Husch Blackwell has promoted 13 attorneys to partnership – in Phoenix, they are Eric A. Ess and Benjamin J. Kelly – effective Jan. 1, 2015. “Husch Blackwell’s standards for partnership are high, requiring sustained, elevated levels of performance. Each one of these attorneys has demonstrated professional excellence, exceptional legal skills and client service, and commitment to our firm,” said Husch Blackwell Chairman Maurice Watson.
Eric A. Ess is a member of the firm’s Financial Services industry team and concentrates his practice on estate and tax planning, probate and trust administration, business succession planning and lifetime gift planning for high-net worth individuals and families. He designs and implements estate plans through the preparation of wills, revocable trusts, complex irrevocable trusts and business transfer documents. As part of his practice, he also focuses on the unique considerations common to high-net worth families that are unrelated to tax concerns. Ess received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Saint Louis University School of Law (2006), his Master of Accountancy from Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo. (2003), and his B.S., summa cum laude, from Truman State University (2002).
Benjamin J. Kelly is a member of the firm’s Financial Services industry team. He designs and implements complex estate plans for high-net worth individuals, which include some of the following concepts: sophisticated irrevocable trusts, split-dollar agreements and family partnerships. He also develops core estate planning documents such as wills, revocable living trusts, financial powers of attorney and healthcare powers of attorney. In addition, Kelly helps numerous fiduciaries and beneficiaries in connection with the administration of estates and trusts, including estate tax returns and audits. Kelly is a member of the Central Arizona Estate Planning Counsel and was named a Rising Star by Southwest Super Lawyers (2014). Kelly received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Arizona State University College of Law (2006), and his B.S. in Entrepreneurship from Indiana University (1999).
Husch Blackwell is an industry-focused, full-service litigation and business law firm with locations in 15 U.S. cities and in London. The firm represents national and global leaders in major industries, including energy and natural resources; financial services; food and agribusiness; healthcare, life sciences and pharmaceuticals; real estate, development and construction; and technology, manufacturing and transportation.
