Sullivan
Microsoft has discontinued support for Internet Explorer. To access the Sullivan website, please install a modern browser like Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.

Biography

Doug represents individuals, family businesses, and banks and trust companies in trust and estate matters. His practice includes estate planning for moderate and high net worth individuals, representation of clients in estate and gift tax proceedings, as well as all other aspects of estate and trust administration. Doug also handles probate and other Surrogate's Court matters, including estate and trust litigation.

Doug’s clients include investment managers, real estate developers, business owners, cryptocurrency investors, tech entrepreneurs / founders, corporate executives and other professionals. He engages in estate and wealth transfer planning using sophisticated planning techniques, such as grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), qualified personal residence trusts (QPRTs), sales to multigenerational trusts, spousal lifetime access trusts (SLATs), charitable trusts, and limited liability companies and partnerships. Doug also drafts wills, revocable trusts, living wills and health care proxies, powers of attorney, insurance trusts, and other estate planning documentation.

Education
  • New York University School of Law (LL.M.)
    • Taxation
  • Hofstra University School of Law (J.D., cum laude)
  • Binghamton University (B.A., cum laude)
Bar & Court Admissions
  • New York
  • New Jersey
  • Connecticut
  • U.S. Tax Court
Awards & Honors
  • Chambers USA High Net Worth Guide, Private Wealth Law: Mid-Market – New York (2026)
Sullivan Ranked in 2026 Chambers High Net Worth Guide
Boston, MA – Sullivan & Worcester has announced that the firm and its attorneys have been highly ranked in the 2026 Chambers High Net Worth Guide. In the 2026 Guide, the firm and partner Carole Bass were again ranked in the Private Wealth Law: Mid-Market – New York category, with partner Douglas Schneidman newly ranked. Rankings are based on extensive research and interviews with peers and clients around the country. The qualities assessed include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness/astuteness, diligence, commitment and other qualities most valued by the client. Client Comments and Editorial from Chambers Private Wealth Law: Mid-Market – New York “Sullivan & Worcester advises families, fiduciaries and family offices on domestic and international estate planning, administration, and charitable and lifetime gifting.” “The Sullivan & Worcester team were excellent at managing complex issues pertaining to the execution of wills, trusts and estates.” “I found Sullivan & Worcester to be very responsive, professional and smart.” “Sullivan & Worcester's advice is comprehensive, timely and detailed. It takes into account multiple stakeholders and challenges, and they provide clarification for issues that are complex.” “Carole Bass advises affluent clients on their estate and wealth transfer planning.” “Carole Bass offers excellent advice and counsel. I look forward to continuing to work with her.” “I found Carole to be very professional, reasonable and knowledgeable.” “Douglas Schneidman regularly advises high net worth individuals on trust and estate matters.” “I have had only favourable experiences with all clients I've referred to Douglas Schneidman.” “Douglas's abilities and professionalism play well at all levels of net worth and complexity.” About Sullivan Sullivan & Worcester (Sullivan) is a premier, AmLaw 200 international law firm with lawyers in Boston, London, New York, Tel Aviv and Washington, D.C. Sullivan’s clients, including Fortune 500 companies, leading financial services firms and asset managers, boards of directors, real estate companies, and emerging businesses, rely on Sullivan’s ability to navigate complex legal and operational landscapes, the impeccable judgment of its lawyers, and its commitment to best-in-class client service.
Investors Shouldn’t Miss This Often-Unseen Tax Code Opportunity
Lewis Greenwald, Douglas Schneidman, and Eric Rietveld contributed the article “Investors Shouldn’t Miss This Often-Unseen Tax Code Opportunity” to the Insights & Commentary section of Bloomberg Tax [sub req’d] on July 1, 2025. Considering possible provisions in The One Big Beautiful Bill Act that could further sweeten the deal for investors, Lew, Doug, and Eric highlight the powerful tax benefits of the frequently overlooked Qualified Small Business Stock Exclusion (QSBS) under Section 1202 of the tax code. Currently, the QSBS provision allows investors to exclude up to the greater of $10 million or 10 times their investment in QSBS from capital gains tax, provided certain outlined requirements are met. Emphasizing the existing value in this exclusion, they go on to examine how pending legislation, The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, could further augment the opportunity available to investors through allowing partial exclusions for QSBS held less than 5 years, raising the $10 million dollar exclusion to $15 million, and by increasing the corporate asset limit to $75 million.