TEL: 201-525-6333
FAX: 201-678-6333
mforman@coleschotz.com
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Legal Secretary: Diane Rolfs
TEL: 201-489-3000, ext. 5012
drolfs@coleschotz.com

Michael Forman chairs the firm's Tax, Trusts & Estates Department. His practice encompasses complex business transactions and all phases of tax, estate and succession planning. He joined the firm in 1975 and became a partner in 1977.

Mr. Forman lectures regularly for certified public accounting, bar associations, investment advisors and insurance professionals on tax matters, including tax, estate and succession and corporate issues. He was an adjunct professor at the American College teaching business and estate tax planning. He has been certified as an Accredited Estate Planner by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils.

Mr. Forman is a member of the Tax Society of New York University and was appointed as a member of the Governor of New Jersey's Tax Advisory Council.

He has been awarded an AV rating for his professionalism and the quality of his legal work from Martindale-Hubbell, the premier directory of legal professionals. He has been selected 'Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year in Hackensack' by The Best Lawyers in America®  for 2012. Only one lawyer in each market is honored with this designation, and those recognized have earned particularly high ratings in surveys conducted by Best Lawyers. Since 1997, he has also been selected by his peers for inclusion in the prestigious Best Lawyers in America® in two areas - taxation and trusts and estates.  Since 2005, he has been selected for inclusion in New Jersey Super Lawyers®.  Mr. Forman was named to Who's Who in American Law, and the Top 100 Attorneys Serving Affluent Clients list by Worth magazine in 2005 and 2006.  He was also selected for inclusion in the New Jersey 2011 Five Star Wealth Managers list, published by New Jersey Monthly, in the areas of business planning, charitable giving and taxation.

Mr. Forman has also been included in 201 Magazine's list of Top Lawyers in Bergen County for 2011.

• Two Cole Schotz Attorneys Named as Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers, October 11, 2011
• Michael Forman was quoted in "Too many family businesses lacking succession plans; Small Business Talk" The Modesto Bee, June 8, 2011
• Michael Forman was qouted in "Family Businesses Still Avoid Succession Plans," The Record May 29, 2011
• Sweeping New Tax Legislation Signed Into Law
• 35 Cole Schotz Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in Best Lawyers in America®

• Estate Planning Council of Bergen County, Past President
• Greater New Jersey Estate Planning Council
• Passaic County Bar Association (Taxation Committee, Past Chairman)
• Passaic County Bar Association (Taxation and Probate Committees)
• Bergen County Bar Association (Taxation and Probate Committees)
• New Jersey State Bar Association (Taxation and Probate Committees)
• American Bar Association (Taxation and Probate Committees)
• Endowment Foundation of Montclair State University, Trustee
• Governor of New Jersey's Tax Advisory Council, Appointed
• Chairman of Lawyer's Division of State of Israel Bonds, Metrowest
• Board of Governors, Daughters of Israel
• Endowment Foundation of the North Jersey and Greater Clifton-Passaic Federations, Former Trustee