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Ms. Blattner is an attorney in private practice. She brings considerable skills, passion, and excellence in the areas of probate litigation, probate administration, and Guardianships/Conservatorships. Ms. Blattner represents clients in all different capacities, assists with the Courts as a Guardian ad Litem, and collaborates with fellow counsel. She is an active member of the Colorado Bar Association, including the Elder Law Section as a legislative liaison, as well as the El Paso County Bar Association – Probate Section. Ms. Blattner is also a member of the National Guardianship Association and serves as a Board of Director of the Pikes Peak Elder Justice Center. She has been actively involved in the general and legal community throughout her legal career and has received a number of awards and accolades for her community involvement. Through the Civic and Community Affairs Subcommittee, she began serving as the Managing Editor of the Senior Law Handbook in 2023, a joint publication of the Colorado Bar Association and Colorado Legal Education in Colorado, Inc. Ms. Blattner has presented to the community and other legal professionals on a variety of topics over the years, including Domestic Relations Cases, Guardianships/Conservatorships, NGA Standards of Practice for professional Guardians and Conservators, basic estate planning, and probate administration. She grew up in Lakewood, Colorado, and attended the University of Colorado at Denver where she received her B.S. in Business Management, cum laude, and then her Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver – Sturm College of Law in 2009. Ms. Blattner strongly feels that a person’s rights are not determined by their age or level of capacity. She strives to use collaborative approaches to find solutions for families during all stages of life.

Mr. Roth is the Managing Partner of the Probate & Estate Planning Division of Gasper Law Group. He joined the Gasper Law Group in 2017 after twenty years as a prosecutor. Mr. Roth started as an intern in the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, trying numerous misdemeanors and DUI’s while still in law school. Upon graduation, Mr. Roth joined the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, progressing through the specialty units of Economic Crime, Gang Prosecution, Vehicular Homicide, Special Victims Unit and eventually homicide cases in El Paso and Teller Counties. He then joined the Violent Crimes Assistance Team at the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, Special Prosecution Unit where he traveled the state, assisting and trying complex homicide and death penalty cases. Mr. Roth has also taught search and seizure, courtroom testimony, and officer involved shooting classes at several police academies, the Central Mountain Training Foundation for detectives and at Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (“COVA”) conferences. In addition to his prosecutorial experience, he was a reserve officer for the Parker Police department for thirteen years where he worked as a patrol officer, seeing both sides of law enforcement. He brings his vast experience in the courtroom to The Gasper Law Group where he represents clients in the areas of Probate and Estate Planning. Mr. Roth earned his Law Degree from the University of Denver in 1999 and his undergraduate degree, a self-constructed criminal justice major with a minor in business administration, in the scenic setting of Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Before law school, he also played football for the semi-pro team, Colorado Springs Hornets. In any remaining spare time, the fifth generation Coloradoan enjoys researching the history of Colorado’s historic ghost towns and mining towns, taking his German Shepherd on hikes, and yelling in frustration at Broncos, Avalanche or Rockies games.

Ms. Seal is of counsel at Gasper Law Group in Colorado Springs. She is the Public Administrator for the Fourth Judicial District of Colorado, serving El Paso and Teller Counties. Ms. Seal is the first person ever awarded an LL.M. Degree in Elder Law from the Stetson University College of Law, graduating with honors. She is a past chair of the National Guardianship Network. Ms. Seal is a member of the American Bar Association’s Real Property, Trusts and Estate Law Section where she is a past chair of the Surrogate Decision-Making Committee and a member of the Senior Lawyers Division. She serves as an ABA advisor to the ABA Commission on Law and Aging. Ms. Seal is a former President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and is past-chair of the Guardianship Section and is a Fellow of the Academy. She is one of only seven attorneys in Colorado designated a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. Ms. Seal is the author of Colorado Elder Law, published by Thompson West Publishing as part of their Colorado Practice Series. Her practice is concentrated in the areas of elder law, protective proceedings, probate, financial exploitation of the elderly, and related matters.

Ms. Lemon has worked for the Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB) of the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) for 20 years. The mission of the SWQB is to preserve, protect, and improve New Mexico’s surface water quality for present and future generations. As Bureau Chief, She currently manages and oversees three technical teams that fulfill the state’s responsibilities under both the federal Clean Water Act and state Water Quality Act, such as developing and revising water quality standards, collecting and assessing water quality data, managing and reducing nonpoint source pollution, protecting and restoring wetlands, and implementing surface water protection regulations related to point source discharges. Ms. Lemon is a Board member for the national Association of Clean Water Administrators. Prior to joining the Department, She was a high school and middle school science teacher, outdoor educator, and dive master. Ms. Lemon earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a master’s degree in Hydrology from the University of Arizona.

Ms. Russo Baca is the staff attorney and Ombudsman Program Director at the Utton Transboundary Resources Center at the University of New Mexico (UNM) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In both roles that she fulfills, her mission is to support and represent constituents in a fair and unbiased manner. As the Ombudsman Program Director, she guides the activities of the Joe M Stell Ombudsman Program, a statewide program that provides impartial adjudication information and procedural guidance to unrepresented water rights claimants in the State of New Mexico. Ms. Russo Baca also manages the Native American Water Right Settlements E-Repository. She contributes significantly to the Utton Center’s overall mission of providing objective research-based public service to New Mexico’s communities on energy, climate change, ecological conservation, food systems, and international natural resource management issues. Ms. Russo Baca undergraduate degree is in agroecology, and she holds both Indian Law and Natural Resources and Environmental Law Certificates from the UNM School of Law. She has also served on the Tribal Law Journal as a staff member and editor and received the Dean’s Award upon graduation. During the Spring 2024 semester, she taught the inaugural Agricultural Law class at the UNM School of Law. Ms. Russo Baca is currently the Chair of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Board of Directors, holding Position No. 1, At-Large.

Quinn Scott Simons was born and raised in Santa Fe and is a fourth generation New Mexican. After attending undergraduate school at Colorado College (B.A. 1997), Quinn, an avid mountain climber, attempted an unclimbed route on a remote, 25,245’ peak in the Tibetan Himalayas. Due to an unexpected storm and highly technical climbing conditions at high altitude, Quinn suffered severe frostbite, costing him his fingers and feet. Undaunted by the challenges and adversity that ensued, Quinn started and ran a successful construction company in Santa Fe for several years, before moving to Kentucky to train horses.

After years in the horse business, Quinn reunited with his high school girlfriend, Veree, and chose to settle down and raise his family in Santa Fe. Quinn attended the University of New Mexico School of Law (J.D. 2013), and now maintains a successful law practice focused on construction and real estate law and litigation, general business law and litigation, and insurance law. He is licensed to practice in both New Mexico State and Federal courts with an emphasis on trial practice. 

Mr. Bowden is an Atlanta native, who attended high school at The Rectory School in Pomfret, Connecticut, before graduating from The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. He then attended Emory University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. After college, Mr. Bowden worked for an internationally recognized law firm in Atlanta before enrolling at the Emory University School of Law, from which he earned his Juris Doctor in 2012.

During law school, Mr. Bowden worked for the Honorable Michael Johnson in the Superior Court of Fulton County and the Honorable Julie Carnes in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. After law school, He briefly interned with the Honorable Robert Flournoy, III in the Superior Court of Cobb County.

