Britt Burner Takes Helm of Burner Prudenti Law, P.C., Navigating East End Elder Law from Montauk to Manhattan

Every person and organization has major moments that, if they’re lucky, are positive milestones. Burner Prudenti Law, P.C., a women-owned trust and estates, elder law, and real estate firm, serving clients from the East End to New York City, has had a medley of reasons to celebrate lately.

The Hon. Gail Prudenti, who had been Dean of the Hofstra Law School and New York State’s Chief Administrative Judge, overseeing the state’s court system with a $2.7 billion budget, 3,600 judges and 15,000 employees, joined as a name partner in September 2023. Prudenti also served as Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division for the Second Judicial Department in New York State, the first woman to hold that position.

And a few months ago, Britt Burner, who more than a decade ago joined the firm that her mother Nancy founded in 1995, took the helm as Managing Partner. All of this occurs as the firm that Nancy Burner founded celebrates its 30th year in business.

“Over the 30 years, Nancy has brought us to a point where we have four offices and 44 employees.” Britt Burner said. “I’m looking to focus on internal strength. If we can be a strong organization, we can best serve our clients.”

Britt Burner, who joined the firm in 2015 and became a partner in 2021, took on the role of Managing Partner on June 1, 2025.

“My becoming managing partner is linked to the 30th anniversary,” Burner said. “We are at an inflection point. What do we want going forward? How do we build from the inside to continue our service to our clients and the community for many years to come.”

WOMEN-OWNED FIRM

Nancy Burner launched the law firm in 1995 when there were few women-owned firms. Coincidentally, this was the same year that Judge Prudenti was elected as the first female Surrogate of Suffolk County. Since that time, Nancy has led the firm’s growth, creating a force to be reckoned with. Nancy remains very involved with the firm, advising clients and mentoring attorneys and other team members.

Gail Prudenti in her two years with the firm, has made her mark yet again, this time in private practice.

“She’s been instrumental in giving us a fresh perspective with her vast experience in the judiciary and administrative roles,” Burner said.

All clients benefit from the knowledge base of the other lawyers in the firm.

“We work very collaboratively. I always say a client is not only my client,” Burner said, “they’re a client of the firm.”

Burner and the firm, whose clients range from Montauk to Manhattan, also specialize in issues specific to the East End.

“The East End has incredibly interesting issues to deal with,” Burner, a Westhampton and Manhattan resident, added. “You often have this complicated situation, where a house or piece of property is inherited in an area of highly appreciated values. It creates various complications, including estate tax issues, on an estate that may otherwise have been well below the thresholds if the same property was located elsewhere.”

Estate taxes are due nine months from date of death, making planning crucial.

“If the estate is wrapped up in real estate, it could lead to fire sale and negative results for beneficiaries,” Burner said. “That’s something we want people to focus on and plan for.”

LAW LEADER

While Burner has developed a reputation for her work on behalf of clients, she has held numerous leadership positions among attorneys in New York State, serving as the Chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Elder Law and Special Needs Section until June 1 of this year. As Chair, Britt oversaw an executive committee of approximately 100 attorneys, working to comment on legislative issues, conduct continuing legal education courses, and collaborating on novel legal issues.

She also served as Chair of the New York City Bar Association Committee on the Legal Problems of the Aging. And she served as a member of the governor’s Master Plan for Aging.

While she has individual accomplishments, Burner talks about how “professionals as a team create a more holistic approach to aging,” making coordination key.

“I encourage coordination of efforts so your accountant, financial advisor lawyer, and other advising professionals are all on the same page,” Burner said.

“The most important thing we do every day is advise people,” she said. “We take their concerns, the facts, their financials, and the personal relationships surrounding them, and we build a plan.”

She added that the firm helps with power of attorneys, health care proxies, last will and testaments and trust planning.

GROWTH STORY

The firm, which started in Pot Jefferson, now has offices in East Hampton, Westhampton Beach, East Setauket, and Manhattan. Britt Burner, who joined in 2014, initially opened a Manhattan office.

The practice of elder law includes estate planning, the protection of assets, accessing long term care insurance, utilization of benefits through Medicare and Medicaid, and dealing with issues of diminishing physical or mental capacity. It includes staying up to date on the numerous changes to laws that affect older people, while also helping younger people prepare for older age.

“Our population is aging. We all know the boomers are coming up. We’re living much longer,” Burner said. “There’s a focus on how people are going to navigate this.”

Through the Bar Association, Burner has focused on “legislative advocacy at the state level on various issues including ensuring that the Medicaid program is properly serving the eligible and that they receive the proper care.”

CHANGING LAWS

Burner stays up to date, helping clients be current on changing laws, such as whether to create a trust, do tax planning to minimize estate taxes, obtain long term care insurance, and whether to engage in Medicaid planning.

Understanding the difference between federal and state laws is key. The federal estate tax exemption, currently $13.99 million per person, was set to sunset to $5 million indexed for inflation (about $7 million) at the end of the year. Instead, the new federal law makes it a permanent $15 million, indexed for inflation.

Regardless of the federal scheme, New Yorkers need to plan for lower exemptions.

“We’re doing a lot of planning for the New York state estate tax, which is $7.16 million this year,” Burner said. “Any individual or couple with more than $7.16 million in total assets should make sure their plan considers estate taxes.”

She said they find “most people are concerned about legacy,” which can be a key part of planning.

“I talk to people about legacy every day,” she said. “What are they leaving behind, their mark on the world, their mark on their family.”

TEACHING PROFESSIONALS

Burner also does a lot of education for hospitals, doctors, and social workers, including geriatrician’s. She has spoken at NYU Langone, Weil Cornell, Columbia, Northwell, and was just featured as a guest on NYU Langone Doctor Radio talking about legal issues affecting adults as they age.

She also serves as a charter member of the Advisory Council of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health at Northwell.

“I try to keep myself tapped in on the medical side as well,” Burner said.

The firm, founded by a woman, remains woman-owned and prides itself on a culture of respect and collaboration.

“I think what we’re able to bring is an empathy and a compassion to our clients and each other,” Burner said.

Burner and others at her firm also lead educational programs, often at libraries throughout Long Island, to remain involved with the community and share the information people are seeking.

STARTING YOUNG

Elder law isn’t only for the elderly. Planning should begin much younger, she said. “Estate planning isn’t just for old people. Many associate estate planning with the end of their life,” Burner said. “Estate planning is for people of all ages.”

Burner believes people are sometimes afraid, or reluctant, to estate plan, because that means thinking about illness or death. But she said it’s really about managing your life and assets, and looking out for loved ones.

“I’d love to de-stigmatize estate planning. It’s not just for the aged,” Burner said. “People get fire insurance. They hope their house doesn’t burn down but they want to be prepared.”

While the best estate planning begins young, that doesn’t mean that it’s simply done once and left alone. Just at the law firm itself has changed and works to remain current, Burner said estate planning itself also needs to be kept up to date.

“As your age changes, your family circumstances change, your assets change and so should your estate plan.” Burner said. “It’s not one and done.”

For more information visit burnerlaw.com