Michael Miller

Attorney Profile

With more than 35 years' experience in private practice, Mr. Miller has served in various leadership roles and has received many awards and recognition over the years for his public service. Mr. Miller is a former President of the 70,000 member New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) and the New York County Lawyers Association. Among other leadership roles, he was chair of the New York State Conference of Bar Leaders, has served in the NYSBA House of Delegates for more than 20 years and is a current member of the American Bar Association's House of Delegates.

With a practice devoted primarily to issues related to estate planning and the efficient transfer of personal wealth, over the years, Mr. Miller has developed strategic alliances with experienced attorneys and other professionals in a wide array of areas, including complex real estate transactions, commercial disputes, personal injuries, family law, financial planning and others. He has substantial experience in all aspects of estate and trust work, including planning, administration and litigation. He offers valuable counsel regarding both strategic and tactical approaches to estate planning and provides sophisticated legal representation to heirs, spouses, next of kin, and fiduciaries, including trustees, executors, receivers, estate representatives and other parties.

Over the years, Mr. Miller has handled a wide variety of client matters, including personal and estate planning, the administration of estates and trusts, contested Surrogate's Court and tax proceedings on behalf of high net-worth individuals, professionals, entrepreneurs, artists and others with unique property interests. Additionally, he has overseen the orderly management, disposition and sale of substantial commercial and residential properties in the U.S. and abroad, as well as significant personal assets, including intellectual property, fine art, couture illustrations, and precious jewelry collections.

Mr. Miller has been recognized and received many awards for his long and diverse commitment to pro bono and public service activities both locally and in the international arena. Mr. Miller is a recipient of the American Bar Association's 2002 Pro Bono Publico Award, its highest award for pro bono service, in recognition of his leading role in the legal relief efforts in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. He is also the recipient of the 2018 Boris Kostelanetz President's Medal from the New York County Lawyers Association in recognition of his record of distinguished service to the profession and the 2019 NYSBA Women In Law Section Outstanding Champion Award for his support of gender equality. Additionally, Mr. Miller served as an election supervisor in war-torn Bosnia shortly after the Dayton Accords and he interviewed Kosovo refugees for evidence of "ethnic cleansing" war crimes—evidence that was used in prosecutions at the International War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague.

Mr. Miller has lectured on many legal topics, including, estates, trusts, receiverships, guardianships, estate planning in wrongful death proceedings, representation of executors, trustees, receivers, guardians and other fiduciaries, attorney professionalism and other topics.

Michael Miller is very active in the organized bar and community. Among many leadership positions, he has had the honor to serve as:

• President, New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) - 2018–2019;
• President, New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA) 2002-2004;
• Chair, New York State Bar Association House of Delegates (2017-2018); and
• Chair, New York State Conference of Bar Leaders (2004-2005).

CURRICULUM VITAE

Education:

New York Law School, JD
New York University, BA

Bar Admissions: New York, New Jersey, Florida and various Federal Courts

1984-Present 
General civil practice with a primary focus on the representation of high net-worth clients in estate, trust and elder law matters, and the representation of heirs, spouses, next of kin, trustees, executors, estate representatives, guardians, receivers and other fiduciaries and parties in estate-related matters.

Selected Awards & Recognition:

• 2009-2021New York Super Lawyers – Metro Edition
• 2002-2021 AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® (the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards)
• 2019 NYSBA Women In Law Section Outstanding Champion Award
• 2018 NYCLA Boris Kostelanetz President's Medal
• 2014 NYCLA President's Commendation
• Honorary Member, 69^th Regiment, NY (U.S. Army Reserves) 2007
• 2002 ABA Pro Bono Publico Award and other awards for 9/11 relief work
• 2002 Hero of the Profession Award, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education
• 1999 Award of Merit, Central and East European Law Initiative (Kosovo Refugee Project)
• 1996 Award of Recognition, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Bosnian Elections)

New York State Bar Association (NYSBA)

• President, President-Elect & Vice President (June 2015 - June 2019)
• Executive Committee (2007-2008, 2015-2020)
• House of Delegates (1992-1996, 1997-2000, 2001-2005, 2006-2010, 2012-present)
• Membership Committee (2016-2018)
• Working Group on CLE (2016-2018)
• Working Group on 3rd Party Legal Services (2016-2018)
• President's Committee on Access to Justice (2014-2018)
• Life Fellow, New York State Bar Foundation
• Nominating Committee (2000-2004, 2020-present)
• Special Committee on Seniors (1988-1991)
• Elder Law Section:
  • Founding Member, Executive Committee (1991-1997)
  • Founding Editor, Section Newsletter (1991-1993)
  • Chair, Committee on Networking (1993-1996)
  • Chair, Committee on Guardianships and Fiduciaries (1996-1998)
  • Associate Editor, Guardianship Practice in NYS (NYSBA 1997)
• Special Committee on Ombudsman (1998-2002)
• Special Committee on Lawyer Advertising (1997-1999)
• Chair, Special Committee on the Unlawful Practice of the Law (1996-1997)
• Trusts and Estate Law Section (1985-present)
• General Practice Section (1994-present)
• Women in Law Section (2018-present)

New York State Conference of Bar Leaders

• Chair, NYS Conference of Bar Leaders (2004-2005)
• Executive Council, NYS Conference of Bar Leaders (2002-2006)

New York County Lawyers' Association (NYCLA)

• President, President-Elect & Vice President (1998-2004)
• Executive Committee of Board of Directors (1994-1996, 1997-2006, 2019-present)
• Chair, Nominating Committee (2016-2021)
• Member, Board of Directors (1992-1996, 1997-present)
• Co-Chair, Task Force on Judicial Budget Cuts (2011-2015)
• Co-Chair, Committee on Continuing Legal Education and CLE Institute (1995-2002)
• Chair, Annual Dinner (1995 & 1998)
• Chair, Committee on the Judiciary (1993-1997)
• Co-Chair, Special Committee on Cameras in the Courts (1993-1995)
• Chair, Special Committee on State Court Facilities (1992-1997)
• Chair, Special Committee on Electronic Recording of Judicial Proceedings (1992-1996)
• Chair, Civil Court Practice Section (1991-1993)

American Bar Association

• House of Delegates (2000-2004, 2017-present)
• National Conference of Bar Presidents (2000-2006, 2017-2020)
• Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section (1986-present)
• General Practice Small Firm and Solo Section (2000-present)
• 2002 ABA Pro Bono Publico Award
• National Caucus of State Bar Associations (2002-2003, 2017-2020)
• Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Other Relevant Activities

Bosnian Elections

Election Supervisor in war-torn Bosnia for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the international body authorized under the Dayton Accords to coordinate and supervise the Bosnian elections. (1996)

Kosovo Refugees

Interviewed Kosovo refugees for evidence of "ethnic cleansing" war crimes and crimes against humanity under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Justice, in association with the Central and East European Law Initiative of the ABA in support of the work of the International War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague. (1999)

9/11 Relief Work

Recipient of 2002 ABA Pro Bono Publico Award and other awards for 9/11 relief work. Following the 9/11 attacks, worked 7 days per week for 6 weeks in the recruitment, training and coordination of volunteer lawyers at the Family Assistance Center on Pier 94 in New York City to assist victims' families in obtaining death certificates and entitlements to which issuance of a death certificate was an essential prerequisite. Interviewed, counseled, and consoled victims' grieving family members and assisted in the preparation of legal documents for issuance of death certificates, supervised other volunteers, and coordinated daily de-briefings with mental health professionals. Helped establish NYCLA's Adopt-A-Family Program which provided free legal services throughout the probate process for families of firefighters, police officers, and other first responders.