Michele Mobley
Partner
Michele practices in the area of estate planning. She received her B.A. degree, with honors, from Texas A&M University and her J.D. degree, with honors, from Duke University where she was a member of the Duke Law Journal and was elected to the Order of the Coif. She is licensed to practice in Texas, New York and Florida and before the U.S. Tax Court. She is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas. She has been selected by her peers as a Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, Inc. (2006-present), and as a Texas Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters (2004, 2007-2010) in the area of estate planning and probate. She is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell legal directory. Her practice encompasses a wide range of estate planning subjects, such as wills drafting, trust drafting, estate and trust administration, estate tax, fiduciary income tax, business succession planning, charitable planning and advising non-profits. She has spoken to varied audiences on the subjects of limited liability companies, family limited partnerships, estate planning for the family business owner, planned giving techniques, donor advised funds, legal issues fund raisers face, planning for legacy real estate, planning for retirement assets, and executive compensation.
Duke University, J.D., with high honors, Order of the Coif (1990)
Texas A&M University, B.A., Philosophy; B.A., Physics, both with honors (1987)
Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, 2011
The Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University; Board Member, 2010-2015
Austin Bar Association (Probate and Estate Planning Section; Business, Corporate and Tax Section)
American Bar Association (Section of Taxation; Co-Chair, Employee Benefits Committee, 2000-2004)
State Bar of Texas (Chairman, Estate and Inheritance Tax Committee, Section of Taxation, 2000; Vice Chairman, 1998-1999)
State Bar of New York
State Bar of Florida
The National Committee on Planned Giving, member
The University of Texas at Austin Planned Giving Advisory Board, member
Texas A&M Foundation’s Planned Giving Council, member
Duke University Estate Planning Council, member until 2020
The University of Texas at Austin College of Engineering Foundation Advisory Council, member until 2012
The University of Texas at Austin College of Natural Sciences Foundation Advisory Council, member until 2012
Dean’s Development Council of Texas A&M University College of Liberal Arts
Author/Presenter, “How to Not Fund the Testamentary Trust,” Dallas Bar Association; Probate Trusts and Estate Section, October 2015
Author, “How to Not Fund the Testamentary Trust,” Estate Planning and Community Property Law Journal of Texas Tech University School of Law, Fall 2015
Author/Presenter, “How to Not Fund the Testamentary Trust,” State Bar of Texas Estate Planning and Probate Drafting Course, October 2014
Author/Presenter, “QDOTS: Drafting and Administering Marital Trusts for Non-Citizens,” State Bar of Texas Estate Planning and Probate Drafting Course, October 2013
Author/Presenter, “Transfers of Legacy Real Estate,” State Bar of Texas Estate Planning and Probate Drafting Course, October 2012
Presenter, “Generational Differences in Wealth Planning,” Texas A&M Foundation Seminar, May 2012
Presenter, “Post-Liquidity Event Planning,” ML&R Continuing Education Seminar, November 2011
Author/Presenter, “The Well-Prepared Executive: Personal Wealth Preservation Strategies,” co-presenter with Robert Barbetti of JP Morgan, State Bar of Texas Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course, June 2006
Author/Presenter, “Trust Protectors: Fiduciaries or Not?,” Duke Estate Planning Conference, October 2004
Author/Presenter, “Donor Advised Funds as Alternatives to Private Foundations,” The Trust Company, San Antonio, Texas, October 2004
Author/Presenter with Michael Hatfield and Ryland Howard, “Gifts of Specific Non-Cash Assets,” State Bar of Texas Charitable Giving Course, July 2004
Author/Presenter with Bryan W. Lee and JP Morgan Chase Bank, “Executive Compensation: Options and Beyond,” Austin In-House Counsel Lunch, June 2003
Author/Presenter, “Drafting Fiduciary Powers, Including Trust Protector Provisions,” State Bar of Texas Advanced Drafting: Estate Planning and Probate Course 2002
Author/Presenter, “Legal Issues Fundraisers Face,” State Bar of Texas Representing Nonprofit Organizations Seminar, June 2002
Author, “Donor-Advised Funds: An Alternative to Private Foundations,” Texas Tax Lawyer, May 2002
Author/Presenter, “Planned Giving: Directing Where the Money Goes,” The Financial Planning Association of Greater Austin, February 2002
Author/Presenter, “Donor-Advised Funds: An Alternative to Private Foundations,” The El Paso Planned Giving Council Annual Meeting, July 2001
Texas A&M Foundation presentation on Planned Giving Techniques, 1999 and 2001
Author, “Recent Developments in Estate Tax,” Texas Tax Lawyer, October 2000
Author/Presenter, “Drafting Buy-Sell Agreements,” State Bar of Texas 10th Annual Advanced Drafting: Estate Planning and Probate Course, 1999
Author, “Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts: Transferring Stock While Minimizing Transfer Tax,” Community Bankers’ Update, Spring 1999
Texas Association of Museums, presentation on Planned Giving Techniques, 1998 and 1999
Jenkens & Gilchrist Corporate Luncheon Series, presentation on Pre-IPO Estate Planning, 1997
Lorman Business Institute presentation on Tax-Exempt Organizations and Planned Giving Techniques, 1996 and 1997
Co-Author with Henry Talavera and Riva T. Johnson, “What Are a Spouse’s Rights in Retirement Plans and IRAs?” Estate Planning, March 1996
Independent Bank Services presentation on Family Limited Partnerships, 1996
Presenter, “Key Issues in Estate Planning and Probate in Texas,” National Business Institute, October 1995
Presenter, “Estate Planning for Family Business Owners,” Texas Society of CPAs full-day seminars, 1995-1998
New York State Bar Association presentation on Limited Liability Companies, 1994