Fred Tansill's practice focuses on tax-oriented estate planning, particularly for professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs and owners of closely-held businesses, as well as probate, trust and estate disputes and counsel to bank trust departments and other fiduciaries. He is frequently involved in business counsel and tax planning for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations. He represents clients before the Internal Revenue Service in regard to audit and compliance issues. His practice includes estate planning and probate for residents of Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland.
For eleven years Fred practiced as a partner in McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe, Virginia's largest law firm, and as a shareholder in Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson & Hand ("Bob Dole's Firm"), one of Washington's largest law firms. In November 1997 Fred started his own firm in Tysons Corner/McLean.
He is frequently called upon to speak to Bar and industry groups on estate, tax, asset protection, international trust, charitable giving and closely-held business matters and on legal ethics.
• Education
Georgetown University
LL.M., Taxation, 1982
J.D., 1974
Brown University
B.A., with Honors, 1970
• Significant Accomplishments
President, Northern Virginia Community Foundation (1999 - 2000)
Co-Chair, Estates, Trusts and Probate Law Section of the District of Columbia Bar (1997 - 1999)
Chair, Board of Governors of the Trusts and Estates Section of the Virginia State Bar (1991-1992)
Recognized expertise in international estate planning and strategies for preserving family assets from potential claims of future creditors, sophisticated charitable planning and ownership and management succession in closely-held businesses.
One of 96 Northern Virginia Lawyers listed in The Best Lawyers in America (since 1997), and again listed 2005-2006, representing a continuous decade of his special recognition in this publication.
Listed in the June 2005 issue of The Washingtonian as one of the lawyers to see if you need a Prenuptial Agreement, and in the December 2008 issue of The Washingtonian as one of the "Best Lawyers in Washington" under the Trusts and Estates category. He was also named by the magazine in 1997 and 2002.
Listed in the December 2002 issue of Virginia Business as one of the "2002 Legal Elite" in the Taxes/Estates/Trusts category.
Frequently quoted on estate and trust and tax matters in The Washington Post. Quoted in Better Homes and Gardens, Parents' Magazine, Family Circle, and in December 2003 The Wall Street Journal.
Co-Chaired in 1993 -1994 a Joint Task Force of the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Bar Association which, after study and analysis, recommended certain changes in Virginia law, probate procedure and legal ethics rules relating to lawyers serving as fiduciaries. Recommendations of that Task Force have been adopted by the Virginia State Bar.
Listed in Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, 2006 - present
Listed in Virginia Super Lawyers, 2006 - present
Listed in Washington and Virginia Super Lawyers, 2007 - present
• Professional Memberships
American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
American Bar Association
District of Columbia Bar
District of Columbia Bar Association
Virginia State Bar
Virginia State Bar Association
Fairfax County Bar Association
United States Tax Court Bar
Society of Trust and Estate Professionals (an international organization of wealth and tax planners)
• Publications
"Guarding Your Assets - Be Positive About Trusts," Legal Times (April 2003)
"A Jurisdictional Comparison of Potential Situses For Asset Protection Trusts," Journal of Asset Protection (January/February 2000)
"Are Revocable Trusts Oversold and Overused? Practical Nontax and Tax Considerations in the Use of Revocable Inter Vivos Trusts," Tax Management Estates, Gifts and Trusts Journal (Part I - November - December 1998; Part II - March 1999)
"1996 U.S. Tax Changes Affecting International Trusts and Expatriation" (with Leigh Basha) Newsletter of the Wills, Trusts, and Estate Section, Virginia State Bar (Spring 1997)
"No U.S. Connections Allowed with an Offshore Trust? Wrong! Use Onshore Contacts," Journal of Asset Protection (May/June 1996)
"A Passion For Excellence: Evolving Professional Standards in Estate Planning Practice," Virginia Lawyer (January 1994)
• Speeches and Lectures
"Planning for Uncertain Times", The National Gift Planning Council (December 2008)
"Offshore Asset Protection Trusts, Non-Tax Issues," ALI-ABA Annual Seminar on International Estate Planning, Santa Fe (July 31 – August 1, 2008)
