Robert I. Friedman

Member

Recent News:

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Robert concentrates his practice in the areas of estate and trust planning and administration, including business succession planning and tax and charitable planning for high net worth individuals and families. 

Robert is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and he is a member of the Advisory Committee to the Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission on Decedents’ Estates Laws. He is a past chair of the Probate and Trust Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association, and has served as chair of several of its committees. He has also served as a member of the Executive Council of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

Robert received his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Cornell University, after which he did graduate work at the University of Edinburgh. He earned his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he served as a teaching fellow.

News

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Four Attorneys, Two Practice Areas Recognized in the Chambers 2024 High Net Worth Guide

July 23, 2024

The firm's Private Wealth Law and Family/Matrimonial: High Net Worth were both ranked in the Chambers 2024 High Net Worth Guide for Pennsylvania, as well as Jennifer Brandt, Lester Lipschutz, Matthew Kamens, and Robert Friedman.

31 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 11, 2024

Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of attorneys are named Super Lawyers; only 2.5 percent of attorneys are listed as Rising Stars.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Cozen O’Connor and Two Attorneys Recognized in the Chambers 2023 High Net Worth Guide

July 24, 2023

The firm has been ranked Band 1 in the Chambers 2023 High Net Worth Guide under the category “Private Wealth Law.”

42 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers & Rising Stars

May 24, 2023

Super Lawyers has selected 42 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Cozen O’Connor and Two Attorneys Recognized in the Chambers 2022 High Net Worth Guide

July 25, 2022

The firm has been ranked Band 1 in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide along with two members of the firm’s Private Client, Trusts and Estates Practice Group.

Cozen O’Connor and Two Attorneys Recognized in the Chambers 2022 High Net Worth Guide

July 21, 2022

PHILADELPHIA, July 21, 2022 — Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that the firm has been ranked as Band 1 in the Chambers 2023 High Net Worth Guide for Pennsylvania in the "Private Wealth Law" and "Private Wealth Disputes" categories.

Cozen O’Connor and Three Attorneys Recognized in the Chambers 2021 High Net Worth Guide

August 30, 2021

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that the firm has been ranked Band 1 in the Chambers 2021 High Net Worth Guide under the category “Private Wealth Law.”

More Than 205 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

47 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

May 28, 2021

Super Lawyers has selected 47 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2021 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 20, 2020

Best Lawyers selected 200 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).

Fifty-Eight Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 05, 2020

Super Lawyers has selected 58 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2020 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

64 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

May 21, 2019

Super Lawyers has selected 64 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2019 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Fifty-four Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named 2018 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 12, 2018

Super Lawyers has named 54 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2018 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Publications

IRS Proposed Regulations Attack Valuation Discounts for Family Transfers [Private Client Services Alert]

August 05, 2016

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS have just issued anticipated proposed regulations that, if made final, would severely limit the ability of taxpayers to transfer interests in family limited partnerships and similar entities using valuation discounts.

Clock is Running on Gifting Opportunities [Private Client Services Alert]

May 01, 2012

Clock is Running on Gifting Opportunities - Private Client Services Alert - As you may know, the exemption for both gift tax and estate tax purposes for the balance of this calendar year is $5,120,000 per person.

End-of-Year Estate Planning [Private Client Services Alert!]

December 07, 2009

End-of-Year Estate Planning - Private Client Services Alert! - As we move quickly toward year end, consider the following for this year and for 2010"End-of-Year Estate Planning".

Education

  • University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1979
  • Cornell University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1975

Awards & Honors

2017 Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year in Philadelphia by Best Lawyers in America

Best Lawyers in America, 2009-2025

Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, 2004-2024

Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide (Pennsylvania Private Wealth Law), 2018-2023

  • Florida
  • Pennsylvania
  • American Bar Association
  • Florida Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Philadelphia Bar Association
  • Philadelphia Estate Planning Council