Estate Planning and Probate
Chris helps clients understand the issues related to preserving wealth accumulation, and arranging for efficient administration of their estate. Chris is well versed in techniques to aid clients in forming and implementing comprehensive estate plans. Reducing estate tax liability is important, but Chris understands that each client’s situation is unique, and the tax motivated decisions must be consistent with the client’s desires. Taking into account estate and income tax issues, as well as human and family concerns and financial factors, Chris’ goal is to create comprehensive plans tailored to each individual's needs from traditional wills and trusts for taxable and nontaxable estates, to more sophisticated planning including the formation and implementation of business succession plans, family entities, charitable trusts, and irrevocable insurance trusts.

Business Transactions, Compliance and Planning
Chris advises clients on partnership agreements, incorporations, and shareholder agreements in addition to drafting and negotiating contracts and assisting in the preparation and development of funding proposals and business plans. Chris advises privately-held businesses and their owners on particular legal issues, including: tax strategies and pitfalls, income and capital issues, compensation and retention strategies, entity and owner insurance planning, and business succession and continuity challenges. Chris assists clients in a wide spectrum of M&A transactions, such as stock and asset acquisitions, mergers, corporate spin-offs and joint ventures.

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Chris works with clients and their professional advisors in designing, drafting, and administering the employee benefits plans, including profit sharing plans, deferred compensation plans, cafeteria plans, medical expense reimbursement plans, and employee stock option plans.

Taxation & Tax Controversy
Chris consults with multinational companies on tax aspects of business transactions and recommends tax savings strategies to small businesses and individuals. Chris is admitted to the U.S. Tax Court and has extensive experience representing large corporation, closely-held businesses, estates, and individuals before the Internal Revenue Service on a wide variety of issues.

Prior to joining Winston & Cashatt, Christopher was with Deloitte Tax LLP as a tax controversy specialist in San Francisco, California.