Samantha M. White

Partner

Denver
T +1.303.764.4054
F +1.303.861.7805

“[Sam’s] key asset is her ability to relate to the client and explain the issues in a way they can understand.”

— Chambers HNW 2017

Overview

Samantha White counsels high net worth families on estate and gift planning, complex estate and trust administration, charitable planning and business succession issues.

In her role, Samantha serves some of the region’s wealthiest families. Her clients include entrepreneurs and their closely held businesses, corporate executives, family offices, corporate trustees and private trust companies. She understands that serving her clients requires collaboration with other advisors across multiple disciplines to implement a comprehensive solution designed to meet the family’s objectives. Sam is the leader of the Denver Office Tax Group.

Select Experience

  • Designed and implemented a gift and sale to an irrevocable trust allowing a family to shift over $200 million in a heavily concentrated stock position and other portfolio assets to future generations while minimizing gift and estate taxes and maintaining control over the assets with the family matriarch.
  • Serves on a team of advisors for a family with a net worth in excess of $700 million with over 160 operating entities all owned by 17 multigenerational trusts.
  • Lead attorney for the Co-Trustees in the ongoing administration of a $200 million estate involving 1,600 well heads throughout various western states. The firm was initially brought into the matter to represent the estate on an audit of the decedent’s gift tax return and assist the client in addressing complex issues surrounding allocation of the decedent’s gift tax and generation-skipping transfer tax exemptions. Secured the client a refund of $500,000 leading to the team taking on the lead role for the trust administration. Also secured an appointed judge with full probate court authority to approve all administrative actions, including approval of a global settlement agreement executed by all beneficiaries which provided for full and final releases of liability for the Co-Trustees as various stages of the administration were implemented.
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Experience

  • Designed and implemented a gift and sale to an irrevocable trust allowing a family to shift over $200 million in a heavily concentrated stock position and other portfolio assets to future generations while minimizing gift and estate taxes and maintaining control over the assets with the family matriarch.
  • Serves on a team of advisors for a family with a net worth in excess of $700 million with over 160 operating entities all owned by 17 multigenerational trusts.
  • Lead attorney for the Co-Trustees in the ongoing administration of a $200 million estate involving 1,600 well heads throughout various western states. The firm was initially brought into the matter to represent the estate on an audit of the decedent’s gift tax return and assist the client in addressing complex issues surrounding allocation of the decedent’s gift tax and generation-skipping transfer tax exemptions. Secured the client a refund of $500,000 leading to the team taking on the lead role for the trust administration. Also secured an appointed judge with full probate court authority to approve all administrative actions, including approval of a global settlement agreement executed by all beneficiaries which provided for full and final releases of liability for the Co-Trustees as various stages of the administration were implemented.
  • Structured an $80 million insurance transaction with partial funding from foreign trusts in Mexico.
  • Representing the British CEO of an American global manufacturer in connection with an estate plan valued at approximately $35 million.
  • Coordinated estate planning matters for several U.S. citizens domiciled abroad in countries such as France, United Kingdom, Poland, Japan, Australia, Belize, Czech Republic, Mexico and Italy, working closely with local counsel and advisors in those countries.
  • Represented the Co-Personal Representatives of foreign estates, helping them achieve the sale and disposition of U.S. based assets while maximizing tax efficiencies under applicable income, estate and gift tax treaties.
  • Frequently advises clients regarding establishing and operating private trust companies in Wyoming and Nevada including compliance measures and best practices to align with currently published IRS guidance.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • Chambers HNW: Private Wealth Law in Colorado (2017 to 2022)
  • Colorado Super Lawyers "Rising Star" (2012 to 2015, 2017 to 2021)

Memberships

  • American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section
  • Colorado Bar Association, Trust and Estates Section
  • Rocky Mountain Estate Planning Council

Publications

Alerts

Community

  • University of Colorado, President’s Gift Planning Advisory Council (2018 to present)
  • National Western Stock Show: Member (2017 to present)
  • Denver Tax Institute, Planning Committee (2018 to present)

Featured Video

When Opportunity is Knocking: Legacy Planning with Low Interest Rates, Volatile Markets and High Transfer Tax Exemptions
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Hear how the economic environment provides opportunity for families to manage their legacies.

Admissions

  • U.S. Tax Court
  • Colorado, 2007

Education

  • LL.M., University of Denver, 2007, Graduate Tax Program
  • J.D., University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2007, Order of St. Ives
  • B.S., University of Wyoming, 2003, cum laude