Tax, trusts & asset protection for entrepreneurs, sophisticated investors and plaintiff lawyers

RiserLaw is the solo law practice of Chris Riser, J.D., LL.M., a tax and estate planning lawyer with over 25 years of experience helping clients structure wealth, protect assets, and navigate complex planning for closely-held businesses, business exits, asset sales, contingent fees, and cross-border tax issues.

Based in Georgia. Serving select clients and advisors nationwide, subject to applicable law and bar rules.

About RiserLaw

RiserLaw LLC is the private law practice of Chris Riser, a tax and estate planning attorney focused on sophisticated clients who need more than off-the-shelf planning.

Chris has spent nearly three decades working at the intersection of:

  • Tax and estate planning (domestic and foreign)

  • Asset protection and trust design (domestic and foreign)

  • Contingent-fee planning for mass tort and plaintiff lawyers and law firms

  • Coordination with financial advisors, CPAs, and insurance professionals

After several years in institutional and consulting roles, Chris has returned to private practice to work directly with a select group of clients and their advisors on complex planning projects.

Chris's credentials & background:

  • Admitted to practice law in Georgia, North Carolina (inactive), and as a Solicitor in England & Wales (non-practising)

  • B.A., M.A., University of North Carolina; J.D., University of North Carolina School of Law; LL.M. in Estate Planning, University of Miami School of Law

  • 28+ years in domestic and international tax planning, estate planning, and asset protection planning

  • Extensive experience with advanced trust and business entity structures, plaintiff lawyers and fee deferrals

  • Co-author with Jay Adkisson of the best-selling book Asset Protection Planning: Concepts & Strategies (McGraw-Hill, 2004)

Who I Work With

I focus on clients and advisors who are dealing with meaningful, often complex planning decisions:

Entrepreneurs & Business Owners

  • Owners of closely-held businesses

  • Founders anticipating liquidity events

  • Businesses with cross-border tax issues

Families & Individuals

  • High-net-worth individuals and families needing tax planning, estate planning and asset protection planning

  • Global high-net-worth individuals and families with U.S. connections and cross-border tax and estate and trust planning considerations

Advisors & Intermediaries

  • Other attorneys

  • CPAs

  • Financial advisors

  • Life insurance professionals working on advanced planning matters

  • Investment bankers, M&A advisors, and business brokers

  • Family offices

Contingent-Fee Lawyers

  • Individual lawyers and partners expecting large fees

  • Mass tort and class action law firms expecting large fees

  • Lawyers and firms expecting large fees but facing debt pressure

  • Contingent-fee lawyers planning retirement, succession, or a firm exit

  • Small firm founders exploring an M&A sale or merger

Focus Areas

Representative areas where I’m typically engaged:

  • Trusts & estate planning for high-net-worth professionals, entrepreneurs, investors and business owners

  • Consultation with professional advisors on structuring, implementation, and ongoing governance

  • Asset protection planning, including domestic and foreign trusts

  • Contingent fee planning for plaintiff lawyers, law firms, and other professionals

  • Planning around liquidity events, including coordination with investment and insurance strategies

  • Cross-border tax planning for U.S. and foreign persons, families, and companies seeking multi-jurisdictional tax-efficiency

How Engagements Typically Work

Every matter is different, but most engagements follow a simple, structured process:

Introductory call

  1. We discuss your situation at a high level and whether I’m a good fit.

  2. This is not legal advice; it’s a chance to understand goals, complexity, and timelines.

Strategy outline & engagement

  1. If it makes sense to proceed, I provide a proposed scope of work, fee structure, and engagement terms.

  2. For more complex matters, this may include an initial diagnostic or strategy memo.

Implementation & coordination

  1. I draft and refine the necessary legal documents.

  2. I coordinate with your existing advisors (other attorneys, CPAs, financial advisors, insurance professionals) to align the plan with your broader strategy.

I keep my practice intentionally exclusive so I can stay personally involved in every matter.

Contact

If you’d like to explore working together or want to discuss a specific planning need, you can reach me here:

Email: please use the contact form
Phone: +1.912.446.2228

1201 Shadowlawn Drive, Suite 100
St. Marys, Georgia 31558
by appointment only

If it appears to be a fit, we reply within 2 business days.

Important notices

  • This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice.

  • Viewing this site or contacting RiserLaw LLC does not create an attorney–client relationship.

  • No legal services are provided until a written engagement agreement is signed.

  • Past results and experience do not guarantee future outcomes.

Jurisdiction & licensing

  • RiserLaw LLC is a law firm based in Georgia.

  • Chris Riser is licensed to practice law in Georgia, North Carolina (inactive) and as a Solicitor in England & Wales (non-practicing).

  • Available to work with clients nationwide, subject to applicable law and bar rules.

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