Overview
Prior Experience
Brian started his legal career as a tax attorney for a mid-sized accounting firm, preparing federal and state tax forms for high net-worth individuals and counseling them on their family, corporate and partnership tax planning. Brian transitioned to a mid-sized law firm as a tax and estate planning attorney for technology entrepreneurs, intergenerational wealth-holders, and real estate developers before deepening his financial acumen by getting his MBA at Cornell University.
Brian integrated his financial and legal experiences while working at a leading trust company and financial services firm, starting as a fiduciary innovation strategist before being promoted to Assistant Vice President and Operational and Planning Innovation Manager.
Before joining Faegre Drinker, Brian practiced in the private client services group of another full-service law firm, working with media and corporate executives, entrepreneurs and intergenerational wealth-holders on sophisticated estate and tax planning, along with estate and trust administration needs.
Personal Interests
Brian is passionate about theatre, philanthropy, Shakespeare, running and college basketball.
Related Legal Services
Related Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
Massachusetts
New York
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Court Admissions
U.S. Tax Court
Education
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
M.B.A. Cornell Business Journal (editor-in-chief) (2018)
Boston University School of Law
LL.M. in Tax (2014)
Boston University School of Law
J.D. Boston University Public Interest Law Journal (2013)
State University of New York College at Geneseo
B.A. in English and Secondary Education, summa cum laude (2009)
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
Other Perspectives
- Keystone State Strengthens Its Irrevocable Trusts with Grantor Trust Rules
Republished by Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, February 2024 - Splitting the Difference: Why Careful Structuring and Regular Monitoring of a Split-Dollar Life Insurance Plan Might Benefit Employers and Employees
Insurance & Risk Management, October 2023 - Getting to Know One of Our Members: Brian Balduzzi
Published in Open Court, A Newsletter of the LGBTQ+ Committee, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Fall 2022 - Stretching Expectations: Planning with the New Life Expectancy Tables for Retirement Plans’ Required Minimum Distributions
Republished in Employee Benefit Plan Review, June 2022 - The improved power to plan: NY amends its power of attorney forms and laws
Brian M. Balduzzi & Alan D. Kroll, NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning, February 2021 - Investment location planning: Tax, estate, and asset protection considerations
Brian M. Balduzzi, et al., NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning, May 2020 - The first state is first again: Delaware’s innovative new trust law provides an additional trust modification tool
Brian M. Balduzzi, ABA Probate & Property, January 2020 - Tax reforms equity market: A historical and present analysis of tax reforms’ effect on U.S. equity market
Brian M. Balduzzi, Cornell Business Journal, December 2017 - Book review: Taxation of entertainers, athletes and artists
Brian M. Balduzzi, Cornell Business Journal, December 2016 - Insuring equitable lives: Why states should amend their life insurance insurable interest statutes to provide equal protection for same-sex couples
Brian M. Balduzzi, Boston University Public Interest Law Journal 219, 2014 - A taxing divorce: A solution to DOMA’s tax inequities in same-sex divorce
Brian M. Balduzzi
Leadership & Community
Pro Bono
- Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association — Mentorship Committee, 2021 (Co-Chair); Board of Directors, 2020 (Treasurer)
- Spruce Foundation — Board of Directors, 2020-present (Vice Chair of Development)
- Cornell University Gay & Lesbian Alumni Association — Board of Directors, 2019-present (Vice President)
- Independence Business Alliance — Board of Directors, 2019-21
- Young Involved Philadelphia — Board of Directors, 2018-20 (Treasurer)
- SpeakOut — Board of Directors, 2015-16 (Treasurer)
- Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association — Board of Directors, 2015-2016 (Co-Chair of Mentorship Committee, Co-Chair of Social Programming)
- Weston Friendly Society of Performing Arts — Board of Directors, 2014-16 (Chair of Social Media, Chair of Playreading)
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association (ABA) Young Lawyers Division — Real Property & Trusts and Estates, 2021-present (Chair)
- ABA Real Estate & Trusts and Estates (RPTE) Section — Financial Planning & Risk Management Committee, 2021-present (Vice-Chair); RPTE Fellow, 2019-2021 (Non-Tax Financial Planning, Membership, State & Local Bar Outreach)
- National Association of Estate Planners & Councils — Publications Committee, 2016-present
- Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) — Personal Financial Planning Thought Leadership Committee, 2020-present
Civic Activities
- Young Professionals Council Advisory Board (Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia) — Board of Directors, 2021-present
- Philadelphia Chapter of Compass — Project Team Leader/Consultant for Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County, 2020-21
- New Leaders Council Fellow — Philadelphia Chapter, 2019
Honors
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyers — ”Rising Star,” 2023
- City & State — Pennsylvania Forty Under 40, 2023
- American Bar Association — “On the Rise - Top 40 Young Lawyers,” 2023
- Cornell University — Roy H. Park Leadership Fellow, 2016; Emerging Markets Institute Fellow, 2017; Environmental Finance & Impact Investing Fellow, 2017; Johnson Leadership Fellow, 2017; Graduate Teaching Assistant Fellow, 2017
- Boston University School of Law — Sylvia Beinecke Robinson Award, 2013; J. Esdaile Moot Court Director, 2013; Homer Albers Prize Moot Court Competition Quarterfinalist, 2012
- Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County Community Partnership Award, 2022
- SUNY Geneseo — Rainbow Revolutionary Distinguished Alumni, 2022
- AL DÍA — “40 Under Forty” honoree, 2022
- Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2022-23