Cushing, Leo J.

Leo J. Cushing is the founding Partner of Cushing & Dolan, P.C., a Boston based law firm established in 1984 specializing in closely held businesses, taxation, sophisticated estate planning, elder law and real estate. Leo's practice includes all aspects of sophisticated estate planning techniques, asset protection, trust planning, charitable giving and resolution of tax controversies. Prior to establishing Cushing & Dolan, P.C., Leo earned his certified public accountant designation while working as a tax professional for the international accounting firm of Ernst & Young. Prior to Ernst & Young, Leo served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where he prosecuted criminal tax cases and defended the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in various civil claims against state agencies.

Leo is a former Director of the Boston Estate Planning Council. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, American Association of Attorneys and CPAs, the Boston Estate Tax Council, Boston Bar Association and the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys. Recently, Leo was appointed to the Notre Dame Law Advisory Council for a three-year term beginning in 2011, and has once again been named one of Massachusetts Super Lawyers in 2011. He was also named a Five Star Wealth Manager in Boston in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Leo was recently appointed Lecturer in Law at the Boston University Law School’s Graduate Tax Program.

Leo has written and lectured extensively on all aspects of taxation and estate planning. He served as Editor in Chief and Program Chair of the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education program (MCLE) entitled, "Preparing Estate Tax Returns." Leo was also a contributing author and lecturer at MCLE's program entitled, "Preparing Fiduciary Income Tax Returns" as well as its "Advanced Issues in LLCs."

Leo is a much sought after speaker as he is able to articulate complex issues in a way that is clear, concise and easy to understand. Recently, Leo chaired MCLE's program entitled, "What Every Lawyer Should Know About Life Insurance Planning for Businesses & Individuals" and "Medicaid Planning & Medicare Set-Asides." In addition, Leo taught "Use of Limited Liability Companies and Family Limited Partnerships In Long Term Care Planning" for Suffolk Law School's Advanced Legal Studies. At the 2010 CPAmerica International Tax Conference, Leo lectured on "Estate, Gift, and Fiduciary Taxes – Recent Developments" and "U.S. Estate and Gift Implications of Foreign Transactions. Leo has also spoken at the American Bankers Association Advanced Trust Forum, the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants Annual State Tax Meeting, and the Boston Estate Planning Council.

Leo is a graduate of Boston Latin School, and he earned his Bachelors of Science in Accounting at the University of Notre Dame. He also earned his J.D., cum laude, from the New England School of Law, and his Master of Laws in Taxation from the Boston University School of Law. Leo is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Leo is married with two children and currently lives in Lexington, Massachusetts.