Rebecca Rosenberger Smolen
Email: rebecca@balalaw.com
Phone: (610) 624-3391
Fax: (610) 910-3891
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Rebecca is a Member and Co-founder of Bala Law Group, LLC. She concentrates her practice in the areas of tax and estate planning; closely held business succession planning; charitable giving; and estate and trust administration. She has authored several articles and lectures frequently on various topics related to her practice areas.
Prior to founding Bala Law Group, LLC, Rebecca was a Shareholder in the Estates and Trusts Group at Stevens & Lee, based in its Philadelphia office, from 2009 through 2012, and a Partner in the Private Client Services Group at WolfBlock, LLP from 2004 until it ceased operations in 2009. Before holding those positions, she practiced law in other premier trust and estates groups in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Rebecca was recognized with the top "AV" rating in 2003 (for quality of work and professional integrity) by Martindale Hubbell, a long-standing directory which gathers and publishes peer review ratings for lawyers nationwide.
In 2004, Rebecca was honored as one of 30 statewide “Lawyers on the Fast Track” by the American Lawyer Media's Legal Intelligencer and, upon her graduation from law school in 1993, she was awarded the Pittsburgh Tax Club Memorial Award in recognition of her aptitude in tax law.
Rebecca, a third generation "Philadelphia Lawyer", was raised in the Philadelphia area and now lives in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania with her husband, Rob, and their son, Jeremy.
Education:
New York University School of Law, LL.M., Taxation, 1999
University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D., 1993
Boston University, B.A., 1989
Bar Admissions:
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Selected Publication (click to view):
"Planning for Death and Taxes in the 21st Century," The Philadelphia Lawyer, Vol. 73, No. 4, Winter 2011.
Selected Speaking Engagements:
Charitable Planning With Closely-Held Business Interests , Princeton Area Community Foundation, Nassau Club, Princeton, January 23, 2014
Adapting Charitable Planning to Best Fit the Economic Environment, 2013 Planned Giving Day Conference, Partnership for Philanthropic Planning of Greater Philadelphia, Union League, Philadelphia, October 30, 2013
Estate Planning For Retirement Assets , Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Wanamaker Building, Philadelphia, August 14, 2012
Every Family's Business, Family Firm Institute/Exit Planning Exchange, Pyramid Club, April 13, 2012
Captive Insurance Planning for Business Owners, PEPC Roundtable Session, Mellon Bank Center, February 29, 2012
Navigating Work/Life Integration Issues, Moderator, Philadelphia Estate Planning Council, Rittenhouse Hotel, October 27, 2011
Sophisticated Charitable Giving Techniques, 2011 Planned Giving Day Conference, Partnership for Philanthropic Planning of Greater Philadelphia, Union League, October 26, 2011
The ABCs of Estate and Retirement Planning with IRAs, Continuing Education Seminar, B'nai B'rith International, Kimmel Center, March 7, 2008
Where to Put Your Money - ABC's of Estate Planning, Professional Women’s Roundtable, Philadelphia, July 6, 2007
Sophisticated Charitable Giving Techniques, Karr Barth, Hilton City Avenue, Philadelphia, November 17, 2005
An Introduction to Charitable Gift Planning, 5th annual Women, Money & Power Seminar, Women's Endowment/Planned Giving Committee of Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Hotel, May 5, 2003
Professional Associations/Civic Affiliations:
Philadelphia Estate Planning Council:
President (2014-2015)
Board of Directors (2010 thru present)
Women's Initiative, Past Co-chair
Philadelphia Bar Association, Probate and Trust Section
Past Tax Committee Chair (2012-2014)
Past Executive Committee Member (2003-2005)
Past Young Lawyer's Division Liason (1998-2000)
Women's Way:
Planned Giving Committee, Founding Co-Chair (2000 thru present)
Women & Influence Conference, Founding Co-Chair
Montgomery Early Learning Centers, Board Member (2012 thru present)
Leadership Philadelphia, Class of 2007
Philadelphia Futures Program, Mentor
Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Former Board Member
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia:
Endowment Corporation Board
Business & Professional Group Executive Committee
Estate Planning Advisory Committee (formerly, Legal & Tax Committee)
American Bar Association
Phone: (610) 624-3391
Fax: (610) 910-3891
Click here for my V-Card
Click here for my LinkedIn profile
Rebecca is a Member and Co-founder of Bala Law Group, LLC. She concentrates her practice in the areas of tax and estate planning; closely held business succession planning; charitable giving; and estate and trust administration. She has authored several articles and lectures frequently on various topics related to her practice areas.
