We Don’t Structure Settlements. We Architect Them.
A personal injury settlement does not always end when the money is paid out. In some cases, the payout is the beginning of a different set of legal and planning questions involving government benefits, legal tax structures, trust administration, liens, and what happens to the recovery after disbursement. That is why trial attorneys should not…
The best time to bring settlement counsel into a case is before critical settlement decisions become fixed and before funds move. That is the stage when the legal team still has room to evaluate benefits issues, legal tax structures, trust planning, liens, and other downstream risks that can affect whether the result actually holds up.…
A settlement planning attorney and a structured settlement broker are not the same role. They may appear in the same case, and they may both be involved in conversations about the settlement outcome, but they do not operate from the same lane, solve the same problems, or serve the same function. That distinction matters because…
A settlement architect is legal counsel who helps trial attorneys plan the settlement strategy before funds are distributed. The role is not limited to one product, one document, or one post-settlement task. It exists to help address the three areas every serious settlement crosses: benefits preservation, legal tax structures, and trust administration. That distinction matters…
A structured settlement can be an important part of a strong outcome. But in some cases, it is only one part of what the client needs. That is the key distinction. A structured settlement may help with payment timing and long-term financial support, but it does not automatically address every legal and practical issue that…
The answer depends on how the settlement is structured. In some cases, the client receives the funds directly and manages them personally. In others, the funds may be administered through a trust or another legal structure, with responsibility falling to a trustee, fiduciary, or other designated party. That is why this question matters. The management…
The difference comes down to what drives the planning process. Fiduciary settlement planning is built around a legal duty to act in the client’s best interest. Broker-led settlement planning is often built around a financial product or a narrower piece of the post-settlement process. That does not mean every broker-led conversation lacks value. It does…
Section 104(a)(2) is an important part of the tax framework surrounding personal injury recoveries. At a basic level, it addresses when certain damages received on account of personal physical injuries or physical sickness may be excluded from gross income. For plaintiff counsel, the practical takeaway is this: favorable tax treatment is not just a background…
A strong settlement result can create the impression that the work is finished. The number is negotiated, the client is relieved, and the file appears ready to close. From the outside, everything can look complete. But a settlement can still leave important gaps unaddressed. That is the core issue. The case resolves. The number is…
By the time mediation ends, some of the most important settlement decisions have already been made. That is exactly why settlement planning should not begin after the agreement is reached. It should begin before mediation starts. A lot of firms still treat settlement planning like a cleanup step. The case settles, the number gets worked…
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