Jim practices in the areas of estate planning, business design and structuring, and commercial transactions, including tax planning, corporate, partnership, LLC, real estate, and international matters. He counsels clients on wealth transfer strategies, the use of trusts (including grantor trusts, such as GRATs and QPRTs), commercial business entities, family limited partnerships and LLCs, tax-free installment sales, and other sophisticated tax planning techniques. Jim works closely with individuals and families, developing long-term relationships to help ensure continuity from generation to generation.

As an adjunct to his estate planning practice, Jim advises clients on planned giving methods, and establishing charitable remainder and lead trusts, private foundations, public charities, and other tax-exempt organizations. He also advises trustees and executors on their fiduciary responsibilities and tax implications in the administration and distribution of trusts and probate estates.

Jim uses creative problem solving and strategic insight to achieve planning objectives appropriate for ultra high-net-worth individuals and families. In designing estate and business plans, he applies an integrated approach enabling his clients to reduce personal and business liability exposure, minimize tax consequences, and meet multi-generational family goals. Estate planning documents and business succession plans can be tailored to provide incentives to beneficiaries and successors (such as children and grandchildren) to become productive and contributing members of society. Incorporating each family’s unique dynamic into such planning is emphasized.

Jim is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), a group of peer-elected trust and estate attorneys spanning the U.S. and abroad. He is also a Certified Specialist in trusts and estates through the State Bar of Arizona.