Prior to founding Bala Law Group, LLC, Rebecca was a Shareholder in the Estates and Trusts Group at Stevens & Lee, based in its Philadelphia office, from 2009 through 2012, and a Partner in the Private Client Services Group at WolfBlock, LLP from 2004 until it ceased operations in 2009. Before holding those positions, she practiced law in other premier trust and estates groups in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Rebecca was recognized with the top "AV" rating in 2003 (for quality of work and professional integrity) by Martindale Hubbell, a long-standing directory which gathers and publishes peer review ratings for lawyers nationwide.
In 2004, Rebecca was honored as one of 30 statewide “Lawyers on the Fast Track” by the American Lawyer Media's Legal Intelligencer and, upon her graduation from law school in 1993, she was awarded the Pittsburgh Tax Club Memorial Award in recognition of her aptitude in tax law.
Rebecca, a third generation "Philadelphia Lawyer", was raised in the Philadelphia area and now lives in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania with her husband, Rob, and their son, Jeremy.
Education:
New York University School of Law, LL.M., Taxation, 1999
University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D., 1993
Boston University, B.A., 1989
Bar Admissions:
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Selected Publication (click to view):
"Planning for Death and Taxes in the 21st Century," The Philadelphia Lawyer, Vol. 73, No. 4, Winter 2011.
Selected Speaking Engagements:
Charitable Planning With Closely-Held Business Interests , Princeton Area Community Foundation, Nassau Club, Princeton, January 23, 2014
Adapting Charitable Planning to Best Fit the Economic Environment, 2013 Planned Giving Day Conference, Partnership for Philanthropic Planning of Greater Philadelphia, Union League, Philadelphia, October 30, 2013
Estate Planning For Retirement Assets , Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Wanamaker Building, Philadelphia, August 14, 2012
Every Family's Business, Family Firm Institute/Exit Planning Exchange, Pyramid Club, April 13, 2012
Captive Insurance Planning for Business Owners, PEPC Roundtable Session, Mellon Bank Center, February 29, 2012
Navigating Work/Life Integration Issues, Moderator, Philadelphia Estate Planning Council, Rittenhouse Hotel, October 27, 2011
Sophisticated Charitable Giving Techniques, 2011 Planned Giving Day Conference, Partnership for Philanthropic Planning of Greater Philadelphia, Union League, October 26, 2011
The ABCs of Estate and Retirement Planning with IRAs, Continuing Education Seminar, B'nai B'rith International, Kimmel Center, March 7, 2008
Where to Put Your Money - ABC's of Estate Planning, Professional Women’s Roundtable, Philadelphia, July 6, 2007
Sophisticated Charitable Giving Techniques, Karr Barth, Hilton City Avenue, Philadelphia, November 17, 2005
An Introduction to Charitable Gift Planning, 5th annual Women, Money & Power Seminar, Women's Endowment/Planned Giving Committee of Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Hotel, May 5, 2003
Professional Associations/Civic Affiliations:
Philadelphia Estate Planning Council:
President (2014-2015)
Board of Directors (2010 thru present)
Women's Initiative, Past Co-chair
Philadelphia Bar Association, Probate and Trust Section
Past Tax Committee Chair (2012-2014)
Past Executive Committee Member (2003-2005)
Past Young Lawyer's Division Liason (1998-2000)
Women's Way:
Planned Giving Committee, Founding Co-Chair (2000 thru present)
Women & Influence Conference, Founding Co-Chair
Montgomery Early Learning Centers, Board Member (2012 thru present)
Leadership Philadelphia, Class of 2007
Philadelphia Futures Program, Mentor
Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Former Board Member
Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia:
Endowment Corporation Board
Business & Professional Group Executive Committee
Estate Planning Advisory Committee (formerly, Legal & Tax Committee)
American Bar Association