Bio

Dan heads the firm’s Business Section and represents high net worth individuals and families with respect to complex tax, estate planning and trust and estate administration matters. Dan also regularly represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries involved in trust or estate litigation and other disputes. He has a deep understanding of those who have closely held and/or family businesses. Dan has advised business owners on the transfer ownership to family members and third parties.

He often counsels clients on how to minimize federal gift, estate and generation skipping transfer taxes in order to ensure assets are protected and available for future generations in the most efficient way possible. In addition, both fiduciaries and beneficiaries appreciate Dan’s ability to help them understand their duties, rights and responsibilities.

Dan is often called to speak on estate and trust matters throughout the U.S. on a variety of topics ranging from recent tax and estate law developments, issues involving trust situs of soverntiy law, Directed Trust Act and estate planning with retirement plan accounts.

Chambers USA has reported his clients saying, “Simply put, he is the benchmark for how I judge other attorneys,” comments one source, adding that “in addition to being an expert in his chosen field, he is very courteous and responsive.” Another source says, “He goes above and beyond to be responsive and to anticipate issues and related solutions. Dan is extremely knowledgeable in matters of estate and trust law, and works to creatively solve client problems.”

Experience

  • Develops and implements both simple and complex estate and business succession planning that may include minimizing taxes, avoiding conflict among family members and creditor protection for family members
  • Represents individual and corporate fiduciaries in the administration of estates and trusts, including preparation of estate tax returns and representation on Internal Revenue Service audits
  • Drafts wills and trusts, including revocable, irrevocable, life insurance, special needs and generation-skipping trusts
  • Advises clients with respect to strategic gifting and estate planning to reduce gift, estate and generation skipping taxes and the preparation of gift tax returns reporting succession plans
  • Creates family limited partnerships and limited liability companies for business succession planning
  • Represents executors and trustees in litigation matters involving trusts and estates
  • Advises trustees in carrying out duties to comply with the terms of the trust and applicable law
  • Advises clients with IRAs, 401Ks and other tax deferred beneficiary designations
  • Represents businesses in connection with entity formation, ownership agreements and disputes
  • Forms nonprofit entities, including public charities and private foundations, and prepares applications for tax-exempt status
  • Assisted with adoption of the Directed Trust Act, Uniform Trust Code and Uniform Power of Attorney in Arkansas

Honors

  • Chambers USA High Net Worth Leading Lawyers, Private Wealth Law, Tier 1
  • Best Lawyers of America, Trusts and Estates
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers, Estate & Probate
  • Arkansas Business “40 Under 40”

Affiliations

  • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) Fellow – Employee Benefits in Estate Planning Committee; New Fellows Steering Committee
  • American Bar Association – Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section
  • Arkansas Bar Association – House of Delegates (Former Member), Probate and Trust Section (Past Chairman), Tax Section, Frequent Presenter on Trust & Estate Topics; Planned Probate: Trust Tract of Mid-Year Bar Meeting on Multiple Occasions
  • Business Section Head, Rose Law Firm, present 2022
  • Central Arkansas Estate Planning Council – Past President
  • VOCALS (Volunteer Organization for Central Arkansas Legal Services)
  • Arkansas State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors – Past President
  • The Rotary Club of Little Rock (Club 99)
  • Monsignor Allen Trust and Development Fund for Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic School – Former Trustee
  • Arkansas Arts Center Contemporaries
  • Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XXIV
  • Arkansas Symphony Orchestra – Board of Director

Education

  • University of Florida, Master of Laws (Taxation)
  • University of Arkansas, Juris Doctor (Honors)
  • University of Tennessee, Bachelor of Science (Magna Cum Laude)