Diane Kotkin, a partner in the firm’s Trusts & Estates practice group, is a trusted legal advisor to her clients and their families.  For over 20 years, Diane has developed and implemented creative and customized solutions to achieve the tax and personal objectives of her clients.  Her representation of fiduciaries also includes advising both individual and corporate fiduciaries on risk mitigation and their duties and responsibilities in the course of the administration of trusts and estates.

Diane’s wide range of experience has enabled her to serve as a general counsel or a legal back office for families, managing the multitude of issues that arise.  As a trusts and estates attorney who often helps clients through personal issues during very sensitive periods in their lives, she has developed a reputation as a compassionate advisor with the experience, insight and sophistication to help navigate complex issues both from a legal and business perspective.

In addition to counseling clients on the planning and transactional side, Diane expertly guides clients through the probate and estate administration process.  She understands the difficult emotional issues involved in the loss of a loved one and routinely administers large estates, assists families with post-mortem planning, prepares federal and local estate tax returns, and represents clients before the IRS and local tax authorities in estate tax audits.

Beyond her legal practice, Diane is highly involved in the community.  She is a past Chair of Frederick Community College’s Foundation Board and a current Board Member of the Maryland School for the Deaf Foundation Board.  She is also an active Board Member and President of Frederick Volleyball Club, a 501(c)(3), and coaches women’s volleyball at Tuscarora High School in Frederick, Maryland.  Diane has been married to her husband, Andy, for over 20 years and they have 3 children:  Hannah, Michael and Evan.

Fun Facts:    

Diane and her husband own a store in Downtown Frederick: Paws in the City and the Temple of Groom, which caters to all the awesome four-legged pets in the area, including their dog, Barkley, and cats, Peyton and Eli.

An avid baker and cook, Diane would rather shop for kitchen gadgets than clothes or shoes.

Diane loves to travel. One of her first jobs was with an international staffing company that allowed her to travel all over the world. She can’t wait for the day she can travel again.