Paul’s practice is focused in the areas of trust and estate planning and administration, with additional work in the area of personal income taxes, and other individual-related legal issues. He also specializes in representation of tax-exempt organizations and charitable gift planning, representing both institutions and donors. In connection with his estate and financial planning activities, he has been primarily involved in the drafting of wills and trusts, as well as general investment work. In addition to individual clients, he represents trust departments of some of the area’s major financial institutions. Along with probate and administration of decedents’ estates and trusts, post-mortem tax planning, and preparation of federal and state estate tax returns, he has been involved in valuation questions regarding real estate and shares of closely-held businesses. Paul also has in-depth expertise in the area of the legal issues related to trust and estate litigation.
Credentials
Work Experience
- Hinckley Allen
- Partner (1981-Present)
- Associate (1975-1981)
Honors & Awards
-
Best Lawyers in America® (2016, 2018-2022)
- Lawyer of the Year (2017)
- Recognized for Non-Profit/Charities Law, and Trust and Estates
- Chambers USA High Net Worth (HNW) (2018-2019)
- Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for the category of Private Wealth Law
- Rhode Island Monthly Magazine, Top Lawyers in Rhode Island in Estate Planning Category
- Super Lawyers, Rhode Island (2005-2018)
- The Rhode Island Foundation, Harold B. Soloveitzik Professional Leadership Award (2010)
Charitable & Civic Involvement
- Camp Ruggles, Board of Directors
- Moses Brown School, Budget and Finance Committee
- Providence Ronald McDonald House, Chairman, Investment Committee
- Temple Beth-El, LYG Endowment Fund Oversight Committee
- The Providence Athenauem, Investment Committee
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Estate Planning Council of Rhode Island
- National Association of College and University Attorneys
- Partnership for Philanthropic Planning of Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Bar Association
- Rhode Island Planned Giving Council
Bar Memberships
- Massachusetts, 1985
- Rhode Island, 1975
Speaking Engagements
- Panelist: 2009 Estate Planning Round-Up: The Year in Review. The Rhode Island Foundation and Citizens Bank, Providence, RI, November 4, 2009
- Panelist: Private Philanthropy, Foreign Policy Association, Newport, RI, March 19, 2008
- Panelist: Fiduciary Responsibilities of Managing Endowments. Citizens Bank, Providence, RI, February 28, 2008
- Panelist: 2007 Estate Planning Round-Up: The Year in Review. The Rhode Island Foundation and Citizens Bank, Providence, RI, November 7, 2007
- Presentation: Community Foundations & Banks – Friend or Foe? Can’t We All Just Get Along? 2007 Fall Conference for Community Foundations, San Francisco, CA, September 17, 2007
- Panelist: Insights from Foundation Funders: 2007 Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference, Worcester, MA, March 24, 2007
- Presentation: The Uniform Management of Institutional Funds Act: How It Affects Your Endowment Spending. 2006 Blackbaud Conference for Nonprofits, Charleston, SC, October 23, 2006
- Panelist: Tax-Exempt Organizations in Rhode Island. Lorman Education Services, Providence, RI, July 11, 2006
- Presentation: Advanced Charitable Giving Techniques. Joint meeting of RI Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors; RI Society of Financial Service Professionals; and RI Financial Planning Association, Warwick, RI, January 24, 2006
- Presentation: UMIFA: How It Affects Your Endowment, What Changes Are Coming and When? Higher Education Law and Policy Institute, San Diego, CA, December 6, 2005
- Presentation: Due Diligence in Charitable Giving and Administration. Planned Giving Council of RI, Providence, RI, November 17, 2005
- Panelist: 2005 Estate Planning Round-Up: The Year in Review; Implications of Circular 230 for the Tax Practitioner. The Rhode Island Foundation and Citizens Bank, Providence, Rhode Island, October 27, 2005
- Panelist: Charitable Giving for the Accounting Professional, Citizens Bank, Providence, RI, May 4, 2005
- Presentation: UMIFA: U Got The Money – Now, Can You Spend It? Planned Giving Group of New England, Boston, MA, February 9, 2005
- Presentation: Charitable Remainder Trusts: A Primer, Planned Giving Council of RI, Providence, RI, November 18, 2004
- Presentation: UMIFA: U Got the Money – Now, Can You Spend It? National Conference on Planned Giving, Dallas, TX, October 16, 2004
- Panelist: Charitable Giving Techniques for the Non-Estate Planning Attorney, Leave A Legacy Seminar, Citizens Bank, Providence, RI, September 30, 2004
- Presentation: Estate Planning: The ABCs of Charitable Trusts, The Rhode Island Foundation, South Kingstown, RI, April 26, 2001
- Panelist: Scholarships, Council on Foundations, 14th Fall Conference for Community Foundations, Miami, FL, October, 1998
- Faculty, Bryant College Masters in Taxation Program. Course: Income Taxation of Trusts and Estates, 1981
News & Insight
Trusts & Estates 2017 Tax Update
March 6, 2017This article summarizes federal and state wealth transfer and income tax laws that could affect your estate planning and discusses strategies for tailoring your estate plan to maximize tax savings.Federal Estate and Gift Tax. The current federal estate, gi…
What Changes Might We Expect with Trump Presidency?