"Uses of Family Limited Liability Entities in Estate, Financial, Tax and Asset Protection Planning, Including Recent Developments and Other Asset Protection Vehicles," National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, Quarterly Workshop: Advanced Estate Planning (July 2008)
"Planning for Asset Protection," 44th Annual Advanced ALI-ABA Summer Program at the University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison (June 2008)
"U.S. Income and Transfer Tax Planning for U.S. Citizens, Resident and Non-Resident Aliens and Non-Citizens, International Estate Planning and the Use of Foreign Trusts," Virginia Society of CPAs 2007 Tax & Financial Planning Expo, The National Conference Center, Lansdowne, VA (November 2007)
"Offshore Asset Protection Trusts, Non-Tax Issues," ALI-ABA Annual Seminar on International Estate Planning, Chicago (August 2007)
"Planning for Forever" Georgetown University, and estate planning seminar for alumni/ae sponsored by the Office of Planned Giving (June 2007)
"Offshore Asset Protection Trusts, Non-Tax Issues," ALI-ABA Annual Seminar on International Estate Planning, Boston (October 2006)
"Asset Protection Planning, Domestic and Offshore, Including Ethical and Malpractice Considerations," National Business Institute (NBI) Seminar (September 2006)
"U.S. Income and Transfer Tax Planning For U.S. Citizens, Resident Aliens and Non-Citizens, International Estate Planning and the Use of Foreign Trusts," an estate planning seminar sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank (June 2006)
"Planning for Forever," Georgetown University, an estate planning seminar for alumni/ae sponsored by the Office of Planned Giving (June 2006)
"American Bar Association, Community Outreach Program," Overview of Estate Planning (February 2006)
"Offshore Asset Protection Trusts, Non-Tax Issues,"
ALI-ABA Annual Seminar on International Estate Planning,
Seattle (August 2005)
"Planning for Forever" Georgetown University, an
estate planning seminar for alumni/ae sponsored by the Office
of Planned Giving (June 2005)
"Asset Protection Planning," Third Annual Financial
Planning Forum, Financial Planning Association of Central Virginia
and the Virginia Society of CPAs, Richmond, Virginia (June 2005)
"Getting to Win-Win: Doing Well for the Donor's Family
and the Donor's Advisors While Doing Good for Your Charity"
National Capitol Gift Planning Council (May 2005)
"Planning for Forever" Georgetown University, an
estate planning seminar for alumni/ae sponsored by the Office
of Planned Giving (October 2004)
"Offshore Asset Protection Trusts, Non-Tax Issues,"
ALI-ABA Annual Seminar on International Estate Planning, Toronto
(August 2004)
"Planning for Forever" Georgetown University, an
estate planning seminar for alumni/ae sponsored by the Office
of Planned Giving (June 2004)
"Asset Protection Planning," Virginia Society of
CPAs, Richmond, Virginia (June 2004)
Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts (CRATs) and Charitable
Remainder Unitrusts (CRUTs)," D.C. Bar (May 2004)
Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, Northern
Virginia Chapter, "Recent Developments re Family Limited
Partnerships and Discounted Estate Tax and Gift Tax Appraisals
of Limited Partnership Interests" (May 2004)
"Planning Strategies for the Preservation of Family Assets
from Claims of Creditors and Other Predators," Virginia
State Bar Annual Trusts and Estates Conference (November 2003)
"Planning for Forever" An estate planning seminary
sponsored by Georgetown University Law School (October 2003)
"Asset Protection Strategies," Information Management
Network, Conference on High-Net-Worth Real Estate Investing,
New York City (September 2003)
"Offshore Asset Protection Trusts: Non-Tax Issues,"
ALI-ABA, San Diego (August 2003)
"Planning for Forever" An estate planning seminar
for alumni/ae sponsored by the Office of Planned Giving, Georgetown
University (May 2003)
"Offshore Asset Protection Trusts: Non-Tax Issues,"
ALI-ABA Annual Seminar on International Estate Planning, Boston
(October 2002)
"Offshore Asset Protection Trusts: Non-Tax Issues,"
ALI-ABA Annual Seminar on International Estate Planning, Chicago
(October 2001)
"Planning Strategies for the Protection of Family Assets
from Claims of Creditors and Other Predators," Virginia
CLE, Presented live and on videotape to 600-plus lawyers around
the state, (November 2000)
"Offshore Asset Protection Trusts," A Seminar Sponsored
by the Virginia Beach Community Foundation for professional
advisors (September 2000)
"Offshore Asset Protection Trusts: Non-Tax Issues,"
ALI-ABA, San Francisco (August 2000)
Various Topics at a Seminar Sponsored by the Community Foundation
of the Eastern Shore, Inc. For Professional Partners For Community
Philanthropy, Salisbury, Maryland (June 2000)
"Probate and Post-Mortem Tax Planning for the Non-Specialist
Lawyer and CPA," Fairfax Bar Association (January 2000)
