James Laman is Vice President and Corporate Counsel of The Stanley Laman Group, which he co-founded in 1991 with William Stanley. Jim is also founder and managing member of Laman Law, LLC, a boutique estate planning practice serving select high-net-worth clients, and serves as Principal and Chief Compliance Officer of Stanley Laman Group Securities, LLC, a registered broker-dealer. This integrated structure allows Jim to provide both institutional-level estate planning through Stanley Laman Group and specialized legal counsel through Laman Law, ensuring comprehensive coordination across all aspects of wealth transfer and business succession.
Jim began his career in accounting and audit before transitioning to law, working with several financial services firms in estate and tax planning roles. His dual background in accounting and tax law provides unique insight into the financial implications of estate structures, enabling him to design strategies that optimize both tax efficiency and operational effectiveness. His experience includes estate planning and business analysis for institutional clients, where he developed expertise in sophisticated wealth transfer strategies for complex family situations. At Capital Analysts, Inc., he designed comprehensive estate plans for high-net-worth clients before departing to establish Stanley Laman Group.
Jim earned his undergraduate degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois-Chicago and his Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law in 1983. He subsequently earned an LL.M. in Taxation from Villanova University School of Law in 1988, specializing in advanced tax strategies for estates and trusts. Jim is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
At Stanley Laman Group, Jim leads the firm's legal and estate planning practice, coordinating with investment managers and tax specialists to structure comprehensive wealth solutions for multi-generational families and business owners. His expertise encompasses grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), intentionally defective grantor trusts (IDGTs), family limited partnerships, and other advanced wealth transfer techniques. Through Laman Law, he provides specialized estate planning counsel to clients with complex trust structures and succession planning needs.
SLG is an independent investment management and advisory firm serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions.