In February 2013, Mr. Bowden started his own legal practice, Bowden Law, LLC, focusing primarily on estate planning, estate administration, estate litigation, guardianship, conservatorship, and business planning. In March 2017, he affiliated his practice with the firm of Johnson & Ward. Mr. Bowden has extensive experience not only in the estate planning, estate administration, trust, guardianship, conservatorship, and business planning areas, but also in the personal injury, landlord/tenant, domestic relations, creditor/debtor, traffic disputes, and general litigation areas.

Since joining The Bowden Law Firm in January 2020, Mr. Bowden has focused his practice on estate planning, probate and estate administration, trust administration, including the removal and appointment of trustees and judicial and non-judicial trust modifications, business planning, and guardianship and conservatorship appointments, including emergency guardianships and emergency conservatorships.

Ms. Boyd’s practice focuses on estate planning, transfer tax planning, and charitable giving. In particular, she advises clients regarding sophisticated wealth transfer strategies, business succession planning, and the formation and taxation of private foundations and other charities.

Ms. Boyd was a member of the inaugural 2022-2023 class of the Southeast Fellows Institute of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a member of the 2022-2023 class of the Philanthropic Advisor Leadership Institute. She has previously served as the Secretary of the State Bar of Georgia Fiduciary Law Section Code Revision Committee and currently sits on the boards of two Atlanta charities.

Mr. Brooks is an Atlanta-based estate planning and probate firm serving clients throughout Georgia. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgia State University College of Law, his alma mater, and holds an LL.M. from the University of Florida Graduate Tax Program. Mr. Brooks is an active member of STEP, the Estate Planning and Elder Law Sections of the Atlanta Bar Association, and various other professional organizations.

Ms. Lacey nationally recognized expert in elder law and special needs planning, she has over thirty years of experience in matters involving estate planning, probate, elder law, and planning for disability. Ms. Lacey is one of a handful of Certified Elder Law Attorneys in Georgia and has been a member of the Special Needs Alliance for over two decades.

Mr. Ouzts is an Associate in the firm’s Jacksonville office. His Practice concentrates on estate planning, trust and estate administration, gift and estate taxation, probate, and representation of tax-exempt organizations. Mr. Ouzts brings a well-rounded background to these areas, drawing from his legal education and practical experience.

Passionate about taxation, Mr. Ouzts obtained his LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He earned his Juris Doctor degree at Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law, graduating cum laude. During law school, Forbes was an active member of the Phi Delta Phi Honor Society, the Business, Bankruptcy & Tax Law Society, and the Mercer Low Income Tax Clinic. Mr. Ouzts earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Florida. He is licensed to practice law in Georgia and is in the process of becoming licensed in Florida.

Mr. Saunders is licensed in Alabama and Georgia to practice law, and focuses his practice in estate and trust planning and administration, probate matters, and nonprofit/tax exempt organizations.

He assists individuals and families preserve and transfer wealth to their loved ones and charitable organizations by crafting and implementing a variety of estate planning techniques, including the routine preparation of wills, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and revocable and irrevocable trusts. Mr. Saunders also assists individual and corporate administrators, executors, and trustees with estate, probate, and trust administrations. Such strategies focus on advising individuals and families with regards to estate planning, income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping tax issues, and tax savings and minimizing strategies. He has helped blended families, non-married couples, and others configure optimum estate planning options. Mr. Saunders advises family businesses about succession planning and other entrepreneurs in entity formation matters.

His practice also involves representing beneficiaries of estates and trusts. Mr. Saunders frequently supports a family’s team of accountants, financial planners, insurance agents, and other financial advisors in the preparation of estate plans, and filing of gift tax returns, estate tax returns, and fiduciary income tax returns. He also routinely receives guardian ad litem appointments from local courts.

Mr. Saunders often works closely with nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, from counseling donors in achieving charitable planning and giving goals to helping numerous entities and organizations of all sizes and budgets obtain and maintain federal tax exemption as well as routinely guiding these nonprofit and other tax-exempt organizations with incorporating or designing effective policies.

Mr. Turner has practiced as an estate planning attorney for over a decade with a particular focus on complex estate and wealth transfer planning, wealth preservation planning, and estate and trust administration. His diverse experience includes advising clients on a range of issues, including business succession planning, charitable planning, educating next generation family members, and family office planning.

As a fifth-generation family owner of a Georgia company with diverse asset composition, Mr. Turner understands the complexities and nuances of the intra-family issues that arise in the family business context from both a personal and professional standpoint. This unique perspective on multi-generational estate and family business planning enables him to provide practical and customized solutions that address his clients unique needs and goals.

Ms. Palmer earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama then attended law school at Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida. She previously worked as in-house counsel for a real estate investment company and was the managing attorney of a law firm in Midtown Atlanta. Ms. Palmer is a partner at Oxendine Law, LLC, practicing in all areas of domestic litigation, divorce, child custody, paternity and legitimation, and modification actions. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia Family Law Section and the Gwinnett County Bar Association Family Law Section.

Mr. Shemkus exclusively practices family law. As a Florida Supreme Court Board Certified Specialist in Marital & Family Law, he is committed to helping clients navigate family law proceedings with confidence and dignity, applying his knowledge in this field to seek the best possible result based on each client’s individual goals, needs, and concerns. Mr. Shemkus received his B.A. degree from Lewis & Clark College and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. He joined Long, Murphy & Shemkus, P.A. in 2016 after working as an associate at a firm in Illinois. Mr. Shemkus’s practice includes all areas of family law and divorce, such as custody, support, domestic violence, and complex property allocation.

Mr. Banks is the principal attorney at Banks & Associates, PLLC, a Houston-based law firm focused on meeting the needs of government and construction contractors throughout Texas. He is a trusted advisor for licensed professionals, CEOs and managers in construction firms, and government contractors. Mr. Banks was licensed as a CPA in 2003 and has more than 20 years of experience as a lead accountant and CFO for successful government contractors. He earned his B.B.A. degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston and secured his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Banks is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Association of Corporate Counsel and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is a member of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Ms. Crowson is originally from Columbia and Camden, South Carolina. She graduated magna cum laude from the College of Charleston in 1997 and from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 2000. After law school, Ms. Crowson served as a law clerk to the Honorable Kaye G. Hearn, former Chief Judge of the S.C. Court of Appeals and former Justice of the S.C. Supreme Court. She is licensed to practice law in South Carolina and Florida, and her prior work experiences also include Howser, Newman & Besley Law Firm, Pennington Law Firm, and Rogers, Lewis, Jackson & Mann Law Firm, all in Columbia, SC and as Assistant State Attorney, Fourth Judicial Circuit, Florida. Ms. Crowson is a founding partner of Crowson Walker, LLC, which launched in August 2024. She maintains both a litigation and transactional practice, focusing on condemnation / eminent domain, telecommunications, easement and right-of-way disputes and acquisition (including fiber, utilities, access), lease negotiations, and commercial contract negotiations. In condemnations, easement, and right-of-way disputes, Ms. Crowson primarily represents utility companies seeking to acquire and/or enforce utility easements. In telecommunications matters, she represents wireless carriers, fiber providers, tower companies, utility companies, and business entities, related to telecom towers, colocations, antenna leasing, DAS/IBRD systems, pole attachments, 5G, service agreements, and small cell node networks. Ms. Crowson actively assists clients in negotiating master lease agreements (MLAs) and individual site leases (SLAs) for the deployment of wireless infrastructure and technology across the U.S., as well as the continued evolution of that infrastructure and technology.