"Offshore Asset Protection Trusts With A Jurisdictional
Comparison to Delaware," Baltimore Estate Planning Council
(September 1999)
"Anatomy of Offshore Asset Protection Trusts: A Jurisdictional
Comparison of Potential Situses for Asset Protection Trusts,"
ABA Annual Meeting, Atlanta (August 1999)
"Charitable Planning Using Community Foundations, An
Overview," D.C. Bar (June 1999)
"Estate Planning for the Senior Corporate Executive in
a Public Corporation: Life Insurance and Retirement Plans,"
Wills, Trusts and Estate Section, Fairfax County Bar (January
1999)
"Offshore Asset Protection Trusts," ALI-ABA Annual
Advanced International Estate Planning Seminar, New Orleans
(September 1998)
"Newest Twists In Perpetual Asset Protection Trusts:
Delaware and Alaska As AOffshore" Jurisdictions,"
D.C. Bar (April 1998)
"The Use of Buy-Sell Agreements in Estate Planning and
Business Succession Planning," D.C. Bar Winter Convention
(February 1998)
"Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 -- Changes in Estate, Gift
and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax and Other Changes Affecting
Estates and Trusts," Annual Tax Update Program, Fairfax
Bar Association and the Northern Virginia Chapter of the AICPA
(January 1998)
"New Delaware and Alaska Trust Legislation, AACTEC Regional
Meeting, Asheville, N.C. (September 1997)
"Asset Protection Strategies," Alexandria Bar Association
(April 1997)
"Living with Living Trusts," Winter Meeting, Virginia
Bar Association (January 1997) and D.C. Bar (April 1997)
"Estate Planning for Residential Real Estate," D.C.
Bar 1997 Winter Convention (February 1997)
"Tax, Asset Protection and Estate Planning for Individuals
in the Offshore Arena," Dauphin County (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
Bar Association (November 1996) and Virginia State Bar (June
1996)
"United States Income and Transfer Tax Planning for Non-Citizens,
International Estate Planning, and the Use of Foreign Trusts,"
Fairfax Bar Association and Virginia Society of CPAs (January
1996)
"Lawyers Serving as Fiduciaries -- Ethical Rules,A Virginia
Bar Association Summer Meeting, The Greenbrier (July 1995)
"Business Succession Planning for the Closely-Held Company,"
D.C. Bar (February 1995)
"Solving the Puzzle: GRITS, GRATS, GRUTS, QPRTS,"
1994 AICPA Conference on Tax Strategies for High Income Individuals,
Nashville and Las Vegas (May 1994)
"Property Preservation Planning -- Estate Planning, Debtors
Rights Planning," Virginia Advanced Estate Planning and
Administration Seminar (April 1993)
"Primer: Risks of Malpractice and Ethical Issues in Estate
Planning and Estate and Trust Administration," Virginia
State Bar in Acapulco (November 1992)
• Board Memberships and Affiliations
Board Member, McLean Orchestra
Member, McLean Chamber of Commerce
Member, Fairfax Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors of Atlantic Trust Company, a federally chartered, D.C. based trust bank (1993 to 2001)
Board of Directors, Northern Virginia Community Foundation, Executive Committee (1992 to present)
Board of Governors of the Virginia State Bar's Section on Trusts and Estates (1988-1996)
Steering Committee of the Estates, Trusts and Probate Law Section of the District of Columbia Bar (1995 to 2000)
Executive Council of the Wills, Trusts and Estates Section of the Virginia Bar Association (1990-1997) and its Legislative Committee (1994 to 2000)
Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel ("ACTEC," formerly known as The American College of Probate Counsel) (since 1991)
Founding Member of the Board of Governors of The Tower Club in Tysons Corner (1988 to 1998)
President of the Northern Virginia Estate Planning Council (1990 to 1991)
Executive Council of the Virginia Bar Association's Section of Taxation (1988 to 1990)
Chairman of the Fairfax County Bar's Tax Section (1987 to 1988)
Chairman of the Fairfax County Bar's Wills, Estates and Trusts Section (1986)
• Honors and Awards
D.C. Bar Frederick B. Abramson Award as Co-Chair of Bar Section (Wills, Trusts and Probate Law) With Outstanding Community Service Record.
Crystal Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to the Northern Virginia Community Foundation in 1996
Founder's Award from the Whitman-Walker Clinic for helping to establish its pro bono legal program in Northern Virginia.
• Pro Bono Projects
Mr. Tansill has been involved with the Northern Virginia Community Foundation as a Member of the Board's Executive Committee since 1992 and served as President in 1999-2000. He previously served as General Counsel (1992 to 1997), and First Vice President (1998-1999) of the Foundation. He has been involved in volunteer leadership positions with the American Heart Association, Boy Scouts of America, American Cancer Society and Junior League, McLean Orchestra.
