Stephanie B. Casteel

Bar Admissions

• Georgia
• Nevada

Education

• Emory University School of Law (J.D., with distinction)
• Agnes Scott College (B.A., Economics, with High Honors)

Awards & Recognition

• Top Rank Attorney, Nevada Business Magazine (2024)
• The Best Lawyers in America®, Non-Profit/Charities Law, Trusts & Estates (2009-2025)
  • Lawyer of the Year, Reno Non-Profit/Charities Law (2021, 2023)
• Chamber’s High Net Worth Guide (2017-2018, 2024)
• Georgia Trend’s Legal Elite (2010-Present)
• Georgia Super Lawyer, Law & Politics Magazine (2005-Present)
  • Top 50 Woman Lawyers (2009-2013)
• Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell®

Representative Experience

• Provided estate planning counsel to more than a dozen clients with wealth in excess of $100 million
• Assisted $200+ million private foundation with grants and economic development for a rural community
• Advised $100+ million entrepreneur regarding innovative charitable projects
• Local counsel to estate of notable real estate developer and neo-futuristic architect
• Advised nearly $100 million corporate charity located in the Southeast United States
• Reformed and decanted poorly drafted trusts after sale of privately held company
• Developed experience in non-grantor incomplete gift trusts
• Assisted dozens of clients with transfers of their wealth to successive generations
• Advised high-profile clients on matters of wealth transfer, business succession planning, nuptial agreements, charitable planning and exempt organizations
• Assisted in transferring multi-million-dollar company to second and third generations with no transfer tax
• Advised large hospital on employee relief plans
• Handled large estate tax audit with forestry assets
• Prepared Tax Court petition contesting valuation of large lighting company
• Applied wealth transfer planning techniques to the estates of high net-worth clients

Previous Professional Experience

• Wallace Morrison & Casteel, Founding Partner (2011-2019)
• King & Spalding, LLP, Partner (2004-2010)
• Powell Goldstein Frazer & Murphy, LLP, Partner (2002-2004)

Professional Memberships and Activities

• American College of Trusts & Estates Counsel
  • Board Regent (2020-Present)
  • Foundation Board of Directors (2017-Present)
  • Asset Protection Committee (2015-Present)
  • Charitable Planning & Exempt Organizations Committee (2008-Present)
    • Vice-Chair (2024)
  • Audit Committee (2013-Present)
    • Chair (2017-present)
  • Sponsorship Committee (2018-Present)
  • Program Committee (2013-2016)
  • New Fellows Steering Committee (2010-2015)
    • Secretary (2014-2015)
• American Law Institute-Continuing Legal Education
  • Estate Planning in Depth, Co-Chair (2014-2018)
  • Estate Planning Advisory Panel (2013-Present)
• FAQ Communications Committee Chair (2012)
  • Legislative and Regulatory Issues Committee Chair (2009-2012)
  • Sponsorship Standing Committee (2009-2013)
  • Associate Articles Editor, Probate and Property (2008-2018)
  • Business Planning Group Committee (2004-2005)
• State Bar of Georgia
  • Fiduciary Law Section: Trust Code Steering Committee (2008-2009)
  • Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act Committee (2006-2008)
  • Fiduciary Legislation Committee (1994-1998, 2005-2008)
  • Basic Fiduciary Practice Chair (2005-2007)
  • Principal & Income Act Drafting Committee (2002-2005)
• State Bar of Nevada
  • Member
• Atlanta Estate Planning Council (2004-2010)
  • Board of Directors (2006-2008)

Community Involvement

• Tahoe Prosperity Center
  • Board Member (2022-Present)

