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Pierro, Connor & Strauss Attorneys Honored by Best Lawyers®

Recognition for Estate & Trust Planning, Elder Law, Litigation and Tax Law

New York – Pierro, Connor & Strauss, LLC is proud to have six attorneys recognized in the 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

The awards were announced August 21 by Best Lawyers®, regarded since 1983 as the most credible measure of legal integrity and distinction in the United States. Best Lawyers® lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation for specific practice areas. Approximately 5% of lawyers in the United States are chosen, reflecting the selectivity and credibility of the results.

2026 Best Lawyers in America® – Capital Region, NY
Louis W. Pierro, Founding Partner is honored for the 19th year in four practice areas: Elder Law, Litigation- Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates and Tax Law.

Aaron E. Connor, Managing Partner, is honored in the practice areas of Elder Law, and Litigation -Trusts and Estates. It is Mr. Connor’s 2nd year of recognition by Best Lawyers®.

Arkley L. Mastro, Jr., Senior Counsel, is honored for the 2nd year for his practice in Trusts and Estates.

2026 Best Lawyers in America® – New York, NY
Peter J. Strauss, Senior Counsel, is honored for the 19th year in the practice areas of Elder Law, Litigation- Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates.

Anthony K. Khatchoui, Counsel, for Trusts and Estates, and Elder Law.

2026 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America® -practicing fewer than 10 years
Patricia T. Whelan, Associate Attorney, is recognized for the first time by Best Lawyers® as Ones to Watch in America, 2026 Edition, in the fields of Elder Law, and Trusts and Estates. She practices in the Capital Region office.

“This honor reflects not only the commitment of our individual attorneys, but the strength of our entire team in helping families protect what matters most: their loved ones, their legacies, and their futures,” said Pierro.

“This recognition underscores our firm’s unwavering dedication to guiding families through life’s most important transitions with skill, compassion, and integrity,” said Connor.

In 2025, Pierro, Connor & Strauss was recognized for the third consecutive year by Best Lawyers® as National Tier I Law Firm for Elder Law in New York City and the Capital Region.

Pierro, Connor & Strauss, LLC provides trusted counsel to clients in locations that include Albany and the Capital Region, New York City, Garden City, Ronkonkoma, Hudson, and Lake Placid, and also serves clients in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida and Hawaii.

For more information or to view awards letters:
Beth Wurtmann
(866)951-PLAN
[email protected]

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The OBBBA (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) and its Effect on Estate Planning

At Pierro, Connor & Strauss, we stay closely attuned to developments in Washington, including the extension of the Trump-era tax cuts through the newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). These sweeping federal tax changes present significant opportunities—but only for those who plan ahead. With the right legal and financial strategies, you can reduce your tax burden, safeguard your legacy, and keep more of your wealth working for the people and causes you care about. As laws and policies shift at the federal, state, and local levels, having a trusted team to guide you through the complexity can make all the difference.

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Estate Planning for Pets? 3 Famous Pet Inheritance Stories

You may consider pet trusts little more than eccentric things that famous people create for their pets when they have too much money. Yet pet trusts have become much more mainstream in recent years. New York recognizes the legality of pet trusts, allowing for the creation of trusts specifically for the care of domestic or pet animals. This means you can establish a legal arrangement to ensure your pet is cared for financially and otherwise after your death or incapacitation. Pet trusts can be an important part of the estate planning process, especially for those with furry family members who want to legally designate what could happen to their “furry children” after the owner’s death.

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What To Do When a Loved One Passes Away

Losing a loved one is an emotionally overwhelming experience, often accompanied by a multitude of legal and financial responsibilities. Handling that burden calls for experienced and compassionate guidance to help you navigate the complexities of trust and estate administration during this difficult time. The attorneys at Pierro, Connor & Strauss have over 407 years of combined experience and offer a complimentary initial consultation to answer your questions and get you started.

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Essential Planning Considerations for LGBTQ+ Adults

Planning for our later years is something we all need to think about, yet for LGBTQ+ adults, this process often comes with unique concerns and considerations that many traditional resources don’t address. Understanding these challenges and taking proactive steps can make a significant difference in ensuring dignity, comfort, and quality care as we age.

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Securing Your Digital Legacy: Strategies to Prevent a Legal Mess for Your Heirs

Identifying the digital property you own and managing it is more necessary than ever. From smart home devices to online investments and bank accounts, we’ve gone way beyond using the internet to email family and connect with friends on social media.

In a recent survey by Bryn Mawr Trust, Americans said they value their digital assets at an average of $119,516. Despite this, more than three-quarters of respondents said they had little to no knowledge about digital asset planning.

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How Does the Medicaid Lookback Period Work?

Success in business requires planning, commitment, and a strategic approach. Many new businesses take at least two or three years to turn a profit and twice as long to truly hit their stride.

If you’ve created a business, you know that success doesn’t happen overnight. But do you know what will happen to your business if something unexpected impacts you or when you decide to step away?

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Estate Planning for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

Success in business requires planning, commitment, and a strategic approach. Many new businesses take at least two or three years to turn a profit and twice as long to truly hit their stride.

If you’ve created a business, you know that success doesn’t happen overnight. But do you know what will happen to your business if something unexpected impacts you or when you decide to step away?

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Pierro, Connor & Strauss, LLC Achieves National Tier 1 Recognition in Trusts & Estates Law for Third Consecutive Year in 2025 Best Law Firms® Rankings

Pierro, Connor & Strauss is proud to announce that it has once again been awarded a National Tier 1 ranking in Trusts & Estates Law in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®. This prestigious honor, awarded for the third consecutive year by Best Lawyers®, reflects the firm’s consistent excellence and dedication to client service.

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Take Charge: A Step-By-Step Guide to Guardianship for an Elderly Parent

Americans are living longer.  The 2020 US Census demonstrates that the average life expectancy for males was 74.5 years and 80.2 years for females compared with an average 71.9 years fifty years ago. We have come out of the Covid-19 pandemic – albeit with terrible loss of life – but with a better understanding of communicable disease and the likelihood of even greater longevity. That’s the good news. But the bad news is that the demographics also show that half of all persons who attain 85 years of age will be unable to perform the basic activities of daily living because of physical or cognitive illness. The large majority of those incapacitated persons who cannot perform personal and financial tasks for themselves have not signed legal documents designating others to act for them. A guardianship proceeding may be then be the best course of action.

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