Scherago & Esterces Have Merged Their Estate and Trust Practices Into The Estate and Trust Group At Meltzer Lippe

By Stuart Markus
Long Island Business News
September 14, 2001

Mineola law firm Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Schlissel said it will merge with the Garden City boutique firm Scherago & Esterces, which specializes in estates, trusts and wills, effective Oct. 1.

Howard Esterces and Irwin Scherago, the two attorneys for the smaller firm, will become partners in the estates and trusts department of Meltzer Lippe. With a total of eight lawyers, the additions will make the department one of the largest on Long Island.

Four additional staffers at the smaller firm will come along as well.

Scherago and Esterces have both practiced in the estates and trusts field since the early 1960s and have been partners for about eight years. Esterces, a product of Fordham Law School, is a fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counselors and serves on the editorial board of Practical Tax Strategies, a trade journal.

Scherago also has an MBA from New York University School of Business and is a former bond trader.

"We feel that we're a relatively small boutique firm," Esterces said. "By merging, we'll get the depth of the many facets of law that Meltzer Lippe is engaged in."

Scherago and Esterces both taught at Adelphi University's paralegal training program in pensions, estates and trusts for four years.

"We are excited," Scherago added, "It's good to put older dogs in with young puppies,"

Both attorneys are in their upper 60s but say they have no plans to retire.

Joe Katz, head of the department at Meltzer Lippe, said the merger will bring the duo's experience, reputation and a significant client base to the firm, noting that administering trusts continues to generate fees even after a client's passing.

"We hope it's going to be a very good mix," he said.