Prior to his service at TVA, Mr. Savage was in private survey practice for 10 years specializing in dispute resolution and expert witness services. He has surveyed several disputed state boundaries to resolve jurisdictional conflicts. Mr. Savage is an adjunct professor at Cleveland State Community College where he teaches courses in boundary law, geodesy, GIS, and surveying fundamentals. He has researched and retraced the historical surveys of Henry David Thoreau and has published several articles on the subject. Mr. Savage teaches exam review and continuing education seminars at various state and local conferences across the country.

Mr. Shissias established the Shissias Law Firm, LLC, where he practices environmental and regulatory law. After graduating from the University Of South Carolina School Of Law and being admitted to practice in 1996, he went to work as a staff attorney at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Over the next six years he represented DHEC’s Solid Waste Section, Bureau of Air Quality, Bureau of Water, Laboratory Certification, and DHEC’s Environmental Health Division. He regularly litigated contested cases involving permitting and enforcement matters involving air quality, solid waste, hazardous waste, stormwater, laboratory certifications, and 401 Water Quality Certifications. Mr. Shissias also advised DHEC’s Office of Criminal Investigations and was appointed as a Special Assistant Attorney General to prosecute environmental crimes. He was awarded the 2014 Robert D. Spencer Award for outstanding volunteer advocacy by Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. Mr. Shissias has been named as one of the 2020 Legal Elite by Columbia Business Monthly in the Environmental Law category.

Ms. Berthelot is an Assistant Professor in Residence and Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies for Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) at the University of Connecticut. She is also the Editor and Chief for NAELA (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys) News. Her research and advocacy is primarily about access to healthcare for people who are over sixty-five and for people with disabilities. She earned her Master’s degree in social work from Syracuse University, after which she designed, implemented, and then coordinated a Joint Commission Accredited hospice program in the Mississippi delta. Finding herself fascinated by the legal and ethical questions surrounding death and dying, Ms. Berthelot pursued her law degree at the University of Mississippi. After graduating, cum laude. She joined the Center for Medicare Advocacy, a national not-for-profit law firm. As a senior attorney, Ms. Berthelot oversaw the Center’s advocacy efforts. She also provided legal advice and representation to Medicare beneficiaries unfairly denied Medicare coverage or access to healthcare, wrote articles for national publications, produced educational materials, engaged in educational outreach activities with a particular focus on the Medicare hospice benefit, was a contributing author to the Medicare Handbook, and served as co-counsel for federal class action lawsuits challenging improper Medicare policies. Also while with the Center, Ms. Berthelot was the lead Medicare trainer for Connecticut’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program and for Connecticut’s Medicare Senior Patrol. She is a former chair of the steering committee for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys’ Health Care Section and she is the former Connecticut liaison for National Healthcare Decisions Day. Ms. Berthelot is currently a member of the Mansfield Town Council.

Mr. Bickford is a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Connecticut School of Law. From 1974 through 1981 he was employed by Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. During his last three years there he was director of the Senior Citizens Law Project covering North Central Connecticut. From January 1982 through October 1992 Mr. Bickford was a partner in the firm of Weed & Bickford (formerly Weed, Kerrigan & Bickford), engaged in the general practice of law. On November 1, 1992 he opened the Law Offices of George B. Bickford as a sole practitioner in East Granby, Connecticut and, as of July 1, 2009, the firm is known as the Law Offices of George B. Bickford, LLC. The office consists of two attorneys and a highly trained paralegal staff concentrating in elder law issues. For many years he has been a guest speaker before bar, medical, social service and public groups on the topics of Social Security, Medicaid and estate planning for the elderly with long-term medical needs, the area in which he currently limits his practice. Mr. Bickford was a member of the Board of Directors of the Alzheimers Association Connecticut Chapter for many years, and he continues to provide them counsel and assistance. He is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Executive Committee of the Elder Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association.

Birch Grove Legal PLLC, a legacy planning and administration law firm located in Denver and Castle Rock. Mr. Bjorklund uses a legacy focused planning approach that helps clients ensure they make the impact they want to make on future generations. He also has first hand experience with administering various types of trusts and representing beneficiaries, trustees, and trust protectors in administration disputes.

Mr. Burton focuses his practice on business, tax, and estate planning. Prior to law school, he served in the U.S. Army and National Security Agency as an Arabic linguist and Mission Manager. While attending law school He gained valuable experience at the Denver Probate Court and the Internal Revenue Service. After graduating from the University of Denver with a dual-degree in law and taxation, he clerked for Judge Marcelo Kopcow in Colorado’s Nineteenth Judicial District. In 2018 Mr. Burton entered private practice and began representing individuals and corporate clients with respect to real estate and corporate matters including complex leasing, financing, and purchase and sale transactions. Mr. Burton later joined a boutique law firm where he combined his knowledge of tax law with his corporate and real estate experience to specialize exclusively on trust and estate planning, administration, and litigation, particularly for clients who hold various business and real estate interests. He understands that each client’s needs and objectives are unique. Although he is knowledgeable in sophisticated techniques designed to save transfer taxes, he also understands the value that many clients place on simplicity and clarity. Mr. Burton takes great pride in providing his clients (and their families) with the peace of mind that comes with a thoughtful and efficient estate plan.

Ms. Dougherty Anderson is a Colorado native and the owner of her private law practice www.coloradoestateplanner.com. She specializes in Trust and Estate Planning, Probate Administration, and Business Law. She is proud of having the best paralegal and office support staff, as they are all stellar. Ms. Dougherty Anderson is a member of the Colorado Bar Association Trust and Estate Section, serving on the Orange Book of Forms committee. She is on the Board for the Golden Civic Association, currently serving her first term as Vice President. Ms. Dougherty Anderson was an Ambassador for the Golden Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Golden Graduate (class of ’22). She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications/ News Broadcasting from the University of Florida & a Juris Doctorate in Law from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Ms. Dougherty Anderson is a graduate of the National Judicial College and has a certificate in Administrative Law after her many years of Government service for the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Alex Kirven is Special Counsel with GEM Family Law. He practiced as an associate attorney for four years in the tax and estate planning group at Sherman & Howard in Denver before starting the estate planning practice at GEM Family Law. Mr. Kirven enjoys the challenges of estate planning and creating customized solutions for his clients and their families He grew up in Wyoming and received a master’s degree in Russian and Soviet history before attending law school at the University of Colorado. As a former teacher, Mr. Kirven is always eager to share his expertise with others, whether that be about tax planning or history.

Mr. Metzner focuses his practice on trust and estate law, wealth transfer planning and business formation and operation. His practice includes preparation of wills, living trusts, irrevocable insurance trusts, gift trusts and a variety of other tax advantageous business entities. In addition, he represents fiduciaries, heirs and beneficiaries in the resolution of probate and trust-related disputes. Mr. Metzner is a member the Colorado, Denver and Arapahoe County bar associations. He earned his J.D. degree from the University of Denver Law School, his M.B.A. degree from the University of Daniels College of Business and will complete his LL.M. degree in Taxation this December from the University of Denver Law School. Mr. Metzner is a frequent presenter on estate planning topics.

