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Stephen M. Asbel

Partner
sasbel@regerlaw.com
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T: 215.495.6523
F: 215.495.6600

2929 Arch St 13th Floor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104

Stephen M. Asbel, Partner in the Firm’s Philadelphia, PA office, focuses his practice in the areas of estates & trusts, corporate, and real estate law. 

Mr. Asbel has extensive experience offering estate planning and estate & trust administration services, including estate taxation, choosing fiduciaries, drafting wills, powers of attorney, medical directives and living wills, and all other personal decisions that go into planning an estate. A significant portion of this practice focuses on assisting clients in preserving and passing on wealth, as well as business ownership, from one generation to the next. In this capacity, Mr. Asbel works closely with clients to develop family business succession plans, employment agreements, non-compete agreements, revocable and irrevocable trusts, Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts (CRAT), Charitable Remainder Unitrusts (CRUT), and regularly serves as liaison for his clients with various consultants, including accountants, investment advisors and insurance agents.

Mr. Asbel also represents numerous companies through his corporate and real estate practices. He assists clients in the formation of corporations, LLCs and partnerships. He drafts shareholder and entity member operating agreements, buy-sell agreements, licensing agreements, sales of assets, transfer of territorial rights and inventories, sale of goods contracts, and business purchase agreements of closely held corporations, LLCs and partnerships. Mr. Asbel is also well-versed in the myriad of legal issues affecting businesses with regard to real estate matters, including real estate purchase agreements (both commercial and residential), notes and mortgages for seller-financed transactions, and lease-purchase agreements. 

Additionally, years before same-sex marriage recognition became a reality in the United States, Mr. Asbel was already serving the planning needs of the LGBT+ community and continues that service now that same-sex marriage is recognized throughout the US. Mr. Asbel is well-versed in LGBT+ Law, planning second-parent and intra-family adoptions, and gestational carrier and assisted reproduction technology agreements.

Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Asbel was a partner in a law firm in Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

While attending the University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Asbel majored in International Relations and graduated cum laude and as a Benjamin Franklin Scholar. He earned his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law in 1989. During his time at Villanova, he was a member of the Jewish Law Students’ Association and the Corporate Law Society, as well as a participant in The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, where he prepared tax returns for low-income individuals. 
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice Pennsylvania
New Jersey
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
Education

J.D., Villanova University, (1989)

B.A. , University of Pennsylvania, (1986)
cum laude, Benjamin Franklin Scholar, Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society, Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society

Professional & Bar Association Memberships

Delaware County Bar Association

The LGBT Bar Association

Delaware County Panel of Attorneys for Arbitrators

Philadelphia Estate Planning Council

Honors & Awards
Martindale-Hubbell® Distinguished Peer Rated for High Professional Achievement with High Ethical Standing
Lead Counsel Rated Attorney in Estate Planning Law
Lead Counsel Rated Attorney in Probate Law
Corporate INTL Global Awards Boutique Estate Planning (2017-2019)
Main Line Today Top Lawyers (2017)
Suburban Life Magazine’s Top Estate Planning and Administration Attorneys List (2015)
Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals
Publications & Press Mentions
Author, The Perils of Procrastination in Administering a Deceased Family Member’s Estate. Reger Rizzo & Darnall Client Alert. (February 2022)
Author, Executing Wills and Powers of Attorney During a Pandemic. The Legal Intelligencer. (April 8, 2020)
Author, UPDATE: US Treasury Department Delays April 15 Tax Payment AND Filing Deadline by 90 daysReger Rizzo & Darnall Client Alert. (March 20, 2020)
Author, Second-Parent Adoptions: An Option for LGBTQ Parents. The Legal Intelligencer. (July 15, 2019)
Author, Why You Should Pre-Plan Your Funeral. Client Alert. (December 2018)
Interviewed on Safe Money Radio. WDEL 1150 AM. (September 2013)
Quoted, New End of Life Plan for Social Media Accounts. KYW News Radio. (June 5, 2012)
Author, Protecting Your Will and Other Documents from Potential Challenges by Angry Relatives. Client Alert. (May 12, 2011)
Author, Mark Twain was Wrong – New Land is Being Made But Who Owns It? Client Alert. (December 7, 2009)

Civic & Charitable Associations
American Cancer Society - National Professional Advisor Network
Suburban Jewish Community Center – B’nai Aaron, Former President
Temple Adath Israel – Ritual Committee, Lay-prayer Leader in the synagogue and in homes of bereaved families, Adult
Education Teacher
All Corners Farm, Inc., Board Member - A non-profit dedicated to providing chemical-free, locally-grown food to
organizations which feed the homeless and hungry