The ACTEC Foundation Announces 2020-2022 Class of Dennis I. Belcher Young Leaders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                    

Contact: Pamela Goldsmith, Pam.goldsmith@actec.org, 202.702.2655

Washington, DC, September 29, 2020: Jeffrey C. Thede, President, The ACTEC Foundation and Terrence M. Franklin, Chair, ACTEC Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Committee are pleased to announce the sixth class of Dennis I. Belcher ACTEC Young Leaders.

The Dennis I. Belcher Young Leaders Program was designed to foster scholarship and education in trust and estate matters, promote diversity and inclusivity and encourage the development of potential ACTEC Fellows. Initiated in collaboration with the American Bar Association Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section (RPTE) Fellows program, it provides successful graduates of the two-year RPTE program an opportunity to extend their participation in RPTE leadership activities through the financial support of The ACTEC Foundation. In March 2018, the program was named after Dennis I. Belcher, ACTEC President 2009-2010, a leader of the College and mentor to many young trust and estate lawyers.

New ACTEC Young Leader, Emily Plocki of Venable LLP in Washington, DC said, “I am honored to be a participant in the Dennis I. Belcher Young Leaders Program and look forward to expanding my involvement in the ABA RPTE Section and broadening my knowledge of ACTEC and The ACTEC Foundation. I am excited to attend and learn from regional ACTEC events, which will be extremely beneficial in my growth as an estate planning attorney.”

The Dennis I. Belcher Young Leaders Program provides lawyers with an in-depth introduction to ACTEC and its role in the trust and estate community and encourages active engagement in responsibilities that support future eligibility for nomination as an ACTEC Fellow. Young leaders are offered tuition-free attendance at the ACTEC-ALI/CLE webinars, financial support to attend ABA/RPTE Section Meetings and are invited to attend regional and state ACTEC events.

The ACTEC Foundation 2020-2022 class of Dennis I. Belcher Young Leaders are:

Jessica Coutré of Freeborn in Chicago, IL  Jessica Coutré received her JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law where she was on the Dean’s Honor List and received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Federal Transfer Tax. As an attorney in the Corporate Practice Group at Freeborn, she concentrates her practice in estate planning, trust and estate administration and controversy and related gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax issues for high and ultra-high net worth individuals, their families and their businesses. Jessica advises clients on the structuring and implementation of advanced estate planning strategies, supplemental needs trusts for disabled loved ones, pre- and post-nuptial agreements and charitable planning through the creation of private foundations, public charities and charitable trusts. 

Jessica Diaz of Sherman & Howard in Denver, CO  Jessica Diaz received her JD from the University of Chicago Law School and is a Member in Sherman & Howard’s Estate and Tax Planning Group where she focuses her practice on sophisticated estate, tax and business succession planning. She works with clients to address a variety of planning needs and designs creative solutions that integrate each client’s family values and dynamics with sophisticated wealth transfer strategies. Jessica’s practice also includes business, marital and charitable planning; estate and trust administration; advising trustees, personal representatives and beneficiaries; and probate litigation. 

Jacob Geierman of Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC  Jacob L. Geiermann is a student at the Georgetown University Law Center where he is obtaining his LL.M. in Taxation with a Certificate in Estate Planning. Jacob is a graduate of the University of North Dakota where he received his JD in 2013 and degree in Accountancy in 2009. Since law school, Jacob maintained an active trusts and estates practice in North Dakota and Minnesota, working closely with a long-time ACTEC Fellow. Jacob has extensive experience in providing legal counsel in the areas of estate planning, tax planning and compliance and trust and estate administration. 

Emily Plocki of Venable LLP in Washington, DC  Emily Plocki received her JD, cum laude, from the University of Toledo College of Law and her LL.M. (with distinction) in Taxation, Certificate in Estate Planning from Georgetown University Law Center. Emily assists high-net-worth individuals, multigenerational families and owners of family corporations, both domestically and internationally, with tax planning and wealth preservation. Emily handles a variety of matters, including estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax planning; trust and estate administration; planned charitable giving; and business succession strategies.

Renee Salley of The Salley Law Firm in Marietta, GA

Renee E. Salley earned her JD from Georgia State University College of Law where she was an Outstanding Tax Student Award recipient awarded by the State Bar of Georgia. She is an estate planning attorney who also serves clients in the areas of business planning as well as estate and trust administration at The Salley Firm, LLC located in the metro-Atlanta area. Prior to starting her own firm, Renee spent several years as an associate with deAndrade Mangieri, LLC, focusing on individual, family, and multi-generational estate tax planning, business succession planning, trust and probate administration and small business legal support. Currently serving as a Real Property, Trusts, & Estates Fellow with the American Bar Association, Renee is a member of the State Bar of Georgia as well as the Alabama State Bar.

Learn more about each of The ACTEC Foundation 2020-2022 class of Dennis I. Belcher Young Leaders.

About The ACTEC Foundation:  The ACTEC Foundation is the philanthropic arm of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel or ACTEC. The Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) that offers education to families and professionals and supports students interested in the trust and estate area of the law. Through continued financial support, The ACTEC Foundation offers professional development, scholarships and education for a number of important efforts, including legal education, educational support, public initiatives, legal publications and the student editorial board.

About the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC): Established in 1949, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) is a national, nonprofit association of approximately 2,500 lawyers and law professors from throughout the United States and abroad. ACTEC members (Fellows) are peer-elected on the basis of professional reputation and expertise in the preparation of wills and trusts, estate planning, probate, trust administration and related practice areas. The College’s mission includes the improvement and reform of probate, trust and tax laws and procedures and professional practice standards. ACTEC frequently offers technical comments with regard to legislation and regulations but does not take positions on matters of policy or political objectives.

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