Citywealth Leaders List, 60 second interview – Dina Kapur Sanna, Day Pitney

Date: 18 Mar 2026

Karen Jones

This week’s 60 seconds Citywealth Leaders List interview is dedicated to Dina Kapur Sanna, Partner, Chair, International Estate Planning at Day Pitney

Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role.

At Day Pitney, I serve as chair of the International Estate Planning Practice and as a partner in the firm’s New York office, where I advise global families on structuring and managing wealth across multiple jurisdictions. With nearly 30 years of experience, my practice focuses on complex cross-border estate and trust planning, including the U.S. tax treatment of foreign trusts, corporate anti-deferral regimes, and planning for high-net-worth individuals with international assets. I also advise on pre-immigration and expatriation tax planning, as well as compliance and reporting for clients with interests in overseas accounts, corporations, and trusts.

What does a typical day look like for you?

No two days are exactly the same, but most involve a mix of client interaction and technical work. I spend a significant portion of my day in meetings and calls with existing and prospective clients, as well as collaborating with colleagues on active matters. Much of my time is also spent reviewing and/or drafting estate planning documents and memoranda outlining tax structures and strategic roadmaps tailored to clients’ global needs.

Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received.

Recently, I’ve seen a growing number of clients exploring alternative residency and citizenship options, as well as moving assets overseas. Many are not necessarily looking to leave the U.S. entirely but instead want to establish a “plan B” in response to ongoing political and economic uncertainty.

What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?

A key challenge for many clients is managing assets, conflicting tax regimes, and beneficiaries spread across multiple jurisdictions and coming up with a cohesive roadmap that achieves their succession planning objectives in a tax efficient way. My strength lies in bringing all of those moving pieces together— with the help of local counsels as needed. I also advise large families on governance including establishment of private trust company structures in the U.S. and abroad. Finally, a significant portion of my practice involves advising financial institutions on structuring and administering foreign trusts for U.S. beneficiaries—from initial setup through ongoing administration and, ultimately, distribution or domestication and on how to minimize their liability when a nonresident dies owning U.S. assets.

What is your proudest professional achievement?

Being elected as a Fellow of both the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and the International Academy of Trust and Estate Law has been a particularly meaningful recognition of my work in this field.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
Strong leadership starts with active listening—truly understanding both your team and your clients. Creating an environment where people feel supported, challenged, and motivated to do their best work is key to long-term success.

Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?

London—I travel there a couple of times a year for work and always enjoy it. It’s a great opportunity to connect with colleagues and clients internationally, and I always try to carve out a bit of time to enjoy the city as well.
If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?
I’ve always had an interest in medicine, so I could see myself pursuing a career as a doctor. I’m drawn to the problem-solving aspect of it, as well as the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives.

How do you relax after a long day?

I enjoy spending quality time with my husband—whether that’s a quiet evening at home, a date night, or enjoying a home cooked meal. We also spend time with our French bulldog, Louis, who always brings a bit of fun and energy to the end of the day.

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