Profile

Brett Berly is a Shareholder in the Firm’s Trusts & Estates section. He focuses his practice on the representation of high net-worth individuals and fiduciaries of trusts and estates with respect to estate planning, probate, estate and trust administration, closely-held business succession planning as well as probate and fiduciary litigation matters. 

As a cancer survivor, Brett brings a unique perspective to his practice, drawing on his personal experience to help structure plans for clients that satisfy both their personal and financial goals and objectives.

Seminars & Presentations

• What just happened and what do I do now – Transfer planning ideas in uncertain times and how to report them (2021)
• Storm preppers: estate planning style (2020)
• When parting isn’t sorrow: A discussion of disclaimers in estate planning (2019)
• Simplicity – The estate planner’s white whale: Estate planning for the (currently) Non-taxable estate (2018)
• The heart of darkness: A journey into the GST Jungle (2017)
• In God we trust; All others must pay cash: Best practices for intra family loans (2017)
• The proposed §2704 regulations:  Is this Grinch going to steal your Christmas ? (2016)
• The family game of thrones:  A Planner's guide to drafting effective business succession plans (2015)
• To Love, Honor and maintain separate property:  an estate planner's guide to protecting a spouse's property rights (2014)
• You can’t take it with you... but your spouse can!: How portability works and what it means for you and your clients (2014)
• The rollercoaster has finally stopped!:  Estate planning in 2013 and beyond (2013)
• The 123s of GST what every practitioner should know about the generation-skipping transfer tax (2012)
• Focusing on what matters:  Changing laws, family dynamics, and how they impact a successful estate plan (2012)
• The full monty on closely held business planning:  Creating a plan that covers all angles (2011)
• Cross border tax issues (2011)
• The tax that flew over the cuckoo’s nest – sorting through the insanity that is the federal estate tax (2010)
• Planning pitfalls and possibilities with retirement account beneficiary designations (2010)
• Is it time to trust your IRA beneficiary designation?  A discussion of the issues related to designating a trust as the beneficiary of your retirement account  (2009)
• An estate planning potluck! A discussion of legislative developments, recent FLP cases, retirement account planning strategies and alternate valuation issues (2009)
• So, you live in MONACO?  Asset protection planning for the rest of us (2008)
• Procrastination – How to guarantee adverse tax consequences for retirement assets at death (2007)
• Desperate clients:  A selection of estate, gift and Income tax issues for the residents of wisteria lane (2007)
• What is it worth?  An overview of valuation Issues, applicable statutes of limitation and accuracy related penalties impacting estate and gift returns (2006)

Professional and Charitable Affiliations

• Camp For All, Member of the Board of Directors and Past Chairman of the Young Professionals Board of Directors
• Houston Estate and Financial Forum, Director
• Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Exam Commission Member - Estate Planning and Probate Law
• Texas Bar CLE, Estate Planning and Probate Intermediate Course Planning Committee Member, 2016, 2017
• American Law Institute CLE Estate Planning, Law Advisory Panel Member, 2016 - Present
• Texas Young Lawyers Association 
• American Bar Association, Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust
• State Bar of Texas, Real Estate, Probate and Trusts Section
• Houston Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Section
• Adopt an Angel Program, Firm Liaison, 2009 - Present

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