James S. Judd

Partner

Denver
T +1.303.764.4065
F +1.303.861.7805

Overview

James Judd focuses his practice on estate planning and tax planning for high-net-worth individuals and business entities.

James designs and implements comprehensive estate and business succession plans in a way that minimizes estate and income tax consequences. Additionally, James manages various state and federal tax controversies, and advises corporations, LLCs, partnerships and nonprofit organizations on how to operate in the most tax-efficient manner.

Clients value James’ ability to offer sound advice on the tax implications for both business and personal endeavors in a simple and understandable way.

Select Experience

  • Drafted and implemented various estate planning documents, including wills, revocable trusts, life insurance trusts, intentionally defective grantor trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, spousal lifetime access trusts, generation-skipping dynasty trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, special needs trusts and charitable trusts.
  • Implemented various "estate freezes" through gift and sale transactions to intentionally defective grantor trusts and grantor retained annuity trusts with assets consisting of closely held business interests, real estate and other investments.
  • Experienced in estate and trust administration, including probate proceedings, federal and state tax returns, modification of trust instruments and settling family disputes.
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Experience

  • Drafted and implemented various estate planning documents, including wills, revocable trusts, life insurance trusts, intentionally defective grantor trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, spousal lifetime access trusts, generation-skipping dynasty trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, special needs trusts and charitable trusts.
  • Implemented various "estate freezes" through gift and sale transactions to intentionally defective grantor trusts and grantor retained annuity trusts with assets consisting of closely held business interests, real estate and other investments.
  • Experienced in estate and trust administration, including probate proceedings, federal and state tax returns, modification of trust instruments and settling family disputes.
  • Designed, implemented and reviewed various business restructurings, including tax-free contributions and formations, tax-free reorganizations, and taxable and nontaxable liquidations.
  • Handled various state and federal income tax controversies.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2021 to 2023)
    • “Ones to Watch” Colorado: Trusts and Estates
  • Colorado Super Lawyers "Rising Star" (2019 to 2023)
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers "Rising Star" (2016 to 2018)

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
    • Taxation Section
    • Estate Planning Section
  • Colorado State Bar Association
    • Taxation Section
    • Estate Planning Section
  • Utah State Bar Association
    • Taxation Section
    • Estate Planning Section

Prior Positions

  • The Honorable Laurie Smith Camp, U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska: Judicial Intern (2011)

Admissions

  • U.S. Tax Court
  • Colorado
  • Utah

Education

  • LL.M., Taxation, Georgetown University Law Center, 2014, with distinction
  • J.D., Creighton University School of Law, 2012, magna cum laude; Creighton Law Review, Senior Editor
  • M.S., Accounting, Southern Utah University, 2009
  • B.S., Accounting, Southern Utah University, 2008