Shannon G. Guthrie

 

Email:  sguthrie@benenatilaw.com

Areas of Practice

Ms. Guthrie is board certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.  Her practice involves a broad range of estate and tax issues, including estate administration, estate planning, planning for family or closely held businesses, charitable donation planning, gift planning, transfer tax planning including utilization of trusts, life insurance, annuities, IRAs and deferred compensation, beneficiary designation planning, and creation, planning formation and tax advice for public charities and private foundations.

Professional/Civic Activities

  • State Bar of Texas
    • Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section; Chair, Trust Code Committee – 2008-present
  • Dallas County Bar Association
    •  Probate Section
  • Dallas Estate Planning Council, Board of Trustees 2007-2009
  • Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
    • Member, Charitable Committee
  • Gift Planning Advisory Council, University of Texas – Austin

 

Speaking Engagements

  • Panelist, Business Succession and Drafting Options for the Business Owner, State Bar of Texas, Advanced Drafting: Estate Planning and Probate Course, 2008
  • Charitable Trusts, the Good, the Bad and the Not So Ugly, State Bar of Texas, Non-Profit Governance Course, 2008
  • Creating Your Organization, LiveStrong Summit, Lance Armstrong Foundation, 2008
  • Overview of the Pension Protection Act, The University of Texas – School of Law’s 25th Annual Non-Profit Organizations Institute, 2008
  • Creative Coordination of Probate and Non-Probate Assets, State Bar of Texas, Advanced Drafting: Estate Planning and Probate Course, 2007
  • Charitable Giving Post PPA, State Bar of Texas, Advanced Tax Law Course, 2007
  • Panelist, Charitable Planning for Clients Who Aren’t Wealthy: Ideas and Forms You Can Take Back to Your Office & Use on Monday, State Bar of Texas, Advanced Estate Planning & Probate Course, 2007
  • Course Director, State Bar of Texas, Advanced Drafting: Estate Planning and Probate Course, 2007
  • Judicial Construction and Modification of Trusts: Practical Advice for the Client, Dallas Estate Planning Council, 2007
  •  Foundation –Do’s & Don’ts, Advanced Estate Planning, Center for American & International Law 2006
  • Charitable Planning, Texas Bankers Association, Trust and Wealth Management Seminar 2006
  • Moderator, Estate Tax Law Changes and Other Hot Topics That May Affect Estate Planners, State Bar of Texas, Advanced Drafting and Probate Course 2005
  • Private Foundations, Tarrant County Bar Association, Tax Section, 2005
  • Panelist, A New Paradigm For Trusts: Rethinking Trust Structure in Light of Changing Purposes, a Changing Legislative Landscape and a Litigious Society, State Bar of Texas, Advanced Estate Planning Strategies, 2005
  • Creation of Family Foundations, Creation and Structure, Wills Trusts and Estate Law Planning Institute, Center for American and International Law, 2004
  • Panelist and Author, Working With and Giving Through Community Foundations, State Bar of Texas, Charitable Giving Course, 2004
  • A Tale of Two Tools: Split Interest Trust Drafting in a Low Interest Environment (CLTS and GRTS) – Charitable Lead Annuity Trusts and Charitable Lead Unitrusts With Forms, State Bar of Texas, Advanced Drafting Course, 2003 

Bar Admissions

  • Bar of Texas

Education

  • J. D., Indiana University School of Law (1993)
  • B.S., University of Evansville (1990) (magna cum laude)

 Achievements

  •  Ms. Guthrie was named a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly in 2007 and 2008.
  • Ms. Guthrie was recently selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2012 in the field of Trusts and Estates. (Copyright 2011 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.)