Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Tax, Employee Benefits and Private Client

Senior Counsel - Corporate and Finance Transactions

Kathleen Sherby is senior counsel in the Private Client Group and a member of the Fiduciary Litigation Team.

Ms. Sherby's practice involves representation of private individuals in all aspects of wealth transfer planning, including the implementation of sophisticated planning techniques involving grantor retained annuity trusts, family limited partnerships/limited liability companies, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts and other similar wealth transfer techniques. A particular focus of her practice is estate planning for retirement benefits, integrating the planning for minimization of transfer tax and income tax with the required minimum distribution rules.

Ms. Sherby has represented both trustees and beneficiaries on a wide variety of fiduciary issues and has advised trustees over the years as to their fiduciary duties in administering trusts. As a member of the fiduciary litigation team, she regularly represents trustees and beneficiaries in court controversies involving a variety of issues relating to the administration of trusts and estates. In addition, Ms. Sherby has represented the taxpayer in estate and gift tax audits, in U.S. District Court, the U.S. Tax Court, and in the Missouri Supreme Court.

Ms. Sherby has represented many business owners in developing an effective business succession plan, which has included strategies to transition the business to the next generation as well as working through the sale of the business where appropriate. She has also advised trustees on handling and selling a business and real estate as unique trust assets.

Ms. Sherby's charitable planning experience includes advising nonprofit organizations regarding gift acceptance policies, and the creation of endowment funds and gift annuity programs. She has assisted estate planning clients in the creation and management of private foundations, and charitable remainder trusts.

Ms. Sherby is a well known national lecturer on all of these topics at significant national conferences.

An active participant in the estate planning bar, Ms. Sherby is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. She is a Past President and a Regent Emeritus of the College and has served as chair of the Employee Benefits in Estate Planning Committee and as Missouri State Chair. She has also served as chair of the Probate and Trust Committee of the Missouri Bar, as chair of the Probate Section of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and as president of the Estate Planning Council of St. Louis.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION:

Fiduciary and tax litigation, estate planning for retirement benefits, charitable planning, planning for privately held businesses including succession planning, all phases of estate planning, post mortem planning and trust administration including fiduciary income taxation and principal and income accounting, and the negotiation and preparation of marital agreements.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT & HONORS The St. Louis University School of Law Hall of Fame (Order of Fleur de Lis)- 2019

Listed in:

High Net Worth 2023: Private Wealth Law Chambers High Net Worth Guide The Best Lawyers in America©, 2024 (St. Louis Lawyer of the Year for Fiduciary Litigation in 2016 and for Trusts and Estates in 2015) Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers™ Who’s Who Legal:  Private Client   Who’s Who in American Law  Who’s Who of American Women  Who’s Who in the Midwest  Madison’s Who’s Who Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers (top 50 female lawyers in Missouri, top 100 lawyers in Missouri

Civic Involvement:

St. Louis Science Center – Board of Trustees, 2000 –2008, and 2010 – Present, Chair of Planned Giving Committee Care and Counseling – Board of Directors, 2018 – Present American Red Cross St. Louis Chapter – Board of Directors, 2000 – 2006, V.P. Finance, 2004-2006 Junior League of St. Louis – Board of Directors, 1989 – 1990 St. Louis University Bequest and Gift Council, 1990 – 2001; Chair, 1997-1998 St. Louis Forum – President, 1995-1996 Girl Scout – Council, Development Committee 1986 – 1990 Alzheimer’s Association Planned Giving Council 1994 – 1996 Children’s Hospital Planned Giving Council 1995 – 2005 Diocesan Investment Trust of Episcopal Diocese of Missouri – Trustee, 1995 – 2001, 2005 – 2011 and 2017 - Present Church Of St. Michael And St. George – Church Vestry, 1997 – 1999, Junior Warden, 1998 – 1999; Endowment Fund Trustee, 1997 to Present; Finance Committee, 1997 to Present PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS Accredited Estate Planner® (Distinguished) Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Member Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel - President 2014 - 2015, Board of Regents 1998 - 2004, and 2010 - 2016, Strategic Planning Task Force - Co-Chair 2004 - 2006; Employee Benefits in Estate Planning Committee, Chair 2008 - 2011, and Member 1990 - Present; Task Force 2000 - Member 1999 - 2001, Fiduciary Litigation Committee, 2001- Present, Missouri State and Midwest Region Chair 2002 - 2007, Membership Selection Committee 2002 - 2010, Chair 2007 - 2008, ACTEC Foundation Board of Directors, 2018 - Present Missouri Bar Association - Probate and Trust Committee - Chair, 1992 - 1994, Probate Law Revision Subcommittee - Chair, 1988 - 1992 Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis - Probate and Trust Section Steering Committee, 1982 - 1996, Probate and Trust Section - Chair, 1986 - 1987 Estate Planning Council of St. Louis - Board Member and Officer, 1982 - 1991, President 1986 - 1987