Christiana Lazo is a partner in the Private Client Services Department. Christi’s practice focuses on representing ultra-high net worth individuals, their family offices and closely held businesses in developing and implementing sophisticated domestic and international tax and estate plans.
Christi regularly works with principals of private equity and venture capital funds on their estate planning. She also has significant experience counseling global clients on inbound and outbound planning, particularly advising family members in multiple jurisdictions on wealth transfers and on tax-efficient investment and business ownership structures.
Christi is ranked by Chambers High Net Worth in the Private Wealth Law category, with interviewees noting "She is super knowledgeable and very approachable. She has a very sharp and incisive mind but is also very good with clients.” Christi is also listed in Best Lawyers, Private Client Global Elite Directory and Spear’s Legal and Tax & Offshore. Most recently, she was shortlisted in CityWealth’s 2024 Powerwomen awards.
Christi is an adjunct professor at the New York University School of Law Masters in Taxation program and a frequent speaker and author on estate planning topics.
Education
- New York University School of Law, LL.M.
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Columbia Law School, J.D.
Kent Scholar
Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
Columbia Journal of Law & the Arts -
Columbia College, B.A.
Golden Key National Honour Society
Norry Family Scholar
Admissions & Qualifications
- New York
- Massachusetts
Memberships
Fellow, American College of Trusts and Estate Counsel
STEP Member
American Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
New York City Bar, Member of Estate and Gift Taxation Committee
Awards & Recognition
Citywealth Powerwomen Awards (USA), Shortlisted, 2024
Euromoney, Best of the Best USA Expert Guide, Trusts and Estates, 2022
Private Client Global Elite Directory, 2022–2023
Best Lawyers, Trusts and Estates, 2021–2025
Chambers & Partners, High Net Worth, New York: Private Wealth Law, Band 4 2022–2023 and Up and Coming, 2020–2021
Spear's Legal and Tax & Offshore, US East Coast Tax & Trust Lawyers, 2019–2023
Chambers High Net Worth USA - Private Wealth Law: Eastern Region; New York - Private Wealth 2024