Ms. Elizabeth Anne Faist Related Seminars and Products

Duncan Spratt P.A.

Elizabeth Faist is a shareholder at Djuric Spratt, and she serves clients in the areas of trusts, estates, and charitable planning. She manages a variety of matters, including gift and generation-skipping transfer tax issues, preparation of estate-planning documents, administration of estates, and tax advice regarding private foundations and public charities. Elizabeth also counsels clients on tax and succession planning for their businesses. Prior to joining Djuric Spratt, Elizabeth practiced with Eversheds Sutherland in Atlanta and Williams Parker in Sarasota, Florida.

Kelli E. Brown Related Seminars and Products

Goldberg Simpson

Kelli E. Brown is a partner at Goldberg Simpson, where she chairs the Trusts and Estates
Department, focusing on estate planning, probate, trust administration, and estate litigation. With 
a B.A. from the University of Dayton, a J.D. from Northern Kentucky Salmon P. Chase College of Law, 
and an LL.M. in Estate Tax from the University of Miami, she brings both academic depth and 
practical expertise to her practice.

Licensed in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Federal Tax Court, Ms. Brown is a Fellow with the 
American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel (ACTEC), having recently concluded her term as ACTEC 
Kentucky State Chair in early 2025. She’s also a Justice Thomas B. Spain Award recipient, 
recognized for her dedication to the field.

A seasoned speaker and prolific author, Ms. Brown has presented widely on estate planning and 
probate topics. She has published two books tackling unique estate planning challenges: Estate 
Planning When You Have an Addicted Child (2017) and Estate Planning When You Have Pets (2020).

Ms. Brown’s passion lies in helping families. She is married to Walter Hawkins and they have two
human children and one with fur.

Ms. Kimberly Gimson Ader Related Seminars and Products

Harrison LLP

Kimberly G. Ader is a partner in the Atlanta office of Harrison, LLP.  Kimberly has practiced exclusively in family law since her graduation from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law and bar admittance in 2007. Kimberly is a lifelong Georgia resident who attended Atlanta Public Schools and the University of Georgia, where she received her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, in political science.

Prior to joining Harrison, LLP in 2024, Kimberly practiced with several well-regarded family law firms in metro Atlanta where she received invaluable mentoring from seasoned lawyers Nancy F. Lawler and Elizabeth Green Lindsey. Kimberly’s speaking engagements include Georgia’s Family Law Institute, Family Law Section seminars and Fulton and Cobb Counties’ Family Law Workshops.

Kimberly advises clients in a variety of family law matters including divorce and separation cases, custody disputes, legitimation and paternity suits, child support, contempt and modification actions, as well as negotiation of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. She has particular experience helping clients with complex income and financial assets as well as high-conflict custody disputes. Using her skills as both a trained Guardian ad Litem and Parent Coordinator, Kimberly steers clients toward workable custodial arrangements that aim to minimize future strife and promote the children’s on-going best interests.

When not practicing law, Kimberly and her husband spend the majority of their leisure time cheering for their two daughters’ various sports teams (lacrosse and flag football). She also enjoys playing tennis, camping and watching the Bulldawgs play.

Ms. Kim Christine Martin Related Seminars and Products

Harrison LLP

Kim Martin is a trusts and estates attorney in Atlanta. Her practice focuses on estate planning for families with a disabled family member. Her areas of expertise also include guardianship/ conservatorship and divorce settlement agreements in cases that involve a child with special needs.
As the mother of two beautiful children, one of whom has Autism, Kim brings to her practice an appreciation for the unique challenges and joys of parenting a special needs child.
Kim was admitted to the practice of law in Georgia in 1999. She earned her law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1999). She has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Virginia (1990). 
Kim's publications include articles in Trusts and Estates Magazine and Family Lawyer Magazine. She is a frequent speaker on subjects related to special needs issues. Her appearances as a speaker include numerous workshops hosted by Families of Children Under Stress (FOCUS); the annual Special Needs Conference at Stetson University (October 2021 and 2022); the Chattanooga Estate Planning Council (October 2021); and the Estate Planning and Probate Section of the Atlanta Bar Association (December 2019). 