Ms. Klenk is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. She began her legal career almost 30 years ago at the downtown Los Angeles office of the esteemed firm of O’Melveny and Myers, LLP, where she was mentored in estate planning and administration by the best of the best, and represented some of LA’s most renowned movers, shakers, and CEOs. Ms. Klenk established Beach Cities Estate Law in 2017, with a goal of bringing the big firm quality and expertise closer to home in her native South Bay area of Los Angeles. She and her team serve clients in estate planning, as well as trust and estate administration matters. Ms. Klenk has a special knack for tackling complex estate, gift, and property tax issues in both planning and administration. She’s a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (magna cum laude) and UCLA Law School (Order of the Coif Honor Society). Ms. Klenk currently serves as President of the South Bay Estate Planning Council, a non-profit association affiliated with the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils dedicated to enhancing the proficiency of advisors who are active in the field of trusts and estates. When she’s not at work, she volunteers, travels, and sharpens her client interview and negotiation skills by attempting to communicate with her college-aged children.

Mr. Nickerson was raised in Southern California, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Finance & MBA from Cal State University Long Beach. After several years preparing contracts for a major aerospace company, he returned to law school where he served on the law review and obtained a Juris Doctorate from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. He utilized these skills in aerospace in managing a large contracts organization where responsibilities included contracts, export licensing, software licensing and patent applications. Mr. Nickerson and his wife & two sons purchased their first home in Murrieta in 1989. In 2010, he left aerospace and launched his law practice in Murrieta. The practice is focused solely on estate planning & administration and special needs trusts. He and his wife are founders of Exceptional Sports, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing recreational sports opportunities to those with special needs. Mr. Nickerson passion is providing special needs advice & counsel to special needs families. He is an active member of the Riverside County Bar – Estate Planning Section, Southwest Riverside County Bar Association, Temecula Estate Planning Group, Wealth Counsel and Academy of Special Needs Planners. Mr. Nickerson is also an avid supporter of Special Olympics, Yellowstone Park Foundation and Yosemite Conservancy. He loves spending time outdoors  and also with family & friends.

Ms. Secord is a Real Estate & Estate Planning Attorney based in San Diego, CA and the owner of Your Home Legal, APC. With licensure spanning Virginia, Washington, D.C., and California, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her practice. Ms. Secord’s career began with the ownership of a title company in Virginia and expanded as she managed an escrow company equivalent at a prestigious law firm in Alexandria, VA. Her East Coast practice also included real estate and estate litigation in state court and complex business litigation in federal court. Ms. Secord relocated in San Diego in 2017 and works with clients throughout the state of California and beyond. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from the New England School of Law. Ms. Secord’s unique skill set in Residential Transactional Real Estate and Estate Planning has made her a sought-after resource in her field. She combines legal acumen with a genuine commitment to helping her clients navigate complex legal landscapes with confidence and clarity. As an active member of the professional community, Ms. Secord is actively involved in ProVisors as the GLA of her home group and serving on the executive committee of the LGBTQ+ Affinity Group. She also serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for Townspeople, a San Diego-based non-profit dedicated to providing permanent housing solutions to the unhoused. Ms. Secord’s leadership and advocacy in this role underscore her dedication to community service and social impact. Beyond her professional endeavors, She is an avid watercolor painter, an enthusiastic softball coach and player in the America’s Finest City Softball League and enjoys paddle boarding. Ms. Secord’s also the mom to a sweet kiddos and 2 crazy ginger cats.

An adjunct professor of Wills and Trusts at Southwestern Law School, recently named a top attorney in Pasadena Magazine, and a Rising Star™ selected by Super Lawyers®, Ms. Terzian began her legal career as a trust officer for Wells Fargo, N.A. Her experience at Wells Fargo – working closely with clients, portfolio managers, beneficiaries, and other attorneys – shed light on how a poor estate plan can ruin a family’s fortune and more importantly, their relationships. After witnessing firsthand, the importance of proper planning, Ms. Terzian pursued her own practice, helping countless families through her expertise in estate and tax planning, probate, and trust administration. What sets her apart is her understanding of the needs of growing families, her ability to relate to working parents who desire a better life for themselves and their families, and her know-how in implementing strategic estate-planning tools in the most cost-efficient and seamless manner. Ms. Terzian also draws on her real estate and business background in crafting comprehensive plans for her clients. She is a skilled public speaker, having conducted countless seminars throughout her legal career on various estate-planning topics, including kids’ protection planning, special needs planning, Medi-Cal planning, advanced tax planning, and asset protection for individuals and small businesses. Ms. Terzian is a faculty member at the Institute for Preparing Heirs®. She is an active member of the La Cañada Flintridge community, where she resides with her husband, Edward, and two sons, Alec and Jack. Ms. Terzian is a board director of the La Cañada Education Foundation and participates in a number of charitable organizations. She has successfully raised thousands of dollars for a variety of charitable causes through fundraising campaigns, which include frequent community-based public speaking events, charitable dinners, and personal contributions. Ms. Terzian believes that the foundation to a successful family unit is care, love, and selflessness, and she stresses the importance of providing your community with these same tenets that are so essential to your own family’s success. In May 2018, she merged her practice with a Pasadena-based estate-planning firm, Primuth and Driskell, LLP, now known as Primuth, Driskell, and Terzian, LLP, which later merged with Lagerlof, LLP. As a family woman, Ms. Terzian understands the importance of protecting assets, planning for the future, and building your own legacy. She takes pride in providing her clients with the sense of comfort and security that comes along with having an effective and comprehensive estate plan in place.

Ms. Cort focuses her practice on resolving Federal and New York State tax controversies. For over twenty years, she has assisted individuals and businesses with IRS and NYS tax matters including New York State and New York City residency audits, IRS and NYS audits and appeals, unfiled returns, income tax, sales tax, withholding tax, responsible person assessments, liens and levies, tax warrants, innocent spouse, voluntary disclosure, installment agreements and offers in compromise. Among other honors, Ms. Cort has been selected to New York Metro Super Lawyers, a designation given to only five percent of the lawyers in the state. She has served as Chair of the IRS Downstate New York Practitioner Liaison Group and Chair of the Business Law, Tax and Accounting Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association. Ms. Cort also served on the Executive Committee of the NYS Bar Association Tax Section, where she contributed to policy papers. She is admitted to practice in New York and Pennsylvania, and before the U. S. Tax Court.

Mr. Reed concentrates his practice on state tax controversies, planning and unclaimed property. A former litigator for the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, he has represented clients in state tax controversy matters in over 30 states and has obtained favorable letter rulings for clients in several different jurisdictions. Mr. Reed regularly advises on the constitutionality of state tax positions, the availability of exemptions and incentives, and how to source revenue streams for state corporate income tax and sales tax purposes. He has handled New York qui tam (whistleblower) lawsuit litigation and received widespread acclaim for arguing and winning the closely-watched IT USA, Inc. case before the New York Tax Appeals Tribunal. Besides state tax, Mr. Reed also devotes a significant part of his practice to unclaimed property. In the federal tax area, he has favorably resolved IRS audits and has successfully represented taxpayers in appeals conferences before the IRS Office of Appeals. Mr. Reed is the author of “The Reed Report,” a State Tax Notes column. He also writes a “Shop Talk” column for the Journal of Multistate Taxation and Incentives. Mr. Reed is the former editor in chief of the State and Local Tax Lawyer and is on the State and Local Tax Executive Committees for both the American Bar Association and the New York City Bar Association.

