Transparency and Excellence Bring Kudos to Trust and Estate Attorneys at The MacLean Law Firm

Ian MacLean

When listening to founding attorney Ian MacLean speak about the estates and clients his law firm works with, there is no denying it: The MacLean Law Firm, P.C has its priorities straight.

The Manhattan-based firm was established in 2004 by Ian MacLean. He and the three of counsel attorneys — Philip Bouklas, Jill Teitel, and Richard Hubell — all specialize in trusts and estates law - probate, trust and estate litigation and administration, and estate planning.

The MacLean team works cohesively under the credo that transparency is of the utmost importance in their work. They see clients as real people, not numbers, and put value on keeping clients out of long drawn out litigation processes. 

“We work in a very personal area of the law; and we are always conscientious of that, along with the finer legal points at issue,” says MacLean.

That being said, MacLean and his associates are no pushovers. “We do litigation … from a very thoughtful, pragmatic, realistic perspective; keeping people out of long, drawn-out fights is usually the first option we consider,” says MacLean. “But if a fight is in our clients’ best interests or necessary to enforce our clients’ rights and protect their assets, or if the other side wants to fight, we strap on the proverbial armor and do battle.”

PROVING THEIR METTLE

Over the past eight years, the MacLean Law Firm has gained a heaping amount of prestige.

MacLean has been named a “super lawyer” in the New York Metropolitan area by his peers, and both MacLean and Hubell are AV rated – an award given to a lawyer by his peers, ranking them at the highest level of professional excellence.

And yet, MacLean prides himself most on one thing: thank you notes. Amongst the many praises The MacLean Law Firm regularly receives from clients, they have been called uncommonly attentive, reassuring, appropriate, compassionate – and above all, thorough.

It is with this delicate—and what’s more—perfected balance of compassion and realism that The MacLean Law Firm excels. Their meticulous attention to detail, sense of humanity, and strength as just representatives of their people are what make them unique and exceptional.

Do What You Do Best, and Let Benay Do the Rest

While Ian MacLean and his staff are working hard for their clients, Benay is working hard behind the scenes, handling the AP/AR, invoicing, HR issues, and financials, so the attorneys at The MacLean Law Firm are free to focus on what they do best.

If you, too, want more time to battle on behalf of your clients, give us a call at 203-744-6010.

Tin House Gains More Speed with N.Y. Times Rave Review of 'American Dream Machine'

by Colleen McClintock

Tin House Books saw yet another rave review of Matthew Specktor’s novel American Dream Machine appear in the print copy of the New York Times’ June 2nd Sunday Book Review. The same review was published early on the New York Times website, the previous Friday.

In laymen’s terms, the exposure that both Tin House and Specktor received within one single weekend was downright impressive. The review was featured on the eleventh page of the Book Review section, and took up the entire space of the page; a feat not easily achieved in the Times.  It was written by Christine Sneed, a well-established author, herself. It is perhaps because of this that Sneed was able to tap into the sentimentality of Specktor’s novel in her review, calling its dismal tone “elegaic” and deeming it as a “hip bildungsroman” narrated by the protagonist, Nate, in the fashion of a “fever dream.”

A photo of Matthew Specktor featured in the Times' review
of American Dream Machine, June 2.

This is arguably the biggest of praises that Tin House has seen this year via American Dream Machine, but it is definitely not the first, as the Times – and others – have featured smaller-scale reviews of the book since its April release.

But it is not just novels like American Dream Machine that give Tin House its chutzpah; titles are only part of it. There are factors like last year’s VIDA count that also come into play.

The VIDA count is an annual survey taken by the feminist literary group, VIDA, to see where the most gender equality lies in the world of publishing. In 2012 Tin House stood out among the lot as one of the most progressive in terms of gender balance, along with fellow Benay client, Granta Magazine.

Tin House also reinforces itself as a living, breathing institution through the yearly workshops they hold for up-and-coming writers. They are residential programs run by the very same editors of Tin House Books and of their sister lit mag, Tin House Magazine. The workshops are entered strictly through application and acceptance, but hold little pretense elsewhere and promise much growth for those who enroll. It is Tin House’s way of aiding new writers in reaching the successes that authors like Specktor have reached. In this, they ensure the survival and perseverance of a literary tradition based on craft, style, and most importantly, passion.

If you’d like to learn more about Tin House Books, please feel free to visit their website by clicking here. To see excerpts from American Dream Machine, please visit the book's page on the Tin House website. 

Golf Writers Association Taps Bruce Smith as Marketing Director

Metropolitan
Golf Writers
Association

Exciting news for Benay client Bruce Smith, president of Sporty Bears Productions! He’s now also the Director of Marketing for the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association. 

According to Smith, “The new position is charged with the responsibility of securing the financial success of the MGWA National Awards Dinner.  Primary responsibilities include ticket sales, sponsorships and raffle/auction.”

HONORING GOLF'S GREATS

This year’s 62nd National Awards Dinner will be held on June 18 at the Westchester Marriot in Tarrytown, New York.  Paul Azinger, a 12-time PGA Tour winner, will headline the event and receive the Gold Tee Award.  Past award winners include some of the most memorable names in golf: Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Nancy Lopez, Phil Mickelson, Annika Sorenstam, and Ernie Els.

The MGWA Dinner enjoys support from golf’s leading organizations – USGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, LPGA, MGA, MetLife, and Rolex.  It is the longest running golf dinner in the world and has raised over $1.3 million for Caddie Scholarship programs in the metropolitan New York area and for the the MGA Foundation.”

Smith himself has been very active with the MGWA, “the most active golf writers’ association in the world.”  He’s been a member of the MGWA Executive Committee for 20 years and was also president from 1999-2003, during which he raised an astounding $300,000 for the association’s four charities.

ROLL THE VIDEO TAPE

Smith’s most recent project is a promotional video he made for the MGWA Dinner, mixing excitement for this year’s event with a bit of nostalgia for the past.  View it here:  http://vimeo.com/63849701

Do What You Do Best, and Let Benay Do the Rest

For close to two decades Benay has been a trusted advisor for Bruce and Sporty Bear Productions. We take away the hassle of everyday business and financial tasks so that business people like Bruce can focus on their true passions.

If you want more time to follow your passions with peace of mind that your company is still operating smoothly, give us a call at 203-744-6010.