John M Collins
Private Clients and Estate Planning
Our Private Clients and Estate Planning attorneys provide a unique service to the firm's high net worth families and their closely-held businesses. Our approach permits our clients to work intimately with a small group of trusted advisors who have access to the resources and expertise of an international law firm. We integrate sophisticated family wealth planning, estate and tax planning, and business planning with a variety of other legal services. Our comprehensive approach provides our clients with efficiencies and economies of scale, and ensures an integrated analysis of their family, financial, and business issues. It also assures our clients and their families of a consistent source of guidance and support with respect to their planning matters.
Many of our most enduring relationships involve three or four generations, and clients with multiple layers of trusts, one or more charitable foundations, and numerous business activities and interests. We can provide the necessary sophisticated planning, but we are also sensitive to and experienced with the family and personal issues that are important to our clients.
Our primary practices include Family Wealth and Estate Planning, Trust and Estate Administration, and Tax-Exempt Organizations and Private Foundations.
Family Wealth and Estate Planning
Our attorneys counsel individuals, entrepreneurs, family businesses, and families of substantial wealth regarding estate planning and wealth preservation, as well as business succession issues. We facilitate clients’ comprehensive planning goals, which may include the minimization of taxes, international planning, charitable gifts, retirement planning, wealth preservation/asset protection, marital property planning, and negotiating and structuring family business transactions.
Trust and Estate Administration
We represent and counsel executors and trustees in the administration and management of complex estates and trusts, as well as fiduciary litigation and other controversies. Representative matters include advice regarding the Texas Trust Code, conflict of interest issues, interpretation of ambiguous will or trust provisions, and investment decisions.
Tax-Exempt Organizations and Private Foundations
Our attorneys advise public charities, private foundations, and other tax-exempt organizations with respect to formation, recognition of tax-exempt status, governance, and operational matters.
Fellow - American College of Trust & Estate Counsel
John M Collins
Haynes & Boone LLP
1 Houston Center #2100
1221 McKinney St
Houston TX 77010
Tel: 214 651-5564
Fax: 214 200-0719
E-mail: john.collins@haynesboone.com
Areas of Practice
* Private Clients and Estate Planning
* Family Wealth and Estate Planning
* Tax-Exempt Organizations and Private Foundations
* Trust and Estate Administration
* Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation
* Capital Commitment Subscription Financings
* Investment Funds
* Investment Fund Tax
* Counseling for Plan Fiduciaries
* ESOPs and Other Stock-Based Plans
* Executive and Incentive Compensation
* Government Audits and Investigations
* Health and Welfare Plans
* Retirement Plan Design and Counseling
Mr. Collins has more than 30 years experience in several areas of tax practice, including estate planning, family wealth planning, charitable organizations, and employee benefits and executive compensation matters. He has been recognized as one of the best trusts and estate lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine (2008-2009 and multiple prior years), a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly Magazine (2007-2009), and he is listed in the Best Lawyers in America in Employee Benefits Law and Trusts and Estates (2009-2010) (Woodward/White, Inc.)
Selected Client Representations
* Estate and personal tax planning for individuals and families, including succession planning for closely-held businesses, establishment of charitable trusts and foundations, and family limited partnerships.
* Family wealth planning, including the numerous sophisticated strategies to minimize estate, gift and generation skipping transfer taxes.
* Employment agreements, severance agreements, code section 162(m) and golden parachute issues, and incentive bonus plans.
* Representing businesses in all types of ERISA-related issues, including employee benefits, health plans, executive compensation, deferred compensation plans, and compensation agreements.
* Design and implementation of all types of equity compensation plans, including stock options, restricted stock, ESOPs, qualified employee stock purchase plans, phantom stock, and stock appreciation rights.
* Planning transactions involving the use of ESOPs in corporate finance and restructuring, representing and advising fiduciaries, and representing borrowers and lenders in pension plan transactions.
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