Gabrielle C. Lese is a shareholder in Anderson Kill's New York office and is a member of the Wills, Trusts and Estates Group. Gabrielle is an experienced trusts and estates attorney with a background in corporate and securities law.

Gabrielle concentrates her practice in estate planning, probate and administration of estates. She helps clients create their estate plans with an integrated view of their family situation, assets and future planning. When appropriate, Gabrielle works with her client’s financial planner to gain a complete view of the client’s assets and financial position and to develop a coordinated plan. She has particular experience assisting blended families with more complex planning. Gabrielle also helps clients with estate planning where there is a family member with disabilities, including, where appropriate, guardianships and special needs trusts.

Gabrielle became a certified mediator to enhance her skill set in conflict resolution, especially regarding disputes among beneficiaries in estate administrations.

Gabrielle has counseled conflicting family members to resolve estate disputes efficiently, avoiding costly litigation. Additionally, she has worked extensively with opposing counsel in potential will contests to reach a reasonable and pragmatic result. The goal is to furnish a resolution where both sides can find peace and closure from one of life’s most dysregulating events. Because Gabrielle also draws from her experience in creating successful estate plans, she can offer her clients an in-depth view of potential outcomes and guide them to an acceptable settlement of these often very sensitive conflicts.

On a pro bono basis, Gabrielle prepares and oversees custody and guardianship cases involving immigrant children in Family Court, ultimately seeking a guardianship or custody order as well as a special findings order as a first step for undocumented minors to seek Special Immigration Juvenile Status. Fluent in Spanish, Gabrielle can speak to most of her guardianship and custody clients in their native language and so build trust and comfort from the start.

Prior to focusing on estate planning, Gabrielle practiced corporate law in New York and London. Her practice involved drafting and negotiating underwriting agreements and other operative documents, including indentures and registered securities offerings for U.S. and non-U.S. issuers, as well as submitting necessary filings and coordinating with the S.E.C.

Memberships

New York State Bar Association
New York City Bar Association, Trusts, Estates and Surrogate’s Court Committee
Westchester County Bar Association
Westchester County Women’s Bar Association
Center for Understanding Conflict Mediation Training

Personal

Gabrielle is a mentor in Barnard College’s mentoring program, a Girl Scout troop founder and co-leader in Scarsdale, NY, and a runner who has completed six marathons.