Firm Newsletter | December 2025
Dear Clients and Friends:
Happy Holidays! As we reflect on the past year, we are always reminded that we are who we are because of you.
The communities we serve are important to us. As such, FRB is proud to introduce Generations Forward, a new initiative founded by Co-Managing Partner Kenneth Falcon, dedicated to expanding access to homeownership education and empowering individuals and families to build long-term financial security. This program reflects our firm’s ongoing commitment to giving back and supporting stronger, more resilient communities. Learn more here.
In the spirit of staying invested in our communities, we are thrilled to share that Matthew Foreman has joined the board of Savvy Ladies after six years of dedicated service as a Helpline Volunteer. Savvy Ladies is an exceptional organization committed to empowering women through financial education, and Matthew is proud to support its impactful mission in this new leadership role. Learn more about Savvy Ladies and its important work here.
Looking forward to next year, FRB will be returning to the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, taking place January 12 - 16 in Orlando, Florida. FRB Founding Partners Matthew Rappaport, Jeffrey Berkman, and Michele Schlereth will be attending along with several of our Taxation and Private Client professionals. Interested in connecting at the conference? Contact FRB's Marketing Director, Abby Winckler (awinckler@frblaw.com), for details on our exclusive networking dinner co-hosted with The Fortez Group.
From all of us at FRB, our warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a very Happy New Year!
FRB Celebrates Client Win
We are excited to share that FRB secured a summary judgment victory for Go Global Retail on a breach of contract claim, led by FRB's Moish Peltz, Co-Managing Partner and Chair of the Intellectual Property Practice Group, and Steven Berlowitz, Counsel in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Group. Our teams demonstrated their combined strength by enforcing firm-drafted contractual protections and safeguarding a client's most valuable confidential assets.
Learn more about this victory here.
Register for Our Upcoming Webinars & Events
Webinar: Business Law From A to Z
- Join FRB’s Matthew E. Foreman, Esq., LL.M., James M. Black, Esq., Richard E Weltman, Esq., Daniel J. Gershman, Esq., and Michelle S. Kabel, Esq. on Tuesday, January 20, from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET and cover the full spectrum of business law essentials. Topics include entity selection, LLC formation, business contracts, transfer of interests, and emerging technology issues.
- Learn more and register here.
Webinar: Effective Use of IRA Trusts in Estate Planning under the New Retirement Distribution Rules
- Join FRB’s Angela M. Stockbridge, Esq. and Sy Goldberg of Goldberg & Goldberg PC on Thursday, January 22, from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM ET for a timely discussion on post-SECURE Act inherited IRA rules, including the 10-year rule, annual RMD requirements, and practical trust planning strategies to help beneficiaries and trustees reduce penalty exposure as IRS enforcement resumes.
- Learn more and register here.
Webinar: AI Policy Checkup
- Join FRB’s Moish E. Peltz, Esq., Jeffrey W. Berkman, Esq., LL.M., and Alexander R. Migliorini, Esq., MBA on Wednesday, January 28, from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET for a hands-on discussion on building effective AI policies, including must-have provisions, common gaps, and practical checklists and sample clauses you can use right away.
- Learn more and register here.
Check Out Our Latest Podcasts
How Tax Works - Ep. 41
Payment Plans and Penalty Abatement
- In episode 41 of How Tax Works, Matthew E. Foreman, Esq., LL.M. gives an overview of what taxpayers and their advisors should do and expect when they owe money and want to pay it off over time, while trying to lower the amount due without continuing the auditor or litigation.
- Listen to the episode here.
Block & Order #46
Building on Layer 1 with Jennie Levin: Algorand, Policy Shifts & Tokenization’s Future
- In this episode of Block and Order, hosts Kyle M. Lawrence, Esq. and Moish E. Peltz, Esq. talk with Jennie Levin, the Chief Legal and Operating Officer of the Algorand Foundation, about the evolving regulatory climate that is reshaping tokenization, stablecoins, and institutional adoption. Jennie explains how Algorand’s architecture supports real-world assets and global payments, why the foundation is re-embracing the U.S. market, and how builders can navigate uncertainty. She also shares how her former life as a federal prosecutor informs her approach to compliance, risk, and responsible growth in crypto.
- Watch the episode here.
FRB Welcomes Michael J. Sullivan
Michael J. Sullivan, Esq.
FRB is pleased to welcome Michael J. Sullivan as a Partner in the firm’s Trusts & Estates Litigation and Probate & Administration of Trusts & Estates Practice Groups. Michael represents executors, trustees, and beneficiaries in complex disputes involving wills, trusts, and estate planning entities, guiding clients through high-stakes and often emotionally charged matters with clarity and precision. His practice spans contested estate and trust litigation, fiduciary representation, and advisory work focused on effective administration and risk mitigation, with a strategic, practical approach informed by deep experience in New York, New Jersey, and federal courts.
Check Out Our Past Webinars & Podcast Appearances
Webinar: Building an AI-Ready Business: Strategy, Policy, and Practice
- Jeffrey W. Berkman, Esq., LL.M., Douglas E. Singer, Esq., and Alexander R. Migliorini, Esq., MBA, alongside Kathy D'Agostino, explore how to integrate AI responsibly and effectively, without risking your clients’ trust or your company’s integrity + cover real-world strategies for AI policy development, ROI assessment, and ethical adoption.
- Watch here.
Webinar: The Advanced Tax Strategy Series
- Matthew E. Foreman, Esq., LL.M. helps professionals seek deeper insights into sophisticated tax planning. View all four sessions below
- Watch here.
Podcast: Wisdom for Wannabes
- Elizabeth E. Schlissel, Esq. joins host Jackie Morreale, discussing her journey in the field of employment law, the importance of workplace culture, and the evolving landscape of employee rights.
