Ms. Ilene D. Samuel, Esq., AEP® is Of Counsel to L’Abbate, Balkan, Colavita & Contini, LLP, where she concentrates her practice in the area of estate planning, trust and estate administration, elder law, and real estate. In addition, her legal experience includes practice in the area of employee benefits.
Ms. Samuel was awarded the designation Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils in June 2017.
Ms. Samuel received her Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University School of Law in 1983, and was subsequently admitted to practice before the Courts of the State of New York. Additionally, Ms. Samuel holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the State University of New York at Albany, graduating Summa Cum Laude. While at SUNY Albany, she became a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Ms. Samuel went on to serve as Chairperson of the Tax Law Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association for the membership years beginning July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2010.
In June of 2017, Ms. Samuel was awarded the Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) designation by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. This esteemed designation is awarded only to estate planning professionals who meet special requirements of education, experience, knowledge, professional reputation, and character. Attainment allows designees to distinguish themselves to clients and among peers as a true member of the NAEPC team.
Ms. Samuel is a past President and Vice-President of the Estate Planning Council of Nassau County, Inc. She served on its Board of Directors as well, and has chaired the council’s Study Group Committee. The Nassau and Suffolk County Chapters of the EPC since merged, creating the Estate Planning Council of Long Island, Inc. Ms. Samuel currently serves on this newly formed council’s Speakers Committee, assisting with its monthly programs for members.
Notably, Ms. Samuel was honored to be chosen by The Estate Planning Council of Long Island, Inc. as recipient of the 2025 Gary H. Friedenberg Service Award, in recognition of her many years of outstanding leadership and service to these councils.
Ms. Samuel has lectured before the Tax Law Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association, and participated in the Advanced Institute Program's Fall 2005 meeting of the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. She frequently lectures for the Nassau Academy of Law, as well as the New York State Bar Association, in the area of Trusts and Estates and Planning with Retirement Assets. Ms. Samuel also presented at the UJA Federation of New York’s Annual Bud Rosner Memorial Long Island Estate Tax & Financial Planning Conference.
Ms. Samuel is a member of the Tax Law, Surrogate’s Court Estates, and Trust and Social Services & Health Advocacy Committees of the Nassau County Bar Association, as well as the Trusts and Estates and Elder Law Sections of the New York State Bar Association.