Doug Neal Related Seminars and Products

Windham Brannon

Dan Bryan Related Seminars and Products

Argent Trust Company

Mr. James Walter Hass Jr. Related Seminars and Products

Lefkoff Duncan Grimes McSwain & Hass PC

James W Hass, Jr., “J.W, ” is a principal attorney with the law firm of Lefkoff, Duncan, Grimes, McSwain, Hass & Hanley, P.C. J.W. practices primarily in the areas of estate planning, tax planning, probate, estate administration and closely held business matters.

J.W. was admitted to practice in Georgia in 1997 and is a member of the Fiduciary Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia, the Atlanta Bar Association and the Atlanta Estate Planning Council, Inc. J.W also speaks on probate, estate and tax planning matters.

A native of Rock Island, Illinois, J.W graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1994. He received his law degree in 1997 from the University of Georgia School of Law.

Ms. Letitia A. McDonald Related Seminars and Products

King & Spalding LLP

Tish McDonald focuses on complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis in fiduciary litigation, trust and estate litigation, litigation involving non-profits, real estate litigation, and litigation involving governmental entities. A partner in our Trial and Global Practice Group, Tish represents trustees, executors, beneficiaries, developers, financial institutions, foundations and other non-profit entities and others in a variety of proceedings. A Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Tish has litigated a wide range of fiduciary disputes, including breach of fiduciary duty actions brought by beneficiaries against executors and trustees (on both sides), including financial institutions; will/trust interpretation cases; trustee removal cases; trust modification matters; contested conservatorships; trust issues in divorce cases; matters involving the appropriate measure of fiduciary compensation; cases involving the alleged failure to notify or communicate with beneficiaries; cases involving statutes of limitation with respect to actions of fiduciaries; and matters involving the alleged malfeasance of an agent under a financial power of attorney. She has also handled cases involving the Attorney General of Georgia and the oversight of charitable trusts.

Tish has handled appeals before the Georgia appellate courts, including oral arguments. Tish represents clients in commercial and fiduciary litigation, as well as litigation involving real estate transactions and governmental matters. 

Ms. Emily Shoemaker Newton Related Seminars and Products

King & Spalding LLP

Emily Newton focuses on fiduciary litigation, representing trustees, executors, and beneficiaries. She also specializes in high-stakes business cases, with an emphasis on handling antitrust matters and class actions in a variety of industries. A partner in our Business Litigation practice, Emily has experience handling all aspects of litigation, including through trial. Emily serves as Past Chair of the Mary Lin Education Foundation Board, is a graduate of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation Inspire Atlanta Program, and is a former Co-Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia, Business Law Committee.

 

Ms. Leslie Alyson Graham Related Seminars and Products

Willis Investment Counsel

Alyson Graham is a Trust and Estate Specialist for Willis Investment Counsel (“WIC”), a 45-year-old independent investment management firm in Gainesville, Georgia.  Supporting a holistic approach to wealth planning, Alyson serves as a resource to clients and their advisors to help clients understand, identify and achieve their estate and wealth planning goals. 

Prior to joining WIC, Alyson served as Senior Vice President and Head of Personal Trust Services at Ameris Bank.  Prior to that, Alyson practiced trusts and estates law for over a decade with firms including Smith, Gambrell & Russell in Atlanta and Stewart, Melvin & Frost in Gainesville, specializing in sophisticated estate and tax planning and estate administration for high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals and their families.  

Alyson serves as Secretary of the Fiduciary Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia, and as a member of the Section’s Legislative and Code Revision Committees. She is a graduate of the inaugural class of the Southeast Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and a member of the Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar.  Alyson earned her law degree, magna cum laude, from Georgia State University College of Law and her LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law.

