Pittsburgh Hosts Symposium Today On Protecting Dynastic Wealth

Pittsburgh hosts a symposium on Protecting Dynastic Wealth: Perspectives on the Role of Estate and Gift Tax in Perpetuating Inequality today at 8:00 AM -2:00 PM ET (live stream here): 

Opening Keynote:  Jonathan Blattmachr, The 200-Year Life and the Future of Wealth Transfer Taxation

Panel #1: Protecting Dynastic Wealth

The estate and gift tax law has been critiqued as ineffective in curbing the growth of dynastic wealth. What goals are well served by the current law of wealth transfer taxation? Who benefits the most from the current tax structure? How might estate and gift tax laws be more effective as a backstop for the income tax? What role do lawyers play in the tax system, and how does that uniquely manifest in the wealth transfer tax context?

• Bridget Crawford (Pace; Google Scholar)
• Mitchell Gans (Hofstra) 
• David Herzig (Ernst & Young) (moderator)
• Carlyn McCaffrey (McDermott Will & Emery, New York)

Panel #2: Critical Perspectives on Wealth

There are tremendous gaps in income and wealth in the United States. What role does the tax law play in wealth transfers? How might the tax law be reformed? What are the roles that wealthy individuals, lawyers, lawmakers and others play in the development of the tax law?

• Eric Kades (William & Mary; Google Scholar)
• Carla Spivack (Oklahoma City)
• Allison Tait (Richmond; Google Scholar)
• Phyllis Taite (Oklahoma City)

Closing Keynote:  Edward McCaffery (USC; Google Scholar), Enough Insanity? A Century (or More) of Not Taxing Wealth