Ann’s practice focuses on estate and charitable planning, business succession
planning, estate and trust administration, and fiduciary and tax litigation. Ann is
the chair of the Trust, Estate & Charitable Planning group.
Ann brings a unique mix of skills to her law practice as a certified public
accountant (inactive) and a principal in the firm. She represents multigenerational families of wealth throughout the country, assisting and guiding
them in their relationships with trustees and other advisors. Ann also represents
individual and corporate trustees in estate and tax planning and in fiduciary
controversies in state and federal courts.
Ann has presented numerous seminars on topics related to estate planning, trusts, estates, and
taxation. In 2010, she was featured in an article in The New York Times focusing on the
uncertainty of the estate tax.
Publications
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“Business Succession Planning Answer Book,” coauthored, Commerce Clearing House,
2011
“Disclaiming Assets, Interests, and Powers,” LexisNexis 2010 Heckerling Institute on
Estate Planning, Volume 44
“Deductible Reasoning: Section 2053 Proposed Regs—Take The Guess Work Out of
Deductible Claims,” LexisNexis 2008 Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, Volume
42
“The Increased Exemption Creates Opportunity,” Trusts & Estates, March 2009
“Section 2053 Proposed Regs,” Trusts & Estates, July 2008
Presentations
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“Estate Planning Best Practices for Large Estate Business Interest Owners,” copresenter,
ACTEC Summer Meeting, presented to Business Planning Committee, June 2012
“How to Handle the Toughest Issues in the Operation and Succession of a Family
Business,” copresenter, ACTEC Summer Meeting, June 2012
“They Say You Can’t Take It With You—But How Do You Give It Away? Using The $5
Million Exclusion Amount,” 46th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning,
University of Miami School of Law, January 2012
“Thanks But No Thanks—Disclaiming Assets, Interests, and Powers,” 44th Annual
Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, University of Miami School of Law, January
2010
“Integrating the Estate Plan with Business Succession Planning,” copresenter, 44th
Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, University of Miami School of Law,
January 2010
“Qualified Disclaimers—What Part of ‘No’ Don’t You Understand,” copresenter, 44th
Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, University of Miami School of Law,
January 2010
“Deductive Reasoning: Section 2053 Proposed Regulations—Take the Guesswork out of
Deductible Claims,” 41st Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, University of Miami
School of Law, January 2008
“Life Settlements, an Overview,” ACTEC Business Planning Committee, March 2007
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“A Wild Decade at Mid-Life,” moderator, 40th Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning,
University of Miami School of Law, January 2006
“Tax Controversy Work: Winning Cases through Mastering Procedure,” 39th Heckerling
Institute on Estate Planning, University of Miami School of Law, January 2005
“Mathematics and Economics for Estate Planners, Cannon Financial Estate Planning
Webcast, May 13, 2005
“The IRS Appeals Process,” ACTEC Annual Meeting, June 2003
Education
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University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., 1981
Iowa State University, undergraduate degree, 1978
Bar Admissions
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Minnesota, 1982
Wisconsin, 1981
U.S. Tax Court, 1981
Professional Activities
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American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), fellow, 1995-present; Business
Planning Committee and Estate Tax Committee, member
Tax Disputes Subcommittee of the Fiduciary Litigation Committee, chair, 2003
Law clerk for the Honorable Judge Donald R. Ross
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
Honors and Distinctions
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“The Best Lawyers in America,” Woodward/White, 1995-2013
“Super Lawyer®,” Thomson/Reuters, 2012
“Minnesota's Best Lawyers," Minnesota Monthly, 2009
“2006 Women in Business—Women to Watch,” Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal
“2005 Women of Achievement,” National Association of Women Business Owners
Community Involvement
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Women’s Leadership Counsel of the United Way of Minnesota, past chair and charter
member, 2005-present
University of St. Thomas Law School, Board of Governors, member, 2004-present
Greater Twin Cities United Way, Annual Campaign Cabinet, 2009
Greater Twin Cities United Way, Early Learning Initiative Committee, member, 2005present
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