J a m e s F . W o o d
Experience
James Wood's practice focuses on trusts and estate planning, probate, charitable giving and tax planning for individuals and small business owners. He represents and advises numerous businesses and individuals on a variety of tax and estate planning matters.
Associate, Van Cott Bagley Cornwall & McCarthy, Salt Lake City, Utah (1996-1998); associate, Fabian & Clendenin, Salt Lake City, Utah (1994-1996); law clerk, Honorable
Pamela T. Greenwood, Utah Court of Appeals, Salt Lake City, Utah (1993-1994); revenue agent, Internal Revenue Service, Salt Lake City, Utah (1988-1990); tax accountant, Peat Marwick & Main, Los Angeles, California (1985-1987).
Professional Honors and Activities
Selected by Best Lawyers® as Trusts & Estates Law Lawyer of the Year, Salt Lake
City, 2013
Listed in Best Lawyers in America© (currently: Trusts & Estates), 2009-2016
Listed in Mountain States Super Lawyers® (Estate Planning & Probate), 2012-2015
Listed in the 2011 Utah Business "Legal Elite"
AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell
Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, 2008 present
Member, Utah State Bar
Past President, Utah State Bar Estate Planning Section, 2005-2006
Member, Utah State Bar Estate Planning Section Uniform Trust Code Review
Committee, 2003-2005
Past Judge Pro Tem, Third District Court, Salt Lake City, Utah
Certified Public Accountant, California (inactive)
Presentations
"Crats and Cruts and Clats and Cluts and Other Tongue Twisting Things Like That,"
2009 National Planned Giving Council Seminar, Salt Lake City, Oct. 2, 2009
"EGTRAA, EGTRAA, Read All About It! The Possible Impact of Proposed Federal
Legislation on the Federal Estate Tax," Utah State Bar Convention, Sun Valley,
Idaho, Jul. 16, 2009
"Private Foundations," Utah Planned Giving Roundtable CLE Lunch Presentation,
Salt Lake City, Utah, Sep. 6, 2006
Partner
Salt Lake City (Holladay), UT
(801) 930-5101 direct
(801) 208-8995 fax
Salt Lake City, UT james.wood@stoel.com
Education
University of Utah College of Law,
J.D., 1993
Order of the Coif
Executive Editor and Staff Member,
Utah Law Review
University of Utah, M.Pr.A. (Master of
Professional Accountancy, tax emphasis), 1985
University of Utah, B.A., Accounting,
1984, cum laude
Admissions
Utah
U.S. District Court for the District of
Utah
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth
Circuit
U.S. Tax Court
J a m e s F . W o o d
"A Few Things You Ought to Know About the Utah Uniform Trust Code," Stoel Rives Estate Planning Section In House CLE
Meeting, Midway, Utah, Aug. 31, 2006
"Everything the Plaintiff's Lawyer Ever Wanted to Know About Tax But Was Afraid to Ask—Taxation of Settlements and
Judgments Under Contingency Fee Arrangements," Utah State Bar Summer Meeting, Sun Valley, Idaho, Jul. 2005
"Circular 230," Stoel Rives Estate Planning Section In House CLE Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, Jun. 9, 2005
"Charitable Remainder and Charitable Lead Trusts (CRATs, CRUTs, and CLATs), and other Trusts: GRATs, QPRTs, QDOTs, and
ESBTs," Sterling Education Services, LLC, Salt Lake City, Utah, Dec. 4, 2003
"The Use of Revocable Trusts in Estate Planning, Friend or Foe?," Utah State Bar Summer Meeting, Sun Valley, Idaho, Jul. 18,
2003
"The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (a/k/a The Smoke and Mirrors Tax Act of 2001)," Merrill Lynch,
Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah, Jul.-Aug. 2001
"Tax Planning After Death in Utah (Marital Deduction Planning), Beneficial Credits and Exclusions," Lorman Education Services,
Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct. 24, 2000
"Estate Planning and Individual Retirement Plans," Merrill Lynch, Salt Lake City, Utah, Jun. 2000
"Incentive Trusts, A Cure for 'Affluenza' or A Ruse for Control Beyond the Grave?," Salt Lake Estate Planning Council, Salt Lake
City, Utah, May 17, 2000
"Family Limited Partnerships in Utah," National Business Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, Sep. 14, 1999
"The A's and B's of Trusts and Estate Planning," Merrill Lynch, Salt Lake City, Utah, Mar. 3, 1999
Publications
"Succession Planning for Closely Held Businesses," Legal Matters, The Enterprise newspaper, Oct. 2013
Civic Activities
Past Member, Westminster College Planned Giving Advisory Board
Past Board Member, American Lung Association of Utah
Past Board Member, University of Utah Business Alumni Association
Past Board Member, Primary Children's Hospital Planned Giving Committee
Past Board Member, Orphanage Support Services Organization