Melissa M. Grossman

Co-Chair, Private Client, Trusts and Estates

Melissa focuses her practice on sophisticated estate and tax planning for high net worth individuals and families. Her practice includes the preparation of wills and trusts, defective grantor trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, residence trusts, and dynasty trusts, advising clients with respect to insurance planning, generation-skipping planning, and structuring family limited partnerships and limited liability companies. 

Melissa also counsels her clients on succession planning matters, including complex tax and administration issues related to wealth transfers, and the intergenerational transition of closely held family businesses through tailored and tax-efficient estate plans. As a result, Melissa often serves as an adviser to multiple generations of family members, working with each of them to ensure a seamless transition of family wealth and legacy.

Melissa regularly represents fiduciaries in the administration of complex estates and trusts. This includes assisting fiduciaries with probate, obtaining asset valuations and disclaimers, advising on income and/or post-mortem tax planning, preparing death tax returns, and advocating in front of the IRS in estate tax audits. 

Additionally, she has extensive experience in the areas of charitable planning, and regularly assists clients in establishing and administering substantial private family foundations.

Melissa has been a frequent lecturer and panelist at legal conferences and events, addressing topics that range from sophisticated estate planning techniques to charitable giving. She is active in her community and has served as a board member of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey and Jewish Family and Children Services of Southern New Jersey.

Melissa serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School where she teaches the course “Gift and Estate Tax in Practice.”

Melissa earned a Bachelor of Science in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and earned her law degree from New York University School of Law.

News

Cozen O'Connor's Female Shareholders Offer Advice for International Women's Day

March 08, 2024

Last year was a historical year for Cozen O’Connor – with no fewer than six of the seven members elevated to shareholder being women. In honor of International Women’s Day, the Cozen O’Connor Women’s Initiative hosted a panel discussion to discuss their unique backgrounds and career paths.

Cozen O’Connor Announces New Group Chairs, Office Managing Partners, Other Promotions

February 15, 2024

The firm announced several new practice group chairs, office managing partners, and leaders of firm committees and initiatives

Cozen O’Connor Announces Seven New Shareholders

September 07, 2023

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce Wendy Enerson, Melissa Grossman, Susan Grueneberg, Suzanne Radcliff, Laura Reinhart, John Sullivan, and Cheryl Upham have been promoted to shareholder.

Cozen O’Connor welcomes Melissa Grossman to its Private Client Services Group

September 14, 2017

The Group Assists Clients in All Areas of Wealth Management, Wealth Transfer, Philanthropy, and Business Succession Planning.

Publications

The Clock Is Ticking on Estate and Gift Planning [Alert]

August 31, 2020

Lexie Fishman and Melissa Grossman outline how a Biden-Harris administration could impact your estate plan and what actions you should take now.

Education

  • New York University School of Law, J.D., 2005
  • University of Pennsylvania The Wharton School, B.S., 1998
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Bar Association

Philadelphia Estate Planning Council

New Jersey Bar Association

American Bar Association