Partner

MATTHEW D. NORFOLK

Matthew founded the firm of Norfolk Law PLLC before joining Jill to form Norfolk Beier PLLC.  He has worked overseas, in the New York City metropolitan area, and for the past 16 years has made the Adirondacks, specifically Lake Placid, the headquarters for his practice and home for his wife, Darcy, and their three children.  

Matthew specializes in litigation, including appeals, and the representation of individuals and businesses in matters involving complex real property disputes, commercial disputes, land use, and zoning disagreements, and other matters where the dispute requires litigation or the employment of alternative dispute resolution methods, such as arbitration or mediation, to obtain a resolution.  He also regularly handles residential and commercial real estate transactions.  Matthew's clients come from near and far.  He represents residents and businesses in Northern New York, including the Adirondacks, but also has clients from all over the United States, Canada, and Europe.  

Before relocating to Lake Placid, Matthew was employed as a litigation attorney at a Manhattan-based law firm specializing in multi-jurisdictional litigation often involving litigants from multiple states and foreign countries.  From 2001 to 2002, Matthew served as international corporate counsel for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. ("MHI"), in Tokyo, Japan.  There, he negotiated and drafted major commercial construction and manufacturing supply agreements concerning various MHI's gas-powered products, aviation components, power plants, and other projects of a global scale.  Matthew continues to have relationships with his colleagues in Japan.

Matthew brings experience, passion, and grit to every file.  He customizes his support and services and develops a strategy to meet each client's unique needs and objectives.  Do not hesitate to schedule a consultation with Matthew to learn how he can help you with your legal matter.

Matthew is currently an active member of the Board of Trustees for the Adirondack Health Foundation.  He is a former President and Trustee for the Lake Placid Olympic Museum.  For more than 10 years, Matthew was also a Board Member of Tri-Lakes Youth Lacrosse Association and a volunteer coach.

Partner

JILL CHOATE BEIER

Jill Choate Beier is a partner and co-founder of the firm, Norfolk Beier PLLC with its primary location in Lake Placid, New York. Her practice includes a broad range of matters in the personal planning area, including estate and tax planning for individuals and families; small business succession planning; estate and trust administration; all aspects of Surrogate’s Court practice, including probate proceedings, will contests and guardianships; and planning for charitable giving and philanthropy.

Prior to starting her own firm, Ms. Beier practiced law at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP in New York City. Before becoming an attorney, Ms. Beier worked for several years in the financial services sector and held senior management positions in accounting and regulatory reporting at large financial institutions such as JP Morgan and Credit Suisse.

Since 2010, Ms. Beier has been an active member of the Trusts and Estates Law Section of the New York State Bar Association serving on various committees and in positions of leadership. Since 2018, Ms. Beier has served as an officer of the Executive Committee and, in 2020, served as Chair of the Trusts and Estates Law Section. As a member of the Trusts and Estates Law Section, Ms. Beier has been instrumental in several legislative initiatives that resulted in the enactment of statutes in New York State to shape and improve the practice area.

Ms. Beier is a frequent author and lecturer on various topics specific to the trusts and estates practice area. In 2019, Ms. Beier was elected by her peers as a fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

In addition to practicing law, Ms. Beier is active in the local community by serving on the Board of Directors of the Adirondack Council, the Lake Placid Center for the Arts and Paul Smith’s College.

Ms. Beier earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of North Texas, an MBA with an Accounting concentration from Fordham Graduate School of Business, a J.D., summa cum laude, from Touro Law School, and an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law.

Articles Published

“Can You? Should You? When Your Trusts and Estates Client Crosses New York State Lines”, January 27, 2023, New York Law Journal

“Probate v. Privacy: The Technology Battle After Death” New York State Bar Journal, March/April 2018

“Legislating Digital Assets” The Suffolk Lawyer, Vol. 30, No. 3, December 2014

“When Old and New Worlds Collide: Traditional Planning and the Daunting Challenges of Digital Assets” (with Susan Porter) BNA Tax Memorandum, December 16, 2013

“The Digital Asset Dilemma” (with Susan Porter) NYSBA Trusts and Estates Section, Summer Edition, 2013

“Defining Beneficial Dispositions Under EPTL 3-3.2: Should Tax Non-Apportionment Clauses Count?” (with Joseph La Ferlita and Theresa Kraker) NYSBA Trusts and Estates Section, Summer Edition, 2011

“Trustee Commissions and the Power to Adjust: Should We Re-Characterize Adjustments?” (with Joseph La Ferlita) NYSBA Trusts and Estates Section Winter Edition, 2011

“Falling into the Gap of State Death Taxes: How to Ensure a Soft Landing”, New York Law Journal, (with Catherine Grevers Schmidt), January 26, 2009

Kate Mazdzer, a Saranac Lake native, first joined the firm as a real estate paralegal in 2019 and continued to work while obtaining her juris doctor at Syracuse University College of Law. Kate graduated cum laude in May 2023 as a member of the Justinian Honor Society and completed the Estate Planning Curricular Program. During her last year, she practiced as a student-attorney in the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic providing critical legal representation for underserved communities. She also presented a continuing education lecture for Onondaga County planning and zoning board members on the intricate relationship between zoning codes and affordable housing.

Before Law School, Kate attended St. Lawrence University, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2014. She pursued a double major in Global Studies (Political Economy concentration) and French and studied abroad in France, Senegal, Washington D.C., and Ghana.

Beyond her legal pursuits, Kate enjoys spending her free time hiking, canoeing, and cross-country skiing with her partner, Dalton, and beloved golden retriever, Bindi.

Shane Kelly launched his legal career in 2015 at a mid-sized law firm in Rochester, NY, where he gained valuable experience in both client-facing positions and office administration. In 2018, Shane returned to academia to pursue a law degree at Syracuse University.

During his time in law school, Shane interned for an international law firm in Washington, D.C., contributed pro bono to the Syrian Accountability Project, and served as editor for multiple journals, including Law Review. Shane’s 2L student note titled Money Laundering Through Virtual Worlds of Video Games: Recommendations for a New Approach to AML Regulation received the Robert M. Anderson Publication Award and was published in Syracuse Law Review.

After law school, Shane joined a large online retailer as corporate counsel. He now works remotely for Norfolk Beier from Canandaigua, NY, but he’s always looking for an excuse to come into the office and enjoy Lake Placid!