By listening to and understanding her clients’ goals, Laura crafts their estate plans in a manner that implements their wishes in a tax efficient manner.
Overview
Laura counsels clients in all aspects of estate planning, including structuring lifetime gifts, business succession plans and prenuptial agreements. Laura works with family business owners and their advisers to transition business interests to future generations in a tax efficient manner that aligns with the client’s goals while minimizing disruption to the business. She represents corporate and individual fiduciaries in probate and trust administration matters, gift and estate tax filings and audits, and in disputed probate and trust matters. She works collaboratively with financial advisors, accountants, corporate and individual trustees, and beneficiaries to administer estates and trusts efficiently and professionally.
Laura’s patience and experience with large, and sometimes contentious, trusts and estates combine to make her a trusted advisor for clients, especially in stressful times. Her ability to understand disputes from each individual stakeholder’s position helps her craft creative solutions and minimize pain and worry. She is especially gifted at helping business owners craft and implement realistic, tax-savvy succession plans and administering complex, disputed trusts and estates.
Laura chairs the firm's Tax, Trusts and Estates Division and is a member of the firm's Board of Directors.
Experience
Laura served as lead counsel for the special administrator of the estate of Minneapolis recording artist Prince Rogers Nelson, one of the most notable estates in Minnesota history.
Assisted in reforming a client’s trust to reduce multimillion dollar estate tax liability.
Successfully resolved multiple multimillion dollar trust administration disputes outside of court, saving all parties significant associated legal fees.
Negotiated multimillion dollar estate tax audits with state and federal taxing authorities.
Laura routinely assists clients with directed trusts, trust reformations, non-judicial settlement agreements and decanting trusts.
Laura helps ultra-high net worth business owners and families meet a variety of business and personal objectives while minimizing gift and estate taxes.
News & Insights
News
Speaking Engagements
Speaker, "Estate Planning & Fiduciary Litigation Seminar," Kansas City, Minneapolis, September 2022
Panelist, "Developing an Estate Plan That Includes Charitable Giving and Trusts: A Scenario-Based Discussion," November 16, 2021
Speaker, Last Steps: The Final Account Will Closing and Distributing the Estate, January 12, 2021
Panelist, "Large Estates Panel: What to do in Anticipation of the 2020 Election – Act or Wait?" October 16, 2020
Speaker, Drafting for Retired Couples with Adult Children and Grandchildren Seminar, December 10, 2019
Panelist, “Planning to Avoid Litigation: Lessons Learned Panel,” Stinson LLP Estate Planning & Fiduciary Litigation Seminar, October 3, 2019
Panelist, “Planning Strategies Under the 2017 Tax Act: What to Do With All That Exemption,” 2019 Minnesota Probate & Trust Law Section Conference, June 10, 2019
Panelist, “Minnesota Trust Code Update,” Stinson LLP Estate Planning & Fiduciary Litigation Seminar, October 5, 2017
Speaker, “That's Not My Duty! Conflicts of Interest in Estate Planning,” Probate & Trust Law Section, Minnesota State Bar Association, March 17, 2016
Speaker, “Cross-Country Estate Planning: Keeping the Nest Feathered for Snowbirds,” Probate & Trust Law Section, Hennepin County Bar Association, April 27, 2009
Speaker, “Estate Planning for Non-Traditional Families,” Probate & Trust Law Section, Hennepin County Bar Association, April 23, 2007
Publications
Recognitions
Recognitions
Recognized among 2023’s "Top Women in Finance" by Finance & Commerce
Recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in the area of Private Wealth Law in Minnesota, 2020-2023
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® list
Selected for inclusion on the Minnesota Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists,
Honored with the North Star Lawyer award from the Minnesota State Bar Association for volunteering more than 50 hours to pro bono service, 2014-2019 & 2022
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
Ordway, Board Member - Secretary, Advancement Planning Committee
Former Friends School of Minnesota, Executive Committee, School Committee, Recording Clerk and Former Co-Chair of Development Committee
Volunteer mediator for Hennepin County Probate Court
American Bar Association
Minnesota State Bar Association
- Former Chair, Probate & Trust Law Section Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee
Hennepin County Bar Association
Arizona Bar Association
Wisconsin Bar Association
William Mitchell College of Law, Former Adjunct Professor
University of Wisconsin Women in Philanthropy-Twin Cities Chapter, Charter Member
University of Wisconsin Law School Employment at Graduation Task Force, Former Member
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- Minnesota
- Arizona
- Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. Tax Court
Education
University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., cum laude
University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.B.A., Finance and Management, with distinction
