Mr. Kavoukjian is chairman of the firm's Global Private Clients Group. He began his practice in the area of trusts and estates law in 1985 and is a former chairman of the American Bar Association's Committee on Estate Planning.

Mr. Kavoukjian advises high-net-worth individuals and families worldwide in all aspects of estate planning, including tax-advantaged transfers of assets, multigenerational planning, the taxation of trusts and estates, charitable giving, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial planning, and issues relating to change of residence. He has counseled a broad range of clients, including those with inherited wealth, owners of closely-held businesses and international clients with multijurisdictional contacts. In his planning practice, he works closely with investment advisors, insurance planners and accountants to ensure a coordinated approach to his clients' needs.

Mr. Kavoukjian also has broad experience in the administration of trusts and estates. He has counseled both individual and corporate fiduciaries in the performance of their duties and has advised the trust departments of several major financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Northern Trust. He has represented both fiduciaries and beneficiaries in contested and non-contested accounting proceedings, in judicial proceedings to remove and appoint fiduciaries and in audit proceedings with state and federal tax authorities.

Mr. Kavoukjian has particular experience with complex estate-related litigation, both international and domestic, including high-stakes will contests and construction proceedings. He has supervised significant cases involving proceedings in multiple European, Asian and U.S. jurisdictions.
Mr. Kavoukjian also advises on the creation and administration of private foundations and public charities. He has served on the board of directors of several charitable organizations.

Mr. Kavoukjian is a member of the New York Bar and practiced in the firm's New York office from 1985 to 1994. He continues to work closely with the firm's New York lawyers in the representation of clients with interests there. From 1994 to 1998, he was on leave to the U.S. government, where his duties included acting as special advisor to the U.S. Mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina.