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May 26, 2020K. Craig Wildfang Named Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar by Law360
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May 14, 2020Aaron Sheanin Appointed to Board of Directors for Legal Aid at Work
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May 11, 2020Competitor Collaborations and Covid-19—Antitrust Considerations
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Steve A. Brand
Steve A. Brand
Partner
Experience
Well-known for his extensive work in estate planning, trust and estate administration, Steve has counselled individuals and their families, trustees, personal representatives, beneficiaries, guardians, conservators, business owners, closely-held family enterprises, non-profits, and charitable organizations in all aspects of estate planning and succession planning.
Specific areas of focus include:
- Wills
- Powers of Attorney
- Health Care Directives
- Revocable Trusts
- Charitable Trusts
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
- Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts
- Family Limited Partnerships
- Qualified Personal Residence Trusts
- Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts
- Special Needs Trusts
- Supplemental Needs Trusts
- Probate proceedings
- Trust administration proceedings
- Preparation and audit of fiduciary income, gift and estate tax returns
- Allocation and distribution of estate or trust proceeds
- Business succession planning
- Asset protection
- Charitable giving
- Establishing trust vehicles for minors
- Guardianship and Conservatorship proceedings for adults and minors
- Settlement trusts
- Recipient of the “Sidney Barrows Lifetime Commitment Award,” Cardozo Society (2012). This award was created in 2000, in memory of Sidney Barrows, one of the founding chairs of the Cardozo Society. This award is given annually to a senior attorney or judge in the Twin Cities who exemplifies excellence in his/her practice, community service in the Jewish and general community and life-long learning.
- "Minneapolis Trust & Estates Lawyer of the Year," Best Lawyers (2010, 2013 and 2015)
- Selected as a "FIVE STAR: Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Manager," by Mpls. St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business (2009)
- Named a “Minnesota Super Lawyer,” Super Lawyers (2003-2019)
- Named a “Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyer,” Super Lawyers (2003-2004, 2006, 2011-2013)
- "Susie Selcer Leadership Award" (2003). This award was established in memory of Susie Selcer and was first awarded in 2002. It is given by the Sholom Community Alliance, the Sholom Foundation and the Sholom Home Auxiliary in recognition "of an individual whose work within the Sholom organizations and the greater community exemplifies the outstanding leadership, integrity, spirit, and tzedeka of Susie Selcer."
- Named in every edition of the Best Lawyers in America
- Listed in Who's Who in the World
- Listed in Who's Who in the America
- Listed in Who's Who in the American Law
- Listed in Who's Who in the Midwest
- Listed in Who's Who in the Emerging Leaders
- Sholom Community Alliance, Board Member
- Jewish Federation of Greater St. Paul, President (2016-Present)
- The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, Treasurer (2001-2006)
- Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Vice Chair of the Board of Overseers (1987-2013)
- Sholom Foundation, Board Member (President, 1996-1999)
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota
Education
- University of Chicago Law School, J.D. (1973), served on the Board of the University of Chicago Law Review
- University of Minnesota, Bachelor's Degree, Political Science, summa cum laude
Professional Associations
- American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC): Past Regent; Past Chair, National Membership Selection Committee; Past Minnesota State Chair; Past Editor, ACTEC Journal; Member of Elder Law and Employee Benefits Committees
- ACTEC Foundation, Past Director
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Past Chair of the Probate and Trust Law Section
- Ramsey County Bar Foundation, Past President
- Reporter for the Advisory Committee on Probate Rules of the Minnesota Supreme Court for five years
- Has been a frequent lecturer for Continuing Legal Education programs on probate, estate planning and fiduciary income taxation in Minnesota and for estate planning programs for the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants
- Charitable Giving Ethical Considerations When Working with Aging Clients
Minnesota Planned Giving Council, Roseville, Minnesota (May 10, 2016) - Ethical Issues in Dealing with Aging Clients and Their Families
Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota (September 29, 2015) - Basic Concepts in Estate Planning
Minnesota Conference Association of Seventh-Day Adventists, Maplewood Academy, Hutchinson, Minnesota (June 10, 2012) - Estate Planning 2011 & Beyond: Critical Issues in Planning, Drafting and Administration (Panelist)
Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota (January 4, 2011) - 2010 Tax Changes
Minnesota Historical Society and Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., Naples Yacht Club, Naples, Florida (February 18, 2010) - Estate Planning Update
Minnesota Conference Association of Seventh-day Adventists, Maplewood Academy, Hutchinson, Minnesota (June 10, 2007) - Estate Planning Workshop
Biennial Assembly of the Women of Reform Judaism, Minneapolis, MN (November 6, 2003) - Family Limited Partnerships
Panel member, Probate & Trust Law Section Seminar, Minnesota CLE (June 11, 2003) - Tax Consequences of Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Settlement Trusts
1997 Annual Meeting of the Birth Trauma Section of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, San Diego (February 25, 1997) - Tax Consequences of Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Settlement Trusts
1995 Annual Meeting of ACTEC (February 25, 1995)
RESOURCES
Links to full publications and news releases.
PUBLICATIONS
Winter 2017
Privileged Taxes? The Gray Area for Protecting Tax Advice in Estate Planning
The Robins Kaplan Spotlight, Vol. 2, No. 4
August 2017
Ethical Considerations in Working with Aging Clients
Bench & Bar of Minnesota
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If you are interested in having us represent you, you should call us so we can determine whether the matter is one for which we are willing or able to accept professional responsibility. We will not make this determination by e-mail communication. The telephone numbers and addresses for our offices are listed on this page. We reserve the right to decline any representation. We may be required to decline representation if it would create a conflict of interest with our other clients.
By accepting these terms, you are confirming that you have read and understood this important notice.