Rothenberg Tax Law is a boutique law firm with a niche focus in federal and state tax controversy and multistate state and local tax consulting. Mr. Rothenberg is the former Practice Leader for Tax Controversy Services for a top 15 accounting firm. He represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service and various state revenue departments, with special expertise in matters before the New York Department of Taxation and Finance, the New York City Finance Department, and the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Among other areas, he specializes in residency taxation, sales and use taxation, responsible person assessment defense, remote worker taxation, and multistate nexus analyses, as well as tax audits and appeals for businesses and business owners. Mr. Rothenberg is a frequent lecturer and author on numerous tax topics, and he genuinely enjoys his work assisting clients from high-net-worth individuals to smaller mom/pop operations with their tax entanglements.

Ms. Zaffram is a member of the firm’s Real Estate & Finance Group, where she focuses her practice on federal and state tax law, with particular emphasis on tax-exempt financings and state and local finance law. In the area of public finance, Pietra has assisted with numerous tax-exempt bond financings and has experience conducting tax due diligence review and drafting tax documents required for tax-exempt bond closings. As tax counsel, she also provides tax advice relating to the structuring of financings to comply with state and federal tax law, addressing ongoing arbitrage and rebate issues, determining qualified versus unqualified costs, and reviewing reissuance questions. Ms. Zaffram assists companies in obtaining tax savings through transactions with Industrial Development Agencies and Local Development Corporations and provides counsel on the federal Opportunity Zones Program.

Driven by a passion for solving problems and a deep sense of compassion, Mr. Fogarty has a commitment to help families navigate life’s challenges. The Heartland Law Firm helps families through life’s transitions, protecting and restoring order and well-being to clients. Throughout his career, He has guided countless clients through the complexities of estate planning, ensuring their legacies are protected and their wishes honored. Mr. Fogarty’s expertise extends to wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and elder law, with a particular focus on safeguarding client well-being through major life events.

After going on Medicare a few years ago he decided that if he could get the proper training and certification, he would like to help other people with the process of getting Medicare Supplements and plans. Mr. Gray specializes in helping both people going on Medicare for the first time as well as people who are already on Medicare navigate the Medicare maze and pick the best and most cost effective plan for their individual needs. The process is complicated but he helps make it simple and easy to understand. Besides meeting with clients he holds information Medicare 101 meetings in the local area at various venues, including Medical Centers, libraries and community centers. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University. Mr. Gray is a Registered Certified Public Accountant and is also a licensed insurance agent. He has over 40 years’ experience working with investment management organizations and financial distribution companies in leadership roles.

Ms. Moreno is a CELA (Certified Elder Law Attorney), an exclusive honor bestowed on a select group of attorneys by the National Elder Law Foundation. There are only 17 CELAs in Illinois providing creative solutions for clients who are faced with elder law issues. From complete estate and long-term care planning to addressing urgent and often expensive healthcare situations, she devotes her practice to advocating and helping individuals and families maximize the independence and quality of life of seniors and people with disabilities. Her practice focuses in estate planning, adult guardianships, estate and trust administration and litigation, including financial exploitation, will and trust contests, fiduciary disputes, issues of capacity, powers of attorney, undue influence, citations and fraud. Ms. Moreno also handles long-term care planning, Medicaid, Medicaid appeals, special needs planning and disability law. She is on the Board of Directors and is the immediate past president of the Illinois Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (IL NAELA), an organization closely involved in advancing legislation on behalf of elder law attorneys and their clients.

Mr. Pieper has been practicing law for over thirty (30) years, focusing his area of expertise in Probate, involving the administration and litigation of adult disabled estates, decedent’s estates, and minor’s estates. He is regularly appointed as a Guardian ad Litem, attorney for respondents in adult guardianship cases, and as a special administrator in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Mr. Pieper also provides estate planning for his clients, including drafting wills, trusts and Powers of Attorney. In addition to probate matters, he also serves clients seeking residential real estate assistance. He has spoken on various topics, including assisting attorneys in the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation (“CVLS”) training program for Guardians ad Litem, and the Guardian ad Litem’s role in domestic violence situations. Mr. Pieper has been a member with CVLS for over 20 years. In 2002 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the CVLS in recognition of the pro bono work that he has done for the organization. In 2017, He received the Pro Bono Alumni Award from DePaul University College of Law. Joe was also one of the attorneys featured in the September 2011 issue of Chicago Lawyer in the magazine’s issue on pro bono work. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Pieper worked for Merrill Lynch Futures in its Commodity Operations Division at the Chicago Board of Trade for sixteen (16) years. He filled various management roles at Merrill Lynch. While working at Merrill Lynch, Mr. Pieper attended Northwestern University where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics graduating with honors as a Phi Beta Kappa. He then went on to DePaul University College of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor, and graduated with honors in the top ten percent of his class. Mr. Pieper continues to advocate for his clients with personalized and professional attention to all matters.

Mr. Story is a seasoned Estate Planner for a range of clients and a Special Needs attorney. He knows how to help elders using specific trusts for asset protection and receiving family support, where desired. Helping elders remain at home or age in place with family members is part of his goal for helping elders, in addition to offering Estate Planning documents to facilitate their care at home and prepare Advanced Planning documents. Special Needs beneficiaries may well need to live in a community of their peers to have a more fulfilling life than living with a skilled caregiver. While it is not perfect, planning to live abroad well before long-term care is necessary is a way to obtain quality healthcare and live in a culture that values older people culturally. Mr. Story has a son, Gabriel, whom he enjoys spending time with. They like to bicycle in the beautiful forest preserve trails in Illinois and enjoy the cultural and natural joys this Great Lakes region has to offer.

Ms. Collins is the President of the Container Recycling Institute (CRI) and has worked exclusively on recycling and sustainability issues for more than 30 years. She leads research projects for the Container Recycling Institute and works with environmental organizations, activists and state and federal governments throughout the United States and around the world to educate the public on the benefits of packaging recycling.

Founded in 1991, CRI’s mission is to make North America a global model for the collection and quality recycling of packaging materials. CRI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that plays a vital national role in assessing the economic, social and environmental impacts of container manufacturing, collection and disposal, and ensures that this information is shared with policymakers, regulators and the general public. CRI produces authoritative research, studies impacts of packaging reuse and recycling systems, and creates national networks for mutual progress.

Ms. Collins served as a board member of the National Recycling Coalition from 2010 to 2015, and again as board member and Treasurer from 2018 to 2021. She is also a past board member and current advisor to the California Resource Recovery Association.

Ms. Collins has testified before United States Senate, and the states of California, Connecticut, Nevada, Iowa, Vermont, Maine, Minnesota, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and the territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Ms. Collins has appeared on the Diane Rehm show, National Public Radio, PRI’s The World, BBC radio, KNX radio, Maryland Public Radio, KQED, KJZZ, KCBS, KCRW and KPCC radio stations, AlJazeera’s Tech Know (TV) and KCET’s Emmy-nominated SoCal Connected (TV), and has been quoted in news stories in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Fortune, The Economist, Bloomberg News, Slate, Mother Jones, FiveThirtyEight, The Hill, Yahoo News, the San Francisco Chronicle, Scientific American, Fast Company, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Boston Globe, Orange County Register, Resource Recycling, Waste 360, Plastics News, Recycling Today and Beverage World, among others.

