Douglas (Doug) Stanley counsels and advises clients, including high net-worth individuals, professionals and entrepreneurs, on a wide range of sophisticated estate planning, tax and fiduciary matters. His broad practice includes estate planning and administration as well as income tax planning, with a particular emphasis in the areas of wealth transfer tax planning and wealth transfer strategies. Mr. Stanley has experience in individual estate administration, closely-held business succession planning, asset protection and tax financial planning. A significant portion of his practice is dedicated to fiduciary conflict resolution and tax controversy work, including representation of clients in trust and estate administration disputes in local courts, during IRS audits and in the U.S. Tax Court. He is frequently called upon to speak on fiduciary topics throughout the United States and has been quoted or featured by The Wall Street Journal, CNN and Financial Planning. Mr. Stanley is currently an adjunct professor in Tax at Washington University School of Law.

Mr. Stanley has developed many detailed and specialized estate plans which have included revocable trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies, irrevocable defective grantor trusts, and private annuities. Additionally, he has experience with life insurance trusts, retirement account analysis, planning for non-U.S. citizens, charitable trusts, foundations and other charitable planning. Mr. Stanley routinely negotiates and prepares premarital and postmarital agreements to coordinate with an individual’s estate planning goals. Prior to law school, Mr. Stanley practiced as a CPA with an international accounting firm.

Bar and Court Admissions

Missouri, 1995

Arkansas, 1991

Illinois, 2002

United States Tax Court

Education

Washington University, J.D., Order of the Coif, 1991

University of Central Arkansas, B.A., 1985

Speeches and Seminars

• "Dealing with Conflicts Between a Fiduciary and Beneficiaries," MOKAN Conference, Overland Park, Kansas, May 2012
• "What You Need To Do Now In Estate Planning," Ohio Society of CPAs, Columbus, Ohio, December 2011
• "Use of Charitable Lead Trusts," Employees of St. Louis Children's Hospital and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, October 2011
• "Role of A Fiduciary In Estate Planning," Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, October 2009
• "Gift and Estate Tax: Procedure and Strategy," NBI, December 2008

• "Successful Wealth Transfer Techniques in Missouri," NBI, November 2004
• Panel member – Probate and trust law segment of "Legally Speaking in St. Louis," cable TV show sponsored by the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, November 2003
• "Family Limited Partnership Formation" seminar, Family Limited Partnership Series sponsored by the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, September 2002
• "How to Draft Wills and Trusts in Missouri," NBI, February 2002

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis – Member and immediate past Chair, Probate and Trust Law Steering Committee
• Estate Planning Council of St. Louis

Civic Involvement and Honors

• Washington University School of Law - Adjunct Professor, LL.M. in Taxation program since 2001
• City of Webster Groves, Missouri - Member, Board of Adjustment
• St. Louis Children’s Hospital - Member and former Chairman, Children’s Legacy Advisors Leadership Board
• St. Louis Children's Hospital Foundation - Member, Board of Directors
• YouthBridge Community Foundation - Member, Board of Directors