Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone

Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP is a full-service law firm established in 1970 with a foundational vision to create a commercially focused, tax-centric practice on Long Island. The firm was started by Lew Meltzer, who, after graduating from Harvard Law School and gaining experience in tax and real estate law, decided to build a practice that attracted talent from major New York City firms who wished to work closer to home. He began his solo practice in 1968 out of his in-law's basement before officially forming the firm in June 1970. Key partners joined over the years, shaping the firm's trajectory; Shelly Goldstein arrived in 1976 to head the real estate practice, and Dick Lippe joined after a prospective merger between their respective firms fell through, leading to the name Meltzer, Lippe & Goldstein. Stephen Breitstone, with a background at prominent Manhattan law firms, later joined to lead and significantly expand the tax group.

The firm operates on a business model that provides comprehensive legal counsel to a diverse client base that includes public and private companies, closely held family businesses, high-net-worth individuals, real estate developers, and venture capitalists. Revenue is generated through the provision of legal services across its various practice areas. The firm positions itself as offering the high-caliber expertise found in large New York City firms but with a value proposition and personalized approach more characteristic of a smaller firm. With over 80 attorneys, the firm serves clients worldwide from its offices in Long Island, New York City, and Boca Raton, Florida.

Meltzer Lippe offers a wide array of legal services, initially rooted in a combination of tax, corporate, and real estate law. Over the decades, it has grown to encompass sixteen keystone practice groups, including Commercial Litigation, Labor & Employment, and Trusts & Estates. Specialized practices have also been developed to meet evolving client needs, such as social media & privacy law, tax controversy, and wealth preservation. The firm's attorneys have experience across numerous sectors, including financial services, real estate, manufacturing, technology, and healthcare. This multidisciplinary approach allows the firm to handle complex matters, from corporate transactions and tax planning to litigation and estate matters for its varied clientele.

Keywords: full-service law firm, tax law, corporate law, real estate law, trusts and estates, commercial litigation, high-net-worth individuals, closely held businesses, private companies, legal counsel, Long Island law firm, wealth preservation, tax controversy, estate planning, labor and employment law, business law, real estate developers, venture capital, corporate transactions, partnership law