Ms. Collins holds degrees in Manufacturing Engineering (BSE) from Boston University and Business Administration (MBA) from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

Ms. Nair is a business litigator with a focus on the food and beverage sector. She advises food and beverage clients, startups, and other businesses on a comprehensive range of issues, including employment, trade secrets, partnership disputes, contract negotiations, and intellectual property. Ms. Nair focuses on finding creative, long-term solutions to business problems affecting companies of all sizes, from startups to publicly traded entities. She combines her litigation experience with a strategic perspective, so that legal decisions make sense on a business level. Ms. Nair has published extensively on business law and food and beverage legal issues for publications including Law 360, Daily Journal, Eater, California Lawyer, and Bloomberg BNA. Additionally, she writes a bi-monthly column for Modern Restaurant Management, covering legal developments that impact restaurants. In previous years, Ms. Nair was the head of the Food and Beverage practice group at TroyGould. She also spent five years at Foley & Lardner focused on white collar criminal defense and internal investigations. Ms. Nair is active in the community and serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Music and Arts School and the Harvard Club of Southern California.

Ms. Largent serves as a Practice Group Leader for the Rails to Trails practice group. Her primary focus is representing landowners nationwide whose property has been taken by the federal government without just compensation. In addition to establishing when the government is liable for taking land, Ms. Largent’s practice centers largely on establishing the value of the land taken. She also focuses her practice on appellate litigation and commercial disputes. Ms. Largent has assisted in drafting dozens of appellate briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Eighth Circuit, and Eleventh Circuit, as well as the Supreme Court and Appellate Courts of Illinois and Appellate Court of Missouri.

Mr. Olsen is a Senior Professional Land Surveyor with Engineering Design Source, Inc., a Civil Engineering and Surveying Firm based in Chesterfield, Missouri. Mr. Olsen has more than 30 years’ experience as a professional land surveyor, beginning in the Chicago metropolitan area. He is currently licensed as a land surveyor in Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Texas.

He has been fortunate to have worked on numerous Highway Department/Department of Transportation horizontal and vertical control surveys, land acquisition and topographic surveys, County Transportation Department Plats of Highway, and Municipal Highway Department surveys.

Mr. Olsen is currently enrolled in the University of Maine Graduate School in the Surveying Engineering Technology Program. He earned an MS in Engineering Technology-Surveying Engineering in 2024 and is currently working on an Eng.D in the same subject at UMaine. He has a BA in Mathematical Sciences. Mr. Olsen has presented seminars and webinars previously with HalfMoon Education on topics including Law and Ethics of Illinois Land Surveying; Locating Land Boundaries on Paper (and on the Ground); Complying with Minimum Standards of Practice; Handling Ethical Issues in Land Surveying Practice; Complying with the Illinois Plat Act; Complying with National Society of Professional Surveyors Creed and Canons. His article “The Changing Mosaic of Professional Land Surveying Licensure Requirements in the United States and its Territories” is to be published in the May 2026 Journal of Surveying and Land Information Science (SaLIS) of the American Association for Geodetic Surveying (AAGS).  

Prior to his service at TVA, Mr. Savage was in private survey practice for 10 years specializing in dispute resolution and expert witness services. He has surveyed several disputed state boundaries to resolve jurisdictional conflicts. Mr. Savage is an adjunct professor at Cleveland State Community College where he teaches courses in boundary law, geodesy, GIS, and surveying fundamentals. He has researched and retraced the historical surveys of Henry David Thoreau and has published several articles on the subject. Mr. Savage teaches exam review and continuing education seminars at various state and local conferences across the country.

There are very few eminent domain lawyers within the state of Missouri who are as accomplished and decorated as Mr. Wallach. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri on July 30, 1938, and received his education at the reputed University of Missouri. He secured a B.A in 1962, before receiving his J.D. in 1965. As an eminent domain lawyer, Mr. Wallach is highly knowledgeable in the fields of: Eminent Domain, Property Tax Appeals, Real Estate Litigation, Land Use, Zoning Law, and Municipal Law. He is a member of the Missouri Bar having served as Chairman on two occasions and is now part of the Eminent Domain Committee. Mr. Wallach is also a member of the Bar Association of St. Louis, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the highly selective American Property Tax Counsel. He has also served as Assistant Attorney General of Missouri between the years 1966 and 1967, as well as Special Assistant Attorney General of Missouri between 1967 and 1968. Mr. Wallach is held in high regard by the eminent domain lawyer community within the state. Despite his knowledge and expertise in various fields of law, He labels himself as an eminent domain lawyer before anything else. Over the course of his career, Mr. Wallach has devoted himself entirely to representing property owners engaged in various disputes regarding condemnation law and ad valorem tax appeals. He has provided sound legal representation for thousands of clients, presenting cases to juries and other administrative bodies. Mr. Wallach expertise as an eminent domain lawyer is not restricted solely to St. Louis and Missouri, having provided representation for cases in Kansas and Illinois as well. What makes him stand out as an eminent domain lawyer is his rare and carefully honed sense of judgment, especially in cases regarding property valuation. Moreover, he also possesses a keen ability to convey appeals effectively before judges, government agencies, and juries, lubricating the way towards securing fair settlements for all his clients. Mr. Wallach previously served as Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Missouri, a position, which gave him the insight and exposure that few other eminent domain lawyers possess. It is while he was holding these positions that he was able to develop his communication skills, which now allow him to convey the most complex cases in ways that anyone can understand. Mr. Wallach ability to simplify complex issues is the reason why he is regarded as a leading eminent domain lawyer within the state of Missouri. His expertise in condemnation and eminent domain law has been recognized both locally and nationally, indicated by his inclusion in the Woodward/White’s list of Best Lawyers in America, as well as St. Louis Magazine’s Best Lawyers in St. Louis list.

Ms. Adair is an associate in the real estate department of Branscomb Law, where she primarily practices in the areas of real estate and water law. She has experience in representing individuals and businesses in a variety of real estate and water rights transactions.

Ms. Adams represents a diverse set of clients, including commercial and residential real estate developers, electric utilities and cooperatives, and water utility districts. She is experienced in advising clients on regulatory matters and complex environmental litigation matters in both state and federal courts and in arbitration proceedings, including identification and mitigation of environmental risks, navigating the permitting processes, and defending clients in administrative enforcement actions. More specifically, Ms. Adams frequently assists land development and construction clients on policy, compliance, and enforcement aspects of state and federal programs, such as regulating stormwater discharges, wetlands, and jurisdictional waters, and protected species and resources. Additionally, she routinely counsels clients on administrative, transactional, and regulatory issues before the Public Utility Commission of Texas and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, including energy project transactions, regulatory proceedings, contested cases, rate cases, transmission line projects, and compliance matters. She is also experienced in analyzing environmental issues for renewable energy projects. Prior to joining Jackson Walker, Ms. Adams served as a Judicial Law Clerk for Justice Don Willet at the Supreme Court of Texas.

