Dentons Sirote is pleased to announce that Tanya K. Shunnara, a shareholder in our Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice, has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), an international organization of approximately 2,400 lawyers, who are peer-elected to membership by demonstrating the highest level of integrity, commitment to the profession, competence and expertise in the preparation of wills and trusts, estate planning, probate, trust administration and related practice areas.

“Election to ACTEC is a tremendous recognition of Tanya’s professional excellence as well as her commitment to her clients and her outstanding reputation among her peers,” said Elizabeth H. Hutchins, co-chair of the Dentons Sirote Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice group. “ACTEC membership has always been important to Dentons Sirote’s estate planning group, and we’re delighted that Tanya will carry on our firm’s active involvement in the organization.”

Shunnara is one of the youngest shareholders to be named to Dentons Sirote’s board of directors. She focuses her practice on counseling families, family offices, business owners, executives and individuals on all aspects of estate and gift planning, estate and trust administration, wealth transfer issues, charitable planned giving, business succession and marital agreements. Shunnara frequently advises fiduciaries on estate and trust administration, assists with the formation and reorganization of closely held corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies and implements leveraged wealth transfer techniques. Shunnara is a frequent presenter at estate planning seminars for lawyers on matters related to estate planning and trust and estate administration and works to promote philanthropy throughout Alabama.

Fellows of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel are leading members of the trust and estate profession who have made a substantial contribution to the field. To become a Fellow of the College, one must be nominated by an active Fellow in good standing and elected by the Board of Regents. One must also have contributed substantially to trust and estate law by lecturing, writing, teaching or being involved in bar activities or in the enactment of significant state or federal legislation; have a well-deserved, outstanding reputation in the field; be a lawyer to whom the other Fellows in one's jurisdiction would readily refer a relevant matter without reservation; be licensed to practice in the highest court of any state or jurisdiction of the United States; and demonstrated exceptional skill in trust and estate law.