GrayRobinson Deepens Private Client Services Bench with Addition of Five Attorneys

May 19, 2023

NAPLES, Fla. – On the heels of hiring John Paul “J.P.” Bratcher and Carl Westman, GrayRobinson today announced Andrew “Andy” Krause, David Ruben, and Joseph “Joe” Coluccio have joined its Private Client Services Section, further enhancing the firm’s rapidly growing team and capabilities in this industry space.

“We are thrilled to bring Andy, David, and Joe on board as we deepen our bench and expand our Private Client Services Section directly in South Florida and beyond,” said GrayRobinson Shareholder and Private Client Services Section Chair Erik Shuman. “These trusted advisors have the valuable skills and deep connections in the community that will enhance our estates, wills, and trusts service offerings.”

Based in the firm’s Naples office, Krause maintains over four decades of experience as a trusts and estates lawyer and has been certified for more than three decades as a Specialist in Wills, Trusts, and Estates by The Florida Bar. He focuses his practice on family wealth transfer planning and estate and trust settlement and administration, particularly helping Florida residents protect their wealth. Krause assists individuals, families, and multiple generations of families with common and unique estate planning issues, including refinement of objectives, wealth transfer planning and protection, preparation of Florida estate planning documents, advice regarding charitable gifts, life insurance, retirement plan distributions, qualified personal residence trusts, GRATS, CRTs, CLTs, private foundations, and multi-generational planning. With an emphasis on tax efficiency, he uniquely guides clients to the desired plan to best implement their tax and nontax planning objectives from start to finish.

Krause has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®  in Trusts and Estates Law every year since 2003 and by Naples Illustrated as a Top Lawyer in 2018 and 2020-2022. He received his Master of Laws in Estate Planning from the University of Miami, his Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Central Michigan University.

“It is a great pleasure for me to join GrayRobinson and combine my protection and efficient wealth transfer experience with the caliber of other like-minded professionals in my section and across the firm,” said Krause. “I am passionate about protecting the prosperity of Floridians, and I cannot think of a better team and a better firm to continue my career with than this one.”

Ruben, based in the firm’s Naples office, focuses his practice on estate and tax planning, estate and trust administration, tax planning and wealth transfer, trust administration, and Florida domicile planning. Dedicated to protecting and preserving Floridians' wealth, he collaborates with clients to ensure legacy goals are achieved for multiple generations. Ruben is the co-author of “Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts Line by Line: A Detailed Look at Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts and How to Draft Them to Meet Your Clients' Needs,” a book on intentionally defective grantor trusts, and is a frequent speaker on topics, including change of domicile, estate tax planning, and probate avoidance. He actively serves on the board of the Naples Zoo and has co-chaired the Zoo’s annual fundraiser, Zoobilee, for the last six years. Ruben received his Master of Laws in Taxation from Villanova University School of Law, his Juris Doctor from Penn State Dickinson School of Law, and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Vanderbilt University.

“Coming over to GrayRobinson was a no-brainer, as it allows me to continue working with some of the best professionals in the industry and become further engrained in our Naples community and across the state,” said Ruben. “I am grateful for the opportunity to join this growing team and to increase the capabilities within my practice to better serve my clients and ensure legacy goals are achieved for many generations.”

Based in the firm’s Melbourne office, Coluccio maintains over two decades of experience practicing in New York and Florida, focusing on probate, estate planning, and guardianship. He has conducted numerous jury trials and is well-versed in collaborating with private clients, implementing high-end estate plans to preserve family legacies, and assisting clients with asset protection and other wealth planning strategies. Coluccio received his Juris Doctor from the Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from Stony Brook University. He is active with the American Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, Brevard County Estate Planning Council, and New York State Bar Association. Coluccio is admitted to practice in Florida, New York, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.

“Being a part of GrayRobinson is a great fit for me as I now have the opportunity to continue growing my existing business and assist clients who may have issues in other areas of the law,” said Coluccio. “Having access to large firm resources, experienced staff, and other seasoned attorneys will benefit all my clients. It is a great opportunity, and I am excited to be here.”

GrayRobinson Shareholder J.P. Bratcher; Of Counsel Carl Westman; as well as four paralegals with combined experience of roughly 100 years in tax, estate planning, and estate and trust settlement administration are also among this new group of Private Client Services professionals who joined the firm in the last six months. More information on our Private Client Services Section can be found at Gray-Robinson.com/practice-areas.

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About GrayRobinson

GrayRobinson is a multidimensional team of attorneys, advisors, and consultants recognized as one of the most influential firms in Florida. Its nearly 300 professionals partner with successful businesses and enterprising individuals to resolve disputes, anticipate industry shifts, and harness forward momentum. The firm serves clients nationally from 15 offices across Florida and Washington, D.C. Learn more at Gray-Robinson.com.

CONTACT

Kristen Bridges, kristen.bridges@gray-robinson.com, 850.545.1917

Erin Charles, erin.charles@gray-robinson.com, 717.823.3925