Experience

James Wood is a partner of the firm practicing in the Wealth Management group. His practice focuses on trusts and estate planning, probate, charitable giving and tax planning for individuals and small business owners. He has represented and advised numerous businesses and individuals on a variety of tax and estate planning matters.

Associate, Van Cott Bagley Cornwall & McCarthy, Salt Lake City, Utah (1996-1998); associate, Fabian & Clendenin, Salt Lake City, Utah (1994-1996); law clerk, Honorable Pamela T. Greenwood, Utah Court of Appeals, Salt Lake City, Utah (1993-1994); revenue agent, Internal Revenue Service, Salt Lake City, Utah (1988-1990); tax accountant, Peat Marwick & Main, Los Angeles, California (1985-1987).

Professional Honors & Activities

• Listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2009
• AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell
• Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, 2008 present
• Member, Utah State Bar
• Past President, Utah State Bar Estate Planning Section, 2005-2006
• Member, Utah State Bar Estate Planning Section Uniform Trust Code Review Committee, 2003-2005
• Past Judge Pro Tem, Third District Court, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Certified Public Accountant, California (inactive)

Presentations

• "Crats and Cruts and Clats and Cluts and Other Tongue Twisting Things Like That," 2009 National Planned Giving Council Seminar, Salt Lake City, Oct. 2, 2009
• "EGTRAA, EGTRAA, Read All About It! The Possible Impact of Proposed Federal Legislation on the Federal Estate Tax," Utah State Bar Convention, Sun Valley, Idaho, Jul. 16, 2009
• "Private Foundations," Utah Planned Giving Roundtable CLE Lunch Presentation, Salt Lake City, Utah, Sep. 6, 2006
• "A Few Things You Ought to Know About the Utah Uniform Trust Code," Stoel Rives Estate Planning Section In House CLE Meeting, Midway, Utah, Aug. 31, 2006
• "Everything the Plaintiff's Lawyer Ever Wanted to Know About Tax But Was Afraid to Ask—Taxation of Settlements and Judgments Under Contingency Fee Arrangements," Utah State Bar Summer Meeting, Sun Valley, Idaho, Jul. 2005
• "Circular 230," Stoel Rives Estate Planning Section In House CLE Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, Jun. 9, 2005
• "Charitable Remainder and Charitable Lead Trusts (CRATs, CRUTs, and CLATs), and other Trusts: GRATs, QPRTs, QDOTs, and ESBTs," Sterling Education Services, LLC, Salt Lake City, Utah, Dec. 4, 2003
• "The Use of Revocable Trusts in Estate Planning, Friend or Foe?," Utah State Bar Summer Meeting, Sun Valley, Idaho, Jul. 18, 2003
• "The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (a/k/a The Smoke and Mirrors Tax Act of 2001)," Merrill Lynch, Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah, Jul.-Aug. 2001
• "Tax Planning After Death in Utah (Marital Deduction Planning), Beneficial Credits and Exclusions," Lorman Education Services, Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct. 24, 2000
• "Estate Planning and Individual Retirement Plans," Merrill Lynch, Salt Lake City, Utah, Jun. 2000
• "Incentive Trusts, A Cure for 'Affluenza' or A Ruse for Control Beyond the Grave?," Salt Lake Estate Planning Council, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 17, 2000
• "Family Limited Partnerships in Utah," National Business Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah, Sep. 14, 1999
• "The A's and B's of Trusts and Estate Planning," Merrill Lynch, Salt Lake City, Utah, Mar. 3, 1999

Civic Activities

• Board Member, Westminster College Planned Giving Advisory Board
• Past Board Member, American Lung Association of Utah
• Past Board Member, University of Utah Business Alumni Association
• Past Board Member, Primary Children's Hospital Planned Giving Committee
• Past Board Member, Orphanage Support Services Organization

Education

• University of Utah College of Law, J.D., 1993
  Order of the Coif
  Executive Editor and Staff Member, Utah Law Review
• University of Utah, M.Pr.A. (Master of Professional Accountancy, tax emphasis), 1985
• University of Utah, B.A., Accounting, 1984, cum laude

Admissions

• Utah
• U.S. District Court for the District of Utah
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

Print to word