq.
Principal, Private Clients Group
Phone: 860.313.4946
Email: mfiner@cl-law.com
Caroline Demirs Calio, Esq.
Principal, Private Clients Group
Phone: 860.313.4936
Email: ccalio@cl-law.com