G.Justin Christofides is a partner at Avelino Law.  His practice focuses on Taxation, Trust & Estates, and Corporate matters for high-net-worth individuals, corporate fiduciaries and closely held business owners.  Most of his clients are continuous engagements that entail corporate transactional, estate planning, and, when necessary, civil litigation and controversy representations.

Corporations & Business Associations

Justin advises clients regarding all phases of their business enterprises. He drafts shareholders’ and operating agreements for both new and ongoing entities. He also prepares and negotiates stock and asset sale agreements. Justin serves as outside counsel to several corporate boards advising management regarding both internal business matters as well as third party controversies and risk mitigation.  He has represented clients (and obtained desired results) in extensive litigations involving the alleged misappropriation of trade secrets, copyright infringement, unfair competition, and alleged breaches of intellectual property licenses.  Justin has litigated these matters in both state and Federal courts as well as before arbitration boards.

Executive Compensation

Justin counsels clients regarding the requirements and ramifications of section 409A (nonqualified deferred compensation) and Section 280G (excise tax).  He represents a number of not-for-profit entities and counsels directors and trustees regarding Section 457(f) plans and Section 4960 (excise tax matters).  He routinely negotiates and drafts employment agreements anddeferred compensation agreements.  He also creates qualified incentive compensation plans for medium and large employers in both the for-profit and non-profit institutions.  He prepares the necessary documents to establish equity compensation plans including stock option plans (both statutory and non-statutory) and restricted stock plans. He also crafts non-equity arrangements utilizing phantom stock and stock appreciation rights.

Estate Planning and Litigation

Justin handles a broad range of estate planning matters. He is familiar with all aspects of the gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax regimes. Justin prepares testamentary and lifetime instruments tailored to each client’s specific goals. A significant portion of his practice has involved transfers of interests in closely held concerns through gifts and sales to grantor trusts.

Several of Justin’s clients are multigenerational families for whom Justin structures plans involving dynasty trusts, asset protection trusts, and ante-nuptial/premarital agreements.

Justin has represented both fiduciaries and beneficiaries in estate and trust controversies.  Previous engagements have involved claims regarding contracts to make testamentary dispositions, the construction of trust agreements, elective share claims, and actions under omitted spouse statutes.

Email Justin: gchristofides@avelinolaw.com