ACTEC Elects 29 New Fellows to the College
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC – March 12, 20206: The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) Board of Regents convened at the College’s 2026 Annual Meeting in Tampa, Florida to consider nominations for a new class of ACTEC Fellows. The College is pleased to announce that 29 individuals were selected: three academic fellows; Two international scholars (one from Canada and one from China); One Fiduciary Counsel intern and 23 private practice interns. Ten are graduates of a new fellowship ACTEC Fellows Institute.
President of ACTEC Margaret (Me) G. Lodise says: “On behalf of the College, I am pleased to welcome these 29 esteemed trust and estate lawyers and professors to the University. Their professional achievements and dedication to the field will enhance ACTEC’s collective efforts, strengthening the continued progress and future of the trust and estate profession. I look forward to their contributions.”
To qualify for membership, a candidate must have at least ten years of experience in the active practice of trust and estate law as a trust consultant with a fiduciary services firm, or a combination thereof. Attorneys and law professors are selected for fellowship based on their outstanding reputation, exceptional skill, and significant contributions to the field through lecturing, writing, teaching, and participation in bar leadership or legislative activities. Their goal is to improve and reform trust and tax laws, procedures and professional liability.
The following 29 people were selected as New Fellows:
- Brandy Baxter-Thompson of Dallas, Texas
- Luke C. Bean Natick, Massachusetts (2022 New England Fellows Institute graduate)
- Jamie K. Blair Bethesda, Maryland
- Alexander Antonio Boni-Saenz Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Sarah J. Brownlow Richmond, Virginia
- Leanne Fryer Broyles Baltimore, Maryland (2022 Mid-Atlantic Fellows Institute graduate)
- Daniel P. Buckley of Milford, Connecticut
- Michael R. Crowder Knoxville, Tennessee (2023) Southeast Fellows Institute graduate)
- Aejaz A. Dar Fairfax, Virginia (2024 Southeast Fellows Institute graduate)
- Livia K. DeMarchis Colchester, Vermont (2022 New England Fellows Institute graduate)
- Paul DePasquale New York, New York
- Jessica Suzanne Forrest From Cleveland, Ohio
- Deborah S. Gordon Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Jessica Stetler Grover Birmingham, Alabama
- Jonathan Haskell Greenwood Village, Colorado (2024 Rocky Mountain Fellows Institute graduate)
- Alice M. Haseltine From Overland Park, Kansas (2019) Heart of America Fellows Institute graduate)
- Erin E. Kriksciun From New Orleans, Louisiana
- Gregory Eric Martin Fort Worth, Texas (2024 Rocky Mountain Fellows Institute graduate)
- Carl A. Merino New York, New York
- Marty L. Oblasser From Laramie, Wyoming
- Andrew T. Peebles Springfield, Missouri (2019) Heart of America Fellows Institute graduate)
- Rebecca S. Luster Radford Shreveport, Louisiana
- Wenxia (Jane) Ren From Shanghai, China
- Scott E. Swenson Wilmington, Delaware (2022 Mid-Atlantic Fellows Institute graduate)
- Emily S. Taylor Poppe From Irvine, California
- Christopher John Walker Juneau, Alaska
- Kimberly Ann Whaley From Toronto, Canada
- Kirsten Wolff From San Francisco, California
- Peter J. Wyant Racine, Wisconsin
About The the american Association of Trust and Estate Lawyers (ACTEC): Founded in 1949, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) is a national nonprofit association of approximately 2,300 attorneys and law professors from the United States and abroad. ACTEC Fellows are elected by their peers based on 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 improving and reforming laws and procedures and standards of professional practice. ACTEC frequently provides technical commentary on legislation and regulations, but does not take a position on policy or political objectives.
about ACTEC Fellows Institute: The College’s Institutes are intensive multi-day programs focused on advanced professional development for trust and estate attorneys in the specialization phase. Supported and managed by ACTEC Fellows and staff, the institutes are open to lawyers concentrating or attempting to concentrate in trusts and estates law, generally with two to seven years of experience, and nominated by an ACTEC Fellow. Institutes are one-year programs designed to foster professional growth, technical excellence and leadership within the trust and real estate profession, and can serve as a pathway to selection into ACTEC. As of March 10, 2026, 610 lawyers have graduated from an Institute, and 70 graduates have been selected as ACTEC Fellows.
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