Firm Newsletter | September 2025

Dear Clients and Friends:

We hope you are enjoying the beginning of Fall! L’shanah tovah and happy new year to all who celebrate! We write to update you on recent activities at FRB.

First, we are excited to announce leadership milestones within our team. Please join us in celebrating the elevation of the following attorneys:

• Dana Walsh Sivak has been elevated to Equity Partner.
• Allen Abraham has been elevated to Equity Partner and named Chief Operating Officer.

Dana and Allen embody the leadership, cultural fit, and innovative mindset that define FRB, and we are proud to welcome them as Equity Partners. Learn more below.

Additionally, we're excited to announce Michael Landsman has been named Co-Chair of the Real Estate Practice Group and Karen Davakis has been elevated to Partner. 

Also, we are thrilled to welcome three Partners to the firm, each of whom significantly expand the firm’s legal capabilities: Angela Stockbridge (Taxation, Dallas) with a focus on Taxation, ERISA, and Executive Compensation, J. William Eshelman (Corporate & Securities, Washington, D.C.) with a focus on government contracts and regulation, and Julia Isabel Soto Perez (Corporate & Securities, Washington, D.C.) with a focus on international corporate M&A. Learn more about each of their professional backgrounds below.

FRB is thrilled to once again support the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County Golf Classic, taking place on Monday, September 29, 2025, at Nissequogue Golf Club in St. James, NY. Proceeds from the event directly benefit scholarships and financial aid for girls in need, while also expanding school-based community programming. Join us in supporting this tremendous cause and helping create opportunities for more girls to thrive. Learn more here. 

Lastly, FRB was a Platinum Sponsor at the Orange County Business Jounal's Innovator of the Year Awards 2025! We are proud to celebrate the exceptional achievements and entrepreneurial spirit of this year's innovative nominees and winners. Check out highlights from the event here.

 

Register for The Advanced Tax Strategy Webinar Series Presented by Matthew Foreman

 

Register for Our Upcoming Webinars & Events

 

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Check Out Our Latest Podcasts

 

 

How Tax Works - Ep. 35 
The Installment Method Under Section 453 of Internal Revenue Code

• In episode 35 of How Tax Works, Matthew E. Foreman, Esq., LL.M. discusses sales where payment is over a number of years, with additional discussions of interest payments due to large notes and interaction with 1031 exchanges.
• Listen here.

 

Block & Order #43
SEC/CFTC Turf Wars, Tokenized Stocks, the $1.5B Anthropic AI Lawsuit and More!

• In this episode of Block and Order, hosts Kyle M. Lawrence, Esq. and Moish E. Peltz, Esq. take a look at the growing rivalry between the SEC and CFTC, and what their latest moves could mean for the crypto industry and everyone building in it. They dig into NASDAQ’s headline-making push for tokenized stocks, unpack what tokenization really means, and discuss whether it’s the next big thing or just the latest buzzword. The conversation also covers the OCC’s new efforts to keep politics out of banking, and how Washington’s legislative gridlock is stalling much-needed clarity for digital assets. 
• Watch here.

 

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FRB Celebrates Leadership Milestones

 

• We are proud to share that Dana Walsh Sivak, Partner and Chair of the Elder Law Practice Group, has been promoted to Equity Partner. Dana has distinguished herself with her experience and skill in elder law and client-focused advocacy. As Chair of the Elder Law Practice Group, she guides clients through complex long-term care planning, Medicaid matters, and guardianship proceedings. An active member of the Cannabis & Psychedelics Practice Group and the broader community, Dana continues to provide thoughtful, strategic counsel to her clients.

 

• We are pleased to announce the promotion of Allen Abraham, Esq. to Equity Partner and Chief Operating Officer. Since joining FRB, Allen has distinguished himself through his leadership, strategic vision, and client-focused approach. In addition to his corporate and commercial litigation practice, Allen previously served as Managing Associate, overseeing firmwide operations, developing policies and procedures, and supporting the Management Committee in advancing the firm’s business objectives. We are excited to welcome Allen to the partnership as he continues to provide guidance and leadership across the firm.

 

• We are excited to announce the promotion of Karen C. Davakis, Esq. to Partner in our Trusts & Estates Litigation and Fiduciary Accounting Practice Groups. Since joining FRB, Karen has distinguished herself with her legal expertise, client-centered approach, and dedication to mentorship. A trusted advisor in complex trusts and estates litigation, she also regularly serves as a Guardian ad Litem in Surrogate’s Court matters. We are excited to welcome Karen to the partnership as she continues to provide thoughtful, strategic counsel to our clients. Read the full press release here.

 

• FRB is proud to announce that Michael L. Landsman, Esq. has been promoted to Co-Chair of our Real Estate Practice Group. With more than 25 years of experience in commercial and investment real estate, Michael’s deep knowledge and client-focused approach make him an invaluable leader as we continue to guide clients through complex transactions with efficiency and confidence. Read the full press release here. 

 

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FRB Welcomes New Attorneys

 

• J. William Eshelman, Esq. joins FRB as a Partner in the Corporate & Securities Practice Group. Bill expands FRB’s government contracts, regulatory, and compliance practices, advising clients on contract negotiation, compliance programs, trade regulation, internal investigations, and litigation. Drawing on his experience as a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve Lieutenant Colonel in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, he represents companies in Bid Protests, Boards of Contract Appeals, False Claims Act matters, and Department of Defense issues. Bill also assists international companies navigating U.S. government contracts and provides practical strategies to help clients manage risk and resolve disputes across commercial, government, construction, and technology industries. Read the full press release here.