Representative Presentations and Publications

• “Legal Opinions: Act Now: Transfer Assets Tax-Free with SLATs Before the 2025 Deadline,” Author, Nevada Business Magazine (October 1, 2024)
• “Justifying Your Value as a New Lawyer Through Billables and Beyond,” Author, American Bar Association (July 10, 2024)
• “Planned Giving Round Table of Northern Nevada Spring Program,” Speaker, National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (May 8, 2024)
• “The Tools & Techniques of Estate Planning for Modern Families, 4^th Edition,” Co-Author, The Leimberg Library (February 28, 2024)
• “Winning More Than a Billion Could Come With Some Pitfalls,” Interview, WSB-TV Channel 2 Atlanta (November 2, 2022)
• “Charitable Planning from the Simple to the Sophisticated,” Speaker, Estate Planning Council of Northern Nevada (February 16, 2022)
• “Planning With Charitable Split Interest Trusts,” Speaker, Chicago Estate Planning Council (December 16, 2021)
• “Tax Aspects of Marriage Dissolution,” Speaker, Estate Planning In Depth, ALI-CLE (June, 24, 2021)
• “How to Deduct Charitable Donations From Your Taxes,” Quoted, TheStreet (May 26, 2020)
• “14 Things To Know About Making End-of-Year Donations,” Quoted, TheStreet (December 23, 2019)
• “We asked 2 Reno legal experts: What are the dos and don’ts of corporate giving?” Quoted, Northern Nevada Business View (November 27, 2019)
• “Optimizing Lifetime Gifting: Advising Clients in Uncertain Times,” Speaker, Hawaii Tax Institute, Honolulu (November 2019)
• “Charitable Gift Substantiation,” Speaker, 2019 Charitable Gift Planning Conference, National Association of Charitable Gift Planners, New Orleans (October 2019)
• “Basic Charitable Planning Techniques,” Speaker, Hawaii Tax Institute (November 2018)
• “The Dating Game: Choosing Between Multiple Jurisdictions,” Speaker, New Hampshire Trust Conference, (October 2018)
• “Planning and Drafting Nuptial Agreements,” Speaker, Estate Planning in Depth, ALI-CLE (June 2017)
• “Charitable Bequests of Retirement Assets: Strategies, Traps, and Solutions,” Speaker, ACTEC Annual Meeting (March 2017)
• “The Dating Game: Choosing Between Multiple Jurisdictions,” Speaker, Delaware Tax Institute (October 2017)
• “Charitable Bequests of Retirement Assets: Strategies, Traps, and Solutions,” Speaker, Hawaii Tax Institute (November 2017)
• “My Way: What is the Donor’s Best Charitable Game?  The Anatomy of Supporting Organizations,” Speaker, ACTEC Annual Meeting (March 2016)
• “Nuptial Agreements,” Author, ALI-ABA Estate Planning Course Materials Journal (2016)
• “Charitable Giving,” Speaker, Estate Planning in Depth, ALI-CLE (June 2015)
• “A Cool Idea with Rev. Rul. 2004-5, New Uses for Charitable Gift Annuities, and Report on Notice 2014-4,” Speaker, ACTEC Annual Seminar, Charitable Planning and Exempt Organizations Committee (March 2014)
• “I Do, Act II: Estate Planning for Second Marriages,” Speaker, ALI CLE teleseminar/audio webcast (March 2014)
• “Charitable Planning Potpourri,” Speaker, Advanced Estate Planning Techniques, ALI-CLE (February 2014)
• “Charitable Planning Today,” Speaker, 48th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning (January 2014)
• “Planning and Drafting Premarital Agreements,” Author, ALI-ABA Estate Planning Course Materials Journal (April 2010)
• “Philanthropy and Choice of Grant-Making Entity in a Changing World,” Author, Property & Probate (March/April 2009)
• “The Bio-Tech Company and The Private Equity Fund,” Author, Tech Journal South (August 22, 2008)
• “It’s Not About the Teacups,” Author, Atlanta Woman (July 2008)
• “Hit the Jackpot? Here’s some advice on what to do next,” Quoted, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (February 18, 2008)
• “Planning and Drafting Premarital Agreements,” Author, The Practical Tax Lawyer, Vol. 20 No. 1 (Fall 2005)
• “The Women’s Guide to Wealth Management: Atlanta’s Top Legal and Investment Experts Share Tips and Insights to Ensure Your Financial Well-Being,” Editor and Co-Author, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles (December 2005)