Ms. Binger as a member of the Water, Districts, and Energy and Utility Practice Groups, She assists clients with matters relating to certificates of convenience and necessity, water supply, water quality, and water rights, in addition to providing general counsel services to political subdivisions in Texas. Ms. Binger received her B.A. in Psychology from Texas Tech University in 2016 and a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame in 2020. Prior to joining Lloyd Gosselink, she practiced general
litigation in various positions in Central Indiana.

Mr. Buck received a B.A. in Music and Sociology from Austin College in 2007 and a J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2011. He has practiced law in a variety of fields since his admission to the State Bar of Texas in 2011 and is currently a member in the litigation department of Branscomb Law in San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Buck centers his practice on real estate litigation and has represented clients in title and boundary disputes, groundwater rights matters, rate-change cases at the PUC, and breach of contract and fraud cases involving sales of real estate. 

Dr. Mace in addition to his position at the Meadows Center, he is also a Professor of Practice in the Department of Geography at Texas State University. Dr. Mace has over 30 years of experience in hydrology, hydrogeology, stakeholder processes and water policy, mostly in Texas. Before joining Texas State University in 2017, Mace worked at the Texas Water Development Board for 17 years ending his career there as the Deputy Executive Administrator for the Water Science and Conservation Office. While at the Board, he worked on understanding groundwater and surface water resources in Texas; advancing water conservation and innovative water technologies such as desalination, aquifer storage and recovery, reuse, and rainwater harvesting; and protecting Texans from floods.

Mr. Porter has been named an expert in over 700 court and arbitration cases that have taken place since 1987. He recently served as chair of the Texas Real Estate Commission’s Education Standards Advisory Committee and serves as chair of the Advisory Council of the Briscoe Center for American History of the University of Texas at Austin. Over the past 15 years, he has taught as a visiting professor at St. Edward’s University in Austin. His most recent college text (his fourth) is Water Rights in the United States: A Guide Through the Maze.

Ms. Fortenberry is one of the area’s only crisis Medicaid planning attorneys, she saw a need for a firm focused on asset protection, estate planning, and Medicaid eligibility. Ms. Fortenberry founded Fortified Elder Law with expert strategies, know-how, and the experience of helping families become Medicaid eligible. Becoming an elder law attorney has allowed her to find her life’s work: helping clients preserve their life savings. Her greatest joy as an attorney has been to help keep a spouse from losing everything just because they can no longer keep their loved one at home. Oftentimes, her clients have been neglecting themselves and their own health because of the mistaken belief that they cannot afford to place their spouse in a nursing home. Others have spent almost every dime to keep someone at home. These are the clients that she loves to help. Ms. Fortenberry earned her B.A. degree from Missouri State University and her J.D. degree from Case Western Reserve University.

Ms. Kincaid earned a number accolades in the area of estate planning and elder law including being named by the Springfield Business Journal as a Trusted Adviser and being selected as one of five attorneys in the nation by the American Bar Association for a two year Trust & Estate Fellowship. She currently serves as the American Bar Association Long Term Care Committee Vice Chair and recently published an article in the national Probate & Property magazine on recent changes to Missouri’s guardianship statutes. Ms. Kincaid is a member of the Greene County Estate Planning Council, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Community Foundation of the Ozarks Professional Advisors Council, the Southern Missouri Women Lawyers, the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Missouri Bar Association. She was also a member of the 2014-2015 Missouri Bar Association Leadership Academy, a recipient of the 2017 Missouri Lawyers Weekly Up & Coming Award, a recipient of the 2016 Springfield Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award, and a recipient of the 2019 Springfield Business Journal’s Trusted Advisers award. Ms. Kincaid graduated cum laude from Creighton University School of Law, where she served as President of the Student Bar Association, a member of the editorial staff of the Creighton Law Review, and was a founding editor of the Creighton International and Comparative Law Journal. Prior to attending law school, She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and a master’s degree in Business Administration, both from (Southwest) Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.

Mr. Nolan established his law firm in 1991 and his areas of practice include Wills, Probate and Estate Planning, Workers Compensation, Personal Injury and DWI & Alcohol related offenses. The firm serves the entire Metropolitan St. Louis area (including St. Louis County, St. Louis City, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, Franklin County and Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois). He earned his B.S and J.D. degrees from Southern Illinois University.

Ms. Overton has more than 17 years of experience advocating for those with special needs and navigating the state and federal agencies formed to help the disabled and elderly. At Paths Law Firm, her practice focuses on helping the elderly qualify for nursing home Medicaid, creating estate plans to protect beneficiaries, as well as a lot of time planning and forming businesses. Ms. Overton also enjoys helping clients form non-profit organizations and obtain 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. After attending law school at the University of Oklahoma, She began representing clients before the Social Security Administration. Eventually, her practice switched to federal court appeals and she spent years representing clients before the Eastern and Western District of Missouri, the District of Kansas, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Overton has since focused her practice on estate planning and elder law after watching clients struggle to find ways to financially care for loved ones with special needs or aging parents.

Ms. Schuster has practiced Elder and Disability law since 1999, having practiced health law since 1991. Her practice focuses on elder law issues, a growing area of law with few experienced practitioners. Ms. Schuster works with and advises social workers, geriatric and care managers, financial planners and accountants, psychiatrists and geriatric physicians about incapacity issues and financial exploitation. Her practice focuses on multi-disciplinary collaboration with these professionals to address the complex, myriad age and disability issues her clients face. Ms. Schuster personal experience with her mother and grandfather, both of whom had dementia, has given her insight into the stresses that caregivers and families endure when caring for a loved one with dementia, which led her to become a certified Elder and Adult Mediator. She assists families with facilitated conversation about difficult end-of-life issues when someone should stop driving, move to assisted living or a skilled nursing facility, delegate financial matters to someone else to high conflict matters involving contested guardianship, financial exploitation and the removal of appointees under Durable Powers of Attorney and trustees. Ms. Schuster is passionate about volunteering in the community. She is past president of the Breakthrough Coalition, a multidisciplinary group of senior care and disability community providers. Ms. Schuster is the past Vice President of Operations for Memory Care Home Solutions, past Board member for Brith Shalom Kneseth Israel, was the Co-chairperson of the BAMSL Elder Law Committee. She was a finalist as “Best Lawyer of the Year” in 2016 by St. Louis Magazine and is the “Face of Elder Law” in the June 2017 issue of St. Louis Magazine. Since 2014, Ms. Schuster has been the chairperson of an ad hoc committee of the Missouri Bar Association that has authored proposed legislation for the passage of the Designated Healthcare Decisionmaker Act.

After a successful career in the corporate realm, Mr. Smith decided to begin his own practice centered on serving people. He specializes in elder law, estate planning, special needs planning, mediation, and long-term care planning. Mr. Smith genuinely enjoys people and it shows – he listens to each person’s story and situation to help them develop a plan which best fits their family’s circumstances, financial position and life’s values. As a husband, father to five, and grandfather to a growing number, he understands the confusion that can sometimes occur in certain seasons of life. Mr. Smith believes each person is a masterpiece created to thrive in this life! Active in the legal and public community, He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Academy of Special Needs Planners, and Elder Counsel. Mr. Smith is an accredited attorney by the Veterans Administration, which allows him to advise clients and families on benefits available to veterans. He enjoys active participation in local groups aimed in serving people in the Kansas City area as they age including Northland Professionals in Aging, Northland Shepherd’s Center (Board of Directors), and Good Samaritan Center of Excelsior Springs (Board of Directors). Mr. Smith earned his Masters in Divinity at the Nazarene Theological Seminary and his Juris Doctorate at the University of Memphis – Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.

