Portrait of Caryn B. Keppler

Caryn B. Keppler

Principal

Caryn Keppler is a principal in Offit Kurman’s Estates and Trusts Practice Group. Caryn considers herself a "primary care provider," whose role is to recognize and solve a client's multiple legal issues and, if necessary, direct them to other specialists as needed. She has extensive experience in all aspects of estate, gift, and charitable planning for foreign and domestic individuals, artists and collectors, conventional and alternative families, as well as business and continuity planning. Caryn's areas of focus extend to representing individuals regarding prenuptial, post-nuptial, and domestic partnership agreements and assisting families in planning for their disabled children.

Caryn has extensive experience representing artists' foundations, acting on behalf of both fiduciaries and beneficiaries, in the administration of domestic estates and trusts, as well as estates and trusts with contacts to international jurisdictions and litigation in the Surrogate's Courts. Prior to entering private practice, she served as an attorney with the Internal Revenue Service. Caryn is a frequent speaker and has written extensively on the special planning needs of artists and other creative individuals.

    Education

    • Brooklyn Law School (J.D.)
    • Binghamton University, State University of New York (B.A.)

    State Bar Admissions

    • New York
    • New Jersey
    • Florida

    Court Admissions

    • United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
    • United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

    Professional Affiliations

    • Member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Art Law
    • New York State Bar Association, Trusts & Estates Section
    • New York State Bar Association, Elder Law Section
    • New York State Bar Association, LGBTQ+ Section
    • American Bar Association, Real Property Trusts & Estates Law

    Recognitions

    • Mediation Panel for the Ninth Judicial Circuit: Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, and Orange Counties Surrogates Courts
    • Certified and Accredited Mediator by Phoenix Dispute Solutions (PDSL), Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and International Mediation Institute (IMI)
    • Doyles Guide Leading Trusts, Estates & Probate Litigation Lawyers – New York City (2026)
    • Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Elder Law, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates (2022-2027)
    • Selected to New York Metro Super Lawyers® for Estate Planning & Probate (2023 - 2026)
    • Top Women Lawyers Trusts & Estates New York Metro Area, 2023 and 2024
    • Estate Law Specialist, an ABA accreditation sponsored by the Estate Planning Specialist Board of the National Association of Estate Planning Councils

Certifications and Accreditations

Phoenix Dispute Solutions logo

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators logo

IMI Certified Mediator logo

Featured Podcast

Art, Auctions, and Advocacy: A Conversation with Bonnie Brennan

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Firm Highlights

  • Blog Posts
    Offit Kurman Represents 1Aardvark in Acquisition by CesiumAstro
    Offit Kurman is pleased to announce its representation of 1Aardvark, LLC, a Virginia-based company specializing in mission software, advanced algorithms, and systems engineering solutions supporting national defense programs, in its acquisition by CesiumAstro Inc., a global leader in advanced space communications and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems. The transaction was announced on August 18, 2026. The acquisition brings together 1Aardvark's deep expertise in mission-critical software and engineering with CesiumAstro's pioneering capabilities in space communications and ISR technologies. According to CesiumAstro, the transaction enhances its ability to deliver autonomous and resilient space systems for demanding operational environments. Offit Kurman advised 1Aardvark throughout the transaction, providing strategic legal counsel on corporate, transactional, and related matters to support the successful completion of the acquisition. Those participating in the engagement included Ryan Alexander, Gary Brackett, Robin Gilden, Pavan Mehrotra, Jim Arico, Debbie Petito, and Scott Tippett. “This transaction represents a significant milestone for 1Aardvark and our team. We are deeply grateful to Ryan Alexander and the professionals at Offit Kurman for their outstanding guidance and steadfast support throughout the acquisition process,” said Ryan Kenward, President of 1Aardvark.  “Their insight, judgment, and dedication to achieving our objectives played a critical role in bringing this transaction to a successful close. We thank them for being trusted advisors every step of the way.” The acquisition underscores continued investment and consolidation within the aerospace, defense technology, and national security sectors, where software-driven capabilities and resilient space infrastructure remain increasingly important. About 1Aardvark 1Aardvark is a Virginia-based engineering and technology company specializing in mission software, algorithms, and systems engineering solutions supporting national defense missions.
  • Events
    AIA Tri-State Conference
    Princeton will serve as the backdrop for three days of connection, learning, and design leadership. From keynotes to tours to the Tri-State Design Awards, this year’s conference is designed to go far beyond education sessions. Kick off the week with pre-conference intensives and individual state component Design Award celebrations, followed by three days of education, inspiration, networking, and design excellence at the 2026 AIA Tri-State Conference—featuring pre-conference intensives, three keynote speakers, 25 education sessions, curated tours, an expo, spec academies, and the AIA Tri-State Design Awards—bringing together architects and design professionals from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to connect, learn, and celebrate the best of the profession. G2. Designing Secure Practices: Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, Contractual Provisions, and Insurance Risks for Architects (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM) Architects and design professionals increasingly rely on cloud platforms, BIM software, and digital tools to manage sensitive data, creating cybersecurity and privacy risks. A single incident can trigger liability claims, regulatory obligations, reputational harm, and insurance challenges. Yet many firms underestimate how contracts, insurance, and internal practices intersect during a breach. This program offers legal and insurance perspectives on cyber risk in architecture, examining liability exposure, risky contract provisions, and mitigation strategies. A cyber insurance expert will explain policy responses, coverage gaps, coordination with professional liability, and best practices for aligning insurance with contractual risk and protecting firms from evolving cyber threats. Learning Objectives: Identify key cybersecurity and data privacy risks faced by architecture firms and explain how these risks can impact professional liability and project outcomes. Analyze common contractual provisions to determine which clauses may increase exposure to cyber incidents and propose strategies to mitigate these risks. Evaluate the scope and limitations of cyber insurance policies, including coordination with professional liability coverage, to determine how a policy would respond in a breach scenario. Develop actionable risk management strategies by integrating legal, contractual, and insurance considerations to protect sensitive client and project data.