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Edward D. Brown

Co-Chair, International Wealth and Asset Planning Group, Partner
Overview

Edward D. Brown is a partner and Co-Chair of the International Wealth and Asset Planning Group at Greenspoon Marder. Mr. Brown has more than twenty-five years of experience in areas of comprehensive estate planning, asset protection and taxation. Twenty years of Mr. Brown’s experience, thirteen as a shareholder, were with the law firm of Engel & Reiman PC, concentrating almost exclusively in the trust-planning practice area, including the crafting, amending, interpreting, analyzing and consulting with regard to the operations of many of these trusts, whether domiciled in the Cook Islands, Nevis or Isle of Man or domestically in states such as Nevada. Mr. Brown was a co-author, with Barry Engel, of the various editions of the Asset Protection Planning Guide, a Wolters Kluwer, CCH publication. He focuses his practice on trust designs that are customized to the clients’ goals of protection of assets for their family and having added flexibility in their comprehensive estate plans that allow maximizing options with regard to changing circumstances and evolving laws.

Mr. Brown is an AV-rated attorney who speaks frequently to professional organizations on a wide range of legal subjects including complex estate planning, asset protection and related subject matters.  He has been, and continues to be, invited to speak across the country.

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado

Education

  • L.L.M., Taxation, University of Denver, 1986
  • J.D., University of Denver, 1984
  • B.A., Finance and Accounting, West Virginia University, cum laude, 1981
Experience

Professional and Community Involvement

  • American Bar Association, Member
  • Denver Bar Association, Member
  • American Academy of Attorney-CPAs, Member
  • Rocky Mountain Estate Planning Council, Member

Speaking Engagements

A sampling of Mr. Brown’s more recent presentations:

  • Speaker, “Leaving a Legacy with Michael Cates” UBS Podcast, July 9, 2021
  • Presenter, “Designing and Drafting the Integrated Estate Planning Structure,” CELESQ, April 16, 2019
  • Speaker, “Recent Developments in Asset Protection Planning During 2018 and into 2019,” CELESQ, March 19, 2019
  • Presenter, “Ethical Considerations for Lawyers involved in Estate Planning and Asset Protection,” CELESQ, February 12, 2019
  • Presenter, “Asset Protection Fundamentals: What Attorneys Should Know to Advise the Moderate Net Worth Clients,” CELESQ, January 29, 2019
  • Speaker, “Trends and Traps for Asset Protection: What Attorneys Should Know to Advise Higher Net Worth Clients,” Clear Law Institute, September 7, 2018
  • Speaker, “2018 Critical Tax and Planning Updates for Asset Protection, Estate Planning and Taxation Lawyers,” CELESQ, June 21, 2018
  • Webcast on “Ethical Considerations for Lawyers Involved in Estate Planning and Asset Protection” for CELESQ
  • Webinar offered through West LegalEdcenter on Select Federal and State Income, Gift and Estate Tax Issues and Filing Requirements for Domestic and Foreign Trusts for Estate Planning and Asset Protection Attorneys
  • Ethics programs offered through West LegalEdcenter about advising clients on protecting assets
  • AAA-CPA programs on comprehensive estate and asset protection planning
  • West LegalEdcenter programs on the perceived erosions and enhancements of asset protection trends and multiple other estate planning and asset protection webinars
  • National Business Institute live webinars and programs on (1) self-settled trusts and (2) domestic and offshore asset protection trusts
  • CLE International programs on asset protection planning
  • State Bar of California Young Tax Lawyers – Silicon Valley Chapter regarding estate planning and enhanced goal achievement
  • Foxmoor Continuing Education program on the “Colorado Complete Trust” course
  • Lorman Educational Services national audio conferences
  • Denver Tax Council on Tax Compliance
  • Southpac Trust International conferences (in the Bahamas and in Las Vegas) on various asset protection and administration topics
Awards

Recognitions

  • U.S. News and World Report, “Best Lawyers in America,” Trusts and Estates, 2024
  • Martindale-Hubbell, Rated AV® Preeminent ™
  • Lexology Content Marketing Awards, “Legal Influencer for Private Client – USA,” Q2 2019
Publications

Publications

He has also authored numerous articles on a variety of legal topics that have appeared in local and national publications such as the Journal of Practical Estate Planning, Journal of Taxation, Journal of International Taxation, The Tax Adviser, Asset Protection Journal, Journal of Financial Planning, The Colorado Lawyer, and Estate Planning.  He is also a co-author of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd editions of the Asset Protection Planning Guide, a Wolters Kluwer, CCH publication, as well as a contributing author to Asset Protection Strategies, published by the American Bar Association.  He was also a lead author for the Colorado Estate Planning Handbook (Orange Book Handbook) Chapter on Irrevocable Trusts (including “asset protection” trusts) published by the Colorado Bar Association.

A sampling of Mr. Brown’s more recent articles:

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