Ms. LeAnne Marie Gilbert Related Seminars and Products

Gaslowitz Frankel LLC

LeAnne Gilbert is a partner at Gaslowitz Frankel LLC where she has practiced fiduciary litigation for over nineteen years.  LeAnne represents individual and corporate fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and interested parties in trust and estate disputes and trust modification actions.  LeAnne is a past chair of the State Bar of Georgia’s Fiduciary Law Section and she has served on the Leadership Committee of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers.  LeAnne has also written on fiduciary topics for ACTEC and other publications.

LeAnne graduated magna cum laude from the University of Toledo College of Law, where she was the editor-in-chief of the University of Toledo Law Review.  She is licensed to practice in both Georgia and Tennessee.

Ms. Stacy Williams Hanley Related Seminars and Products

Lefkoff Duncan Grimes McSwain & Hass PC

Stacy W. Hanley is a Principal of Lefkoff, Duncan, Grimes, McSwain, Hass & Hanley, P.C.  Ms. Hanley practices primarily in the areas of tax and estate planning, probate, estate administration, real estate and closely held business matters. She was admitted to practice in Georgia in 1999.

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Stacy graduated from The Lovett School. Stacy then graduated magna cum laude from Washington & Lee University in 1996 with a B.A. degree in Classics and Economics. At Washington &Lee. She played on the first women’s basketball team, was a member of Kappa, Kappa, Gamma sorority and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Eta Sigma and Omicron Delta Epsilon honor societies.

Stacy graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1999. Stacy was elected to of The Order of the Coif, served as Senior Notes Editor for the International Journal of Comparative and International Law, was awarded The Real Property Law Section Award, and the Welborn B. Cody Scholarship. 

Stacy began her legal career at Long, Aldridge & Norman, LLP in the commercial real estate group. Stacy then became General Counsel for Homes by Williamscraft, Inc., the homebuilding and real estate development company started by her father, Wilmont Williams. When Stacy’s father unexpectedly died in 2015, Stacy experienced firsthand the complexities of the estate administration process for family businesses. Stacy then decided to join Lefkoff, Duncan, Grimes McSwain,  Hass & Hanley, P.C. so that she could utilize her practical and legal experience to help individuals and families navigate the estate planning and estate administration process.

Stacy has been a speaker for several estate planning and fiduciary law seminars at the State Bar of Georgia. She has also presented to the Atlanta Chapter of the “FSP” (Financial Service Professionals”), the GSCPA (Georgia Society of CPA’s) and to other individual groups on the topic of engaging women in the financial and estate planning process.

Serving her local community has always been important to Stacy. Stacy was a member of the Leadership Cobb Class of 2002. She has served on the Wellstar Health Systems Regional Advisory Board of Directors for Kennestone Hospital, the Board of Directors for the Dekalb County Development Authority, the Northside Youth Organization’s Executive Board, and served as Co-President of the Sarah Smith Elementary PTA.  

Stacy is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Atlanta Bar Association, and the Atlanta Estate Planning Council.   

Mr. Timothy Kyle King Related Seminars and Products

Hodges McEachern & King

         T. Kyle King is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).  He is the senior partner at the firm of Hodges, McEachern & King in Peachtree City, and his practice has focused on trust and estate matters since 1997.  Kyle received his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Georgia, he co-chairs the Fiduciary Law Section’s Legislation Committee, and he was the recipient of the Georgia Council of Probate Court Judges’ 2022 Friend of the Council Award.  

Mr. Blake Neisler Melton Related Seminars and Products

The Family Office at Synovus

Blake Melton is a Senior Wealth Strategist with The Family Office at Synovus and a fellow in The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He is a past Chairperson of the Fiduciary Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia and currently serves on its Code Revision and Legislative Committees. He is also active in his local community and is the founder and chair of Standing Boy, Inc., a nonprofit that has constructed nearly 35 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails on the Standing Boy property in north Columbus.

Blake met his wife Jensen while both were attending the University of Georgia School of Law. They have two daughters, Finley and Asher.