Matthew J. Landa

Matthew J. Landa is an estate planning attorney in JMBM’s Taxation, Trusts & Estates Department. He advises high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-worth (UHNW) individuals, families, and business owners on sophisticated wealth transfer, tax, and estate planning strategies. 

Clients value Matt’s ability to translate complex tax and estate planning concepts into clear, practical guidance. He helps families develop tailored wealth transfer plans that protect assets, mitigate disputes, and carry out their long-term objectives.

Matt designs and implements estate plans that minimize income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes while achieving clients’ multigenerational and philanthropic goals in an optimized manner. He structures and advises on a wide range of trusts, including revocable living trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), charitable remainder trusts (CRTs), spousal lifetime access trusts (SLATs), spousal lifetime access non-grantor trusts (SLANTs) defective grantor trusts (DGTs), irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs) and dynasty trusts.

Matt also works with founders and closely held businesses to structure tax-efficient exits, and advises on the use of Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) and the transfer of assets to trusts in non-income tax state jurisdictions to reduce exposure to California state income taxes—strategies that have saved clients millions in federal and state income taxes.

His practice includes California property tax planning, with a focus on helping families preserve long-held real estate assets. He regularly assists clients in transferring property between generations while maintaining favorable property tax assessments. Matt also works with clients on charitable giving strategies including legacy planning, donor advised funds, and creating private foundations.

In addition to his transactional planning work, Matt advises fiduciaries on trust and estate administration, including the preparation and review of estate tax returns, compliance with California probate requirements, and matters involving the modification of irrevocable trusts.