Ms. Blanco is a senior associate in the Houston office of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP. She represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including representation before administrative agencies and the early phases of litigation. In addition to her litigation experience, Ms. Blanco’s practice also focuses on counseling employers on day-to-day legal issues, including internal investigations, separation agreements, and non-compete agreements. She earned her B.A. degree from Harvard College, and her J.D. degree, with honors, from The University of Texas School of Law.

Ms. Cheeseman is the Co-Head of Litigation and Disputes in the Houston office of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP. She is part of the employment and labor group and is certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization for Labor and Employment Law. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Cheeseman completed a one-year federal clerkship with the Honorable Martin L.C. Feldman of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. She earned her B.A. degree from Duke University and her J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from Tulane University Law School.

Gardner Employment Law helps clients solve workplace problems efficiently and strategically. The client’s career is first and foremost in our analysis. Professionals such as physicians, managers and executives prefer this approach because it resolves issues with minimal delay, controversy, and cost. Other employment lawyers persistently steer their clients first toward filing a lawsuit, launching a drawn-out, resource-draining process. If a lawsuit is required, so be it. Ms. Gardner has won many battles in the courtroom but she doesn’t file suit without first trying to resolve disputes so that both parties can put the matter behind them. Since graduating #1 in her law school class, She has successfully handled hundreds of cases and appeals during her 30+ years as a lawyer. Ms. Gardner’s peers consistently have voted her as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in Employment Law, among other prestigious awards. She began her career as a judicial law clerk and afterwards went to Bracewell. Ms. Gardner spent the bulk of her career as a partner with Mandell & Wright in downtown Houston. In 2015, She established Gardner Employment Law. The firm has offices in Houston and Austin, Texas. Ms. Gardner earned her B.A. degrees from the University of Colorado and the University of Houston, and her J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law.

Ms. Hansen is board certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She specializes in litigation and trial work, with a practice area focus in labor & employment law matters and family law. She has twenty-four years of experience with jury trials and litigation. Ms. Hansen is admitted to practice in both Texas state and federal courts, including state courts of appeals and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. She  grew up in East Texas and attended Texas A&M University. Ms. Hansen then attended law school at the University of Houston Law Center and was licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of Texas in November 1998. After law school She worked as a prosecutor at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office where she gained valuable trial experience, and experience in supervising and training younger prosecutors in case evaluation and litigation before moving on to private practice with a prominent local law firm. Ms. Hansen then joined a local government entity where she was promoted to associate vice-president and assistant general counsel. In 2010, She decided re-enter private practice and went on to open her own law firm with a practice concentrating on labor and employment law and family law.

Mr. Hesse specializes in a broad range of employment law matters, and has represented both employers and employees. He has experience litigating class and collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Prior to joining Moore & Associates in 2009, Mr. Hesse served as a judicial intern under the Honorable Michael Schneider, Jr., 315th Juvenile District Court. During law school, he clerked for Gilman & Allison, L.L.P., a firm specializing in admiralty and maritime law. Mr. Hesse also has worked as a legal assistant clerk at Baker Botts, L.L.P. He is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. Mr. Hesse was activated multiple times after September 11, 2001, and has received numerous awards, including the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, Presidential Unit Citation and Global War on Terror Service Medal.

Ms. McClennen Lorenz advises and represents employers in a wide range of labor and employment matters. She focuses her practice on matters involving employer interactions with administrative agencies such as OSHA, DOL, and the Texas Workforce Commission. Ms. McClennen Lorenz has experience litigating OSHA violations, discrimination claims, and regularly advises on workplace safety issues. Additionally, she handles OSHA whistleblower investigations concerning retaliation complaints made under the multiple statutes investigated by OSHA. She defends actions brought by whistleblower complainants for appeal to the Department of Labor. Ms. McClennen Lorenz has significant experience with Gig Economy concerns and regularly provides advice on matters involving independent contractors. She has experience in state and federal courts throughout Texas. Ms. McClennen Lorenz earned her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Southern Methodist University and her J.D. degree from The University of Oklahoma College of Law.

Mr. Absher is an attorney in private practice in the Woodlands, Texas. He represents investors and other business owners in a wide range of transactions, often with a focus on real estate contracts. Mr. Absher enjoys solving complex issues in transactions and eliminating confusion with plain-English contracts.

Ms. Smith’s practice focuses on a wide variety of agricultural issues, especially those involving cattle. She additionally spends a significant portion of her time on oil and gas title examination, farm and ranch transactions, and real estate litigation. Ms. Smith also assists clients with estate planning, probates, and business planning needs. She is a graduate of El Campo High School. Ms. Smith received her bachelor of science degree in Agricultural Science from Texas A&M University in 2009, and received her doctor of jurisprudence degree from South Texas College of Law in 2014. She was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2014 and is also admitted to the Southern District of Texas. Ms. Smith is a member of the Wharton County Bar Association, formerly serving as president, and she is a member of the Texas Bar College. 

Mr. Barkhurst has extensive litigation experience in business and real estate disputes. He has developed a special concentration in the area of eminent domain, representing governmental entities as well as landowners in numerous lawsuits. Mr. Barkhurst has successfully represented numerous owners in ranch power line takings. He also represents governmental entities in construction disputes, and he has represented contractors and subcontractors in private disputes. He also has extensive experience handling complex business dissolution and injunction cases. Mr. Barkhurst has a B.A. degree, with honors, from Southwest Texas State University and a J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Texas Tech University, and he is a former USAF Captain and F-111 Aviator. 

Mr. Gittins practices primarily in the area of water law. He assists governmental entities, corporations, and private individuals in all aspects of water law, including water rights transactions, water rights analysis, water rights litigation, and applications with the Utah Division of Water Rights. Prior to joining Smith Hartvigsen, Mr. Gittins served as a clerk to the Honorable Justice Jill N. Parrish of the Utah Supreme Court.

Mr. Lauricella is passionate about property development law and transactions. He graduated from BYU as an English Major. Mr. Lauricella worked for two different real estate management companies while in college.

Mr. Smith has more than three decades of experience as an attorney, in which he has successfully handled a number of complex water disputes, land use disputes, takings claims, and other issues. He has argued over 30 appeals to the Utah Supreme Court. Mr. Smith has represented public and private parties in takings claims arising from land use decisions, represented numerous water users in successful settlement of instream flow claims on the San Rafael River, and won appeals for municipalities and water entities before the Utah and New Mexico Supreme Courts. His most notable projects include securing the water rights for Duchesne City through an act of Congress, successfully entitling and securing water rights for a multimillion-dollar resort in Kane County, and creating the first municipal natural gas utility in Utah. He is licensed to practice in Utah, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. Mr. Smith earned his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Bringham Young University, and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Bringham Young University.

Mr. Snow represents clients in Arizona and Utah on matters related to water rights, real property, and resource development. He regularly appears before land and water agencies and in state and federal court. Mr. Snow’s clients include governmental entities, national and multi-national corporations, water companies, cooperatives, partnerships, and individuals. He has litigated numerous general adjudication claims in Arizona and Utah. Mr. Snow has also litigated quiet title, easement, right-of-way and condemnation claims in both states.