December 8, 2016As a result of the recent election, both the executive and legislative branches of the federal government will be under Republican control. President-elect Donald Trump and the House Republicans have formulated their own tax plans, and changes to the tax c…
Proposed New Rules Will Eliminate Discounts on Transfers of Interests in Family-Owned Entities
September 9, 2016In September, the IRS announced proposed Treasury Regulations which, when finalized, will make sweeping changes to the way in which ownership interests in family-owned businesses or family-owned investment entities will be valued for federal estate, gift a…
Trusts & Estates 2016 Tax Update
May 12, 2016Recent years have seen significant shifts in estate, gift, and income tax policies at the federal level. However, after several years of changes, the federal tax landscape has stabilized somewhat. The following summarizes federal and state law that could a…
Trusts & Estates 2015 Tax Update
March 26, 2015Recent years have seen significant shifts in estate, gift, and income tax policies at the federal level. However, after several years of flux, the federal tax landscape has stabilized somewhat. The downloadable PDF summarizes federal and state law that may…
57 Hinckley Allen Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers® in America 2022
August 19, 2021Hinckley Allen is pleased to announce that 57 attorneys are recognized in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, including 7 “Lawyers of the Year.” Best Lawyers® has also recognized 15 Hinckley Allen attorneys in their inaugural "Ones to W…
Chambers USA 2021 Ranks Hinckley Allen Attorneys and Practices
May 20, 2021Hinckley Allen is proud to announce that the 2021 edition of Chambers USA has recognized several of the firm’s practice areas and attorneys for their outstanding work.Chambers USA rankings are based on extensive in-depth interviews with attorneys and cli…
59 Hinckley Allen Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2021
August 20, 2020Hinckley Allen is pleased to announce that Best Lawyers® has recognized 59 attorneys in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, including 12 “Lawyers of the Year.” Best Lawyers® has also recognized 10 Hinckley Allen attorneys in their inau…
56 Hinckley Allen Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2020
August 15, 2019Only one lawyer in each specialty in each region is honored as a “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers®. Since its first publication in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers compi…
Chambers High Net Worth Advisors Guide 2019 Recognizes Hinckley Allen Partners Doris J. Licht and Paul A. Silver
July 11, 2019Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) Advisors Guide 2019 has recognized Hinckley Allen as a leading firm in the State of Rhode Island for Private Wealth Law, and Partners Doris J. Licht and Paul A. Silver as leading practitioners in advising high net worth client…
38 Hinckley Allen Attorneys Recognized as 2018 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
October 18, 2018The Super Lawyers has selected 38 Hinckley Allen attorneys as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.Super Lawyers, a Thomson…
51 Hinckley Allen Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2019
August 15, 2018Hinckley Allen is pleased to announce that Best Lawyers® has recognized 51 attorneys in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, including seven “Lawyers of the Year.” Only one lawyer in each specialty in each region is honored as a “La…
Chambers High Net Worth Advisors Guide 2018 Recognizes Hinckley Allen Partners Doris J. Licht and Paul A. Silver
July 20, 2018Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) Advisors Guide 2018 has recognized Hinckley Allen as a leading firm in the State of Rhode Island for Private Wealth Law, and Partners Doris J. Licht and Paul A. Silver as leading practitioners in advising high net worth client…
Hinckley Allen Attorneys Recognized as 2017 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
October 18, 2017The Super Lawyers has selected 39 Hinckley Allen attorneys as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.Super Lawyers, a Thomson…
52 Hinckley Allen Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers of America
August 18, 2017Noble F.Jomarie T.Robert J.James J.Leon C.John J.William W.Christine K.
Best Lawyers® Recognizes 7 Hinckley Allen Partners as “Lawyers of the Year” for 2017
August 18, 2016Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP is pleased to announce that Best Lawyers® has recognized partners William S. Fish Jr, Michael L. Koenig, Mark S. McCue, Gerald J. Petros, Paul A. Silver, Richard Y. Uchida, and David A.William S.
Best Lawyers® Recognizes 44 Hinckley, Allen & Snyder Partners
September 13, 2012September 13, 2012 - Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP is proud to announce that 44 of its attorneys have been recognized by their peers as being among the nation’s best lawyers in the 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.Best Lawyers® is based …
Best Lawyers Recognizes 41 Hinckley, Allen & Snyder Attorneys
September 22, 2011Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP is proud to announce that 41 of its attorneys have been recognized by their peers as being among the nation’s best lawyers in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America ® 2012. Best Lawyers is based on a peer-review…
Events
The Washington Trust Company: Wealth Planning in a Year of Change
October 11, 2017Hinckley Allen Partner Paul A. Silver will be speaking at the 2017 Wealth Planning Roundtable "Wealth Planning in a Year of Change" hosted by The Washington Trust Company. Paul will be discussing "Estate Planning in the Shadow of 'Tax Reform.'" In his disc…