WASHINGTON, D.C. ESTATE PLANNING COUNCIL

Program Description and Benefits:
Learn about the nuances in trusts and estate law under the laws of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia and how those nuances shape planning considerations for estate planners. Panelists will discuss differences in the administration of trusts and estates, which also give rise to important planning considerations in the three jurisdictions. 

Speaker Biographies: 
Michelle Chapin, JD, LLM, serves as a Managing Director, Wealth Strategist in Cresset’s Reston office. In this role, Michelle helps Cresset clients implement wealth transfer strategies, navigate the complexities involved in pre-sale planning, and understand all the facets of their estate plan. Michelle excels at providing clear and transparent explanations of intricate legal and tax matters, and provides guidance and practical solutions to achieve clients’ tax and non-tax wealth preservation objectives. Prior to joining Cresset, Michelle spent 18 years in private practice as a tax, trusts and estates attorney where she advised individuals, families, and small business owners regarding their estate and gift planning needs and counseled fiduciaries and beneficiaries on trust and estate administration matters. She also focused a portion of her practice on cross-border planning for permanent residents, visa holders, and non-resident, non-citizens of the U.S.

Dana M. Foley, JD, LLM, is a founder and partner at Accelerant Law. She advises on a broad range of sophisticated income and transfer tax planning strategies for ultra-high net worth individuals and their families. Dana’s practice has a strong focus on advising entrepreneurs and principals of private equity funds, hedge funds and venture capital funds, and owners of both public corporations as well as closely-held businesses in pre-liquidity, pre-IPO, and pre-transaction estate planning. Dana has also developed an expertise in planning with Qualified Small Business Stock and the unique income tax planning opportunities available to clients owning such stock. In addition to transactional planning, Dana has also cultivated a niche fiduciary practice of advising wealthy multi-generational families in establishing and administering private trust companies and family offices. Prior to joining Accelerant Law, Dana practiced in the Trusts & Estates and Private Client Services Departments of Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C. 

Cara M. Koss, JD, LLM, is a partner at Arnold & Porter, where she focuses her practice on advising high net worth individuals, both domestically and internationally, on a wide range of sophisticated matters including estate planning, trust and estate administration, lifetime gifting, family office formation and counseling, asset protection, business succession planning, and tax compliance. Cara specializes in structuring tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies for clients designed to preserve family legacies through the generations, protect assets from potential creditors, and incorporate clients' philanthropic and other non-tax objectives. Cara also has expertise in the settlement of complex estate matters, including disputes between family members and audits with the Internal Revenue Service. 

Meryl M. Mathews, JD, is a partner at the boutique lawfirm Birchstone Moore. Meryl’s practice is driven by efficiency and a commitment to ensuring every individual is protected through a plan that is equally practical as it is precise. Understanding that families are unique and dynamic, Meryl carefully crafts a plan to provide for what is distinctly important, while being flexible enough to adapt to the ever-changing tax laws. Clients find Meryl’s warm personality to be comforting during difficult times and that it eases a conversation many find challenging. Meryl seeks to earn each client’s confidence and serve as a trusted advisor for many generations. Prior to joining Birchstone Moore, Meryl was an associate wealth strategist at U.S. Trust/Bank of America Private Wealth Management. She began her career as a trusts and estates attorney at Covington and Burling.

Logistics:

• Fees: No cost for active members; $25 for guests and emeritus members
• Connection and zoom registration details will be emailed just prior to the event.
• ​Participant video and audio will be muted during the presentation.