- Watch here.
Podcast: Law You Should Know
- Hon. Ruth B. Kraft was recently featured on the Law You Should Know podcast with Ken Landau, discussing the top employment law issues for 2026, including the return-to-office movement, evolving non-compete laws, new leave protections such as prenatal leave, and best practices for resolving workplace conflicts.
- Listen here.
Webinar: Tax Considerations in Business Entity Selection: Advantages and Disadvantages for Counsel and Advisers
(1.5 CLE/CPE Credits)
- Matthew E. Foreman, Esq., LL.M. discusses how entity choice impacts taxation, ownership, and long-term business planning.
- Watch here.
Webinar: Advanced Family Law in New York
(Up to 8.0 CLE Credits)
- Michael B. Shapiro, Esq. covers critical issues including default inheritance laws, medical decision-making, beneficiary designations, updating estate planning documents, and planning for disabled dependents.
- Watch here.
Check Out Our Latest Insights & News
Why MUSIC.AI’s Trademark Failed: Descriptive Marks, TTAB Risk, and Branding Strategies for AI and Technology Companies
A recent TTAB decision rejecting MUSIC.AI is a reminder that descriptive AI product names are hard to protect as trademarks. Moish Peltz explores why distinctiveness, not speed to market, is critical to building protectable AI and tech brands. Read more.
New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act: What the Governor’s Announced Deal Means for Patients and Families
New York is on the brink of a major shift in laws governing end-of-care with the announcement of the state's anticipated adoption of the Medical Aid in Dying Act. Dana Walsh Sivak examines what Governor Hochul’s deal to sign the controversial Medical Aid in Dying Act means for older adults, caregivers, health care providers, and estate planning in New York. Read more.
Enforcement Date Approaches for Inherited IRA Beneficiaries
If you inherited a traditional IRA after 2019, the rules have changed and timing matters. Under the SECURE Act, most non-spouse beneficiaries must fully distribute inherited IRAs within 10 years, with potential annual RMD and tax implications. Angela Stockbridge explains what beneficiaries need to know. Read more.
A Preference “Playbook”: Judge Walrath’s CalPlant Decision Clarifies Key Defenses Under Bankruptcy Code 11 U.S.C. § 547
A same-day payment isn’t always a safe payment. Michael Moskowitz explains how Judge Walrath’s CalPlant decision offers a clear roadmap for analyzing ordinary course and contemporaneous exchange defenses under §547(c). Read more.
The Valuation Hurdles of Token Grants and Cross-Border Transfers? Lessons from Neil Thakur of Teknos Associates
The way tokens are valued has officially changed. Moish Peltz and Kyle Lawrence spotlight insights from Block & Order’s conversation with Neil Thakur, Managing Director and Co-Founder at Teknos Associates, revealing why option-pricing models, reliable data sources, and evolving U.S. regulations now dominate the valuation process. Read more.
Who’s Really Steering U.S. Crypto Policy? The SEC–CFTC “Harmonization” Plan, the New CFTC Chair, and the Coming Innovation Exemption
Moish Peltz and Kyle Lawrence break down why the SEC–CFTC push for harmonization, Mike Selig’s nomination, and the upcoming innovation exemption signal a real shift toward a unified digital-asset framework. Read more.
Major Retirement Plan Contribution Limits Increase for 2026: What Employers & Plan Sponsors Should Know
The IRS has announced major increases to 2026 retirement plan contribution limits. Angela Stockbridge breaks down what these changes mean for your 401(k), IRA, and more. Read more.
When a Judgment Lien Meets Bankruptcy: Timing, Property Type, and Preference Avoidance
Timing can make or break a creditor’s recovery. Michael Moskowitz explores In re Erica Itzhak, a recent SDNY case showing how lien timing can determine whether it survives bankruptcy. Read more.
Onshore Optimism, Offshore Reality: Why Token Projects Still Aren’t Launching in the U.S.
- Even with new U.S. crypto laws and friendlier regulators, most token projects are still launching offshore — for practical, not political, reasons. Moish E. Peltz, Esq. and Kyle M. Lawrence, Esq. explain why tax policy keeps builders abroad and when that might finally change. Read more.
Bankruptcy Court Grants In Rem Relief to Creditor, Strengthening Protections Against Serial Bankruptcy Filers
- A recent case out of Sacramento demonstrates how in rem relief can protect creditors’ rights and prevent abuse of the bankruptcy process. Michael L. Moskowitz, Esq. and Melissa A. Guseynov, Esq. explain the key takeaways and what this ruling means for lenders and secured creditors. Read more.
TTAB Decision on WORLDWIDECRYPTO Provides an Instructive Reminder for Crypto Trademark Applicants
- A recent Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) decision highlights a key lesson for crypto businesses: descriptive names make weak trademarks. FRB's Moish E. Peltz, Esq. breaks down the WORLDWIDECRYPTO case and what it means for brand strategy in the digital asset industry. Read more.
Can I Deduct the Money That I Sent to (or Was Stolen by) a Scammer?
- Scams like phishing and “pig butchering” can do more than drain your accounts – they can have tax implications. Matthew E. Foreman, Esq., LL.M. and Tonya Hurd explore what recent IRS guidance means for victims of targeted scams. Read more.
Double Trouble: Navigating ADA and Privacy Compliance in Website Policy Changes
- Website accessibility and privacy compliance aren’t just issues in New York and California – litigation is expanding nationwide. Hon. Ruth B. Kraft and Daniel J. Gershman, Esq. explore how even routine updates, like new privacy policies or screen reader tools, can create ADA risks if not tested properly. Read more.