 

• Angela M. Stockbridge, Esq. joins FRB as an Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Attorney in the Taxation Practice Group. Angela advises employers and executives on complex benefits and compensation matters, including M&A diligence, equity and retirement plan design, fiduciary governance, and compliance under ERISA, HIPAA, and the ACA. She represents plan sponsors in audits, Form 5500 filings, and IRS correction programs, and assists with benefits claims, vendor contracts, and third-party administration. Angela also provides guidance on Section 280G issues and corporate transactions, supporting start-ups, pre-IPO companies, privately held firms, and Fortune 500 clients across the U.S.

 

• Julia Isabel Soto Perez, Esq. joins FRB as a Partner in the Corporate & Securities Practice Group. Julia advises multinational companies, investors, and startups on cross-border transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, carve-outs, and reorganizations. She guides clients through multi-jurisdictional diligence, deal structuring, and governance, and drafts the commercial agreements that sustain international operations. Julia also acts as outside general counsel to growth-stage companies, providing board-facing counsel, commercial contracting, compliance guidance, and operational support to help businesses scale efficiently. Her practice emphasizes clarity, execution, and preserving deal value from term sheet through integration.

 

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Check Out Our Past Webinars

• Matthew E. Rappaport, Esq., LL.M. covers choice of entity, fundamentals of pass-through taxation, filing requirements and audit triggers, deductions and credits, exit strategies, international considerations for closely held businesses, current tax updates, ethics, and more.
• Watch here.

 

New York Probate Process from Start to Finish (Up to 8.0 CLE/CPE Credits)

• Watch here.

 

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Check Out Our Latest Insights & News

 

• Since 2020, two important changes to the Medicaid program have been looming on the horizon for applicants and recipients of community-based Medicaid benefits. Dana Walsh Sivak, Esq. explains an important change being implemented that will impact those in need. Read here.

 

• Once our children turn 18, in the eyes of the law, they are full-fledged adults. Dana Walsh Sivak, Esq. explores advance directives that are essential when children are going off to college – and ways that parents of children with special needs can continue to advocate for their child’s best interests once they officially become a young adult. Read here.

 

Beyond Compassion[ate Use]: How to Capitalize on Texas’s Cannabis Market Boom

• Texas’s medical-only, low-THC cannabis market offers limited but highly competitive licensing opportunities, with evolving rules for hemp-derived products under GA-56 adding new considerations for operators. Daniel J. Gershman, Esq., Andrew P. Cooper, Esq., LL.M., and Terran Cooper break down the Compassionate Use Program, regulatory requirements, and strategies for prospective entrants. Read here.

 

Texas Data Privacy and Security Act: Compliance Imperatives and Enforcement Trends for Businesses

• Texas is stepping up enforcement of data privacy, making compliance with the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act more important than ever. Daniel J. Gershman, Esq. and Vaughn C. Collopy, Esq. explore what businesses relocating to the state need to know. Read here.

 

EU Court Affirms EU-US Data Protection Framework: Practical Implications for Global Businesses

• What does the recent Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruling on the EU-US Data Protection Framework mean for businesses navigating cross-border data transfers? Daniel J. Gershman, Esq. explores this in our latest blog article. Read here.

 

Importance of Updated Privacy Policies for Online Retailers

• Staying compliant with evolving data privacy laws is more important than ever for online businesses. James M. Black II, Esq., Daniel J. Gershman, Esq., and Vaughn C. Collopy, Esq., share why updated privacy policies and terms of use are critical to protecting customers and reducing risk. Read here.

 

GENIUS Act Is Officially Law — Now What? The Most Important Deadlines Stablecoin Businesses Should Know

• The GENIUS Act establishes the first federal framework for U.S. stablecoins, setting strict reserve and disclosure rules while outlining key deadlines for issuers, banks, and regulators to navigate over the next 18 months. Moish E. Peltz, Esq. and Kyle M. Lawrence, Esq. explain how businesses can prepare for compliance and manage evolving regulatory requirements under the new law. Read here.

 

Legal Structures for Multigenerational Bitcoin Wealth

• Moish E. Peltz, Esq. and Kyle M. Lawrence, Esq. explore legal strategies such as dynasty trusts, SLATs, GRATs, CRTs, and offshore entities to safeguard bitcoin holdings, minimize taxes, and preserve wealth across generations. Read here.

 

Dormant Commerce Clause Limits New York’s Cannabis Licensing – A New Second Circuit Decision

• The Second Circuit has ruled that New York’s adult-use cannabis licensing “extra priority” criteria, requiring a NY cannabis conviction, violates the Dormant Commerce Clause, a decision that could reshape the December queue and impact applicants statewide. Andrew P. Cooper, Esq., LL.M. and Terran Cooper discuss the case, its implications for New York’s cannabis market, and what may come next. Read here.

 

• Federal cannabis rescheduling is back in the headlines as the Trump administration weighs a possible move from Schedule I to Schedule III. Andrew P. Cooper, Esq., LL.M. and Terran Cooper explore what this change could mean for the industry in their latest article. Read here.