
At GFGR, we strive to provide our clients the highest quality legal services while creating a work environment that honors, respects, and values our clients, colleagues, and community. We were founded by a select group of lawyers and experts who have practiced together for more than 20 years. The underpinning of our successful practice is a superb team of administrative professionals who enable us to provide a broad range of legal and non-legal advisory services. GFGR offers clients an appealing value proposition — a comprehensive array of client benefits at the highest level of quality, but reasonably priced and timely delivered. Our firm is AV-rated 4.9 (out of 5.0) by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized in U.S. News and World Report’s and Woodward/White, Inc.’s Best Lawyers® for our work in Business Organizations, Trusts & Estates Law, and Tax Law.
Attorneys
Leslie C. Giordani
Partner
Leslie primarily represents high net worth individuals and family offices in a wide variety of legal matters. Her particular focus is domestic and international trust, investment, and life insurance structures.
View Attorney ProfileMichael H. Ripp, Jr.
Partner
Michael represents high net worth individuals and family offices in the design, implementation, and administration of domestic and international trust, investment, and life insurance structures.
View Attorney ProfileCindy L. Grossman
Partner
Cindy has a breadth of experience in corporate and partnership formation and operation, entity conversion and reorganization, business planning, business succession, and asset protection planning.
View Attorney ProfileLauren M. Fitte
Partner
Lauren focuses on the design, implementation and administration of domestic and international estate and business plans for GFGR’s clients.
View Attorney ProfilePractice Professionals
Robert W. Chesner, Jr.
Finance & Insurance
Bob assists high net worth individuals and family offices in the design and implementation of domestic and offshore life insurance and annuity structures.
View Practice Professional ProfileJ. Ross Buchholtz
Tax & Accounting
Ross draws upon his extensive experience as a senior certified public accountant to advise clients on a variety of income and transfer tax matters.
View Practice Professional ProfileCoordinators
Bruce S. Kentros
Trusts
Bruce's efforts are focused on complex structure administration and international estate and wealth protection planning.
View Coordinator ProfileChristina L. Pedersen
Tax Matters
Christina primarily focuses on domestic and international tax compliance and planning for individuals, entities, and trusts.
View Coordinator ProfileAmy D. Quiñones
International Matters
Amy supports the design, implementation and administration of offshore and domestic life insurance structures.
View Coordinator ProfileCarol S. Kohler
Corporate Matters
Carol supports the firm’s income and estate tax attorneys in the design and implementation of domestic and international entity structures.
View Coordinator ProfileExecutive & Legal Assistants
Shannon L. Clifton
Executive Assistant
Shannon's primary responsibilities are to support Leslie Giordani, Bob Chesner, and Amy Quiñones; she also manages online presence.
View Legal Assistant ProfileHeather J. Denham
Legal Assistant
Heather primarily supports Michael Ripp, Cindy Grossman, Steven Baker, Lauren Fitte, Bruce Kentros and Carol Kohler, as well as firm training and other firm administration duties.
View Legal Assistant ProfilePaula L. Echols
Legal Assistant
Paula primarily supports Ross Buchholtz and Christina Pedersen, as well as firm accounting and other firm administration duties.
View Legal Assistant ProfileAdministration
Robert W. Chesner, Jr.
Chief Operating Officer
Bob oversees all of the operational, administrative, and financial functions of the firm.
View Administrator ProfileDavid Giordani
Firm Administrator
David oversees all matters related to personnel, logistics, billing and bookkeeping, and financial planning.
View Administrator ProfileAlyssa N. Gault
Accounting Administrator
Alyssa administers accounts payable and receivable, maintains the firm's ledgers and provides client support.
View Administrator ProfileSandra Painter
Bookkeeper
Sandra oversees most bookkeeping and primarily supports Ross Buchholtz and Christina Pedersen. She also supports Amy Quiñones in several insurance related matters.
View Administrator ProfileStephanie Cook
Receptionist
Stephanie is the primary point of contact for clients and other visitors and provides general administrative support.
View Administrator ProfileGBGR Alumni
Peggy A. Ugent
Tax & Accounting
Ms. Ugent retired as the firm’s Director of Tax and Accounting in April 2018, but she continues to share her extensive experience on an as-needed basis with the firm.
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