Jeff practices in the areas of estate and wealth transfer planning, including preparing wills, trusts, disability documents and marital agreements; estate and trust administration, including fiduciary representation and tax reporting; and asset protection and closely-held business planning, including family limited partnerships and limited liability companies.
Education & Credentials
Education
University of Kentucky College of Law
J.D., 2000- magna cum laude
Asbury University
B.A., 1997Bar Admission
Acknowledgements
- Best Lawyers in America®
- Trusts and Estates, 2020-2026
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates, 2025-2026
- "Lawyer of the Year," Litigation - Trusts and Estates, 2026
- Chambers High Net Worth
- "Top Ranked," Private Wealth Law, 2017-2023
- "Leaders in their Fields," 2024-2025
- Leadership Central Kentucky
- Class of 2009-2010
- Lexington Young Professionals Association
- Rising Star, 2008
- Bluegrass Estate Planning Council, 2001-2021
- President, 2006-2007
Prominent Assignments
- Represented multiple generations of UHNWI in the structuring and transfer of concentrated publicly traded stock position to maintain and protect family control.
- Represented a client in the formation and funding of a family holding company to preserve real estate holdings and numerous active business interests.
- Assisted a client with the analysis of gifting opportunities to maximize the use of lifetime gift exemption and manage anticipated income tax consequences for low-basis assets.
- Assisted various clients with filing federal gift/estate tax returns and thereafter assisted with related IRS audit.
- Represented a client in a proposed modification of an irrevocable trust and related gift/estate/GST tax considerations.
- Represented beneficiaries in connection with the review and analysis of their parents’ estate plan.
- Represented a client in the decanting of multiple GST exempt gift trusts.
- Represented a client to analyze, structure, and coordinate multiple GRAT transactions using closely held business interests based on cash flow and appreciation factors to maximize transfer tax savings.
- Represented a large real estate developer in entity formation and funding to own diverse real estate holdings and facilitate transfer of ownership through gifting and sale transactions.
- Represented a client's estate to develop an alternative strategy to avoid unwanted use of gift or GST tax exemptions and create opportunity for stepped-up tax basis.
Professional Involvement
- Kentucky Bar Association
- Fayette County Bar Association
Community Involvement
- Director, Lexington Christian Academy
- Chairman, Asbury University Bequest and Planned Giving Committee
- Past member, Lexington Philharmonic Board of Directors
- Past member, International Book Project, Inc. Board of Directors
Publications/Presentations
- Presenter, “Estate and Asset Protection for Doctors and Dentists,” Ballast Panel Presentation, April 2023
- “Faults in our Stars: Estate Planning Lessons Pulled from the Tabloids,” Campbell University Trust Advisors Forum, February 25, 2020
- “Final Regulations Confirm No Claw Back on Gifting,” Dickinson Wright Tax Tips, December 3, 2019
- “Estate Planning Basics,” Dean Dorton Tax Seminar, May 22, 2019
- “GST Non-Exempt Trusts,” Dickinson Wright Tax Tips, March 11, 2019
- “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, 2018 Estate and Tax Seminar, October 23 and 25, 2018
- “The Art (and Science) of Charitable Giving,” Institute 193, July 12, 2018
- “Planning Your Legacy,” University of Pikeville, May 1, 2018
- “Trusts: From Good to Great”, Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, 2017 Estate and Tax Seminar, November 2 and 16, 2017
- "Update on 2704 Proposed Regulations and Impact on 2016 Gift Tax Reporting," Dickinson Wright Tax Tips, March 13, 2017
- “Peace of Mind Planning,” Asbury University, October 25, 2016
- "Interest Rate-Sensitive Tax Planning Techniques," Dickinson Wright Tax Tips, September 26, 2016
- "New Estate Basis Reporting Requirements," Dickinson Wright Tax Tips, March 7, 2016
- "Buy-Sell Agreements," Dickinson Wright Tax Tips, August 24, 2015
- "Kentucky Law Update," 2015 Annual Bench & Bar, June 23, 2015
- "Using Trusts with Retirement Accounts," Dickinson Wright Tax Tips, May 4, 2015
- “KBA 2011 Kentucky Probate and Trust Law Update” September 2011
- “2011 Estate Planning: Are You Ready?” September 2011
- “Estate and Asset Protection Planning: Best Practices for the Medical Professional,” March 2011
- “Keys to Effective Business Succession and Exit Planning,” Society of Financial Service Professionals, March 2011
- “Tax Planning in the Midst of Change,” January 2011
- "Wealth Management and Estate Planning," University of Kentucky Gill Heart Institute, September 2007