Partner
D. Scott
Robinson
D. Scott Robinson is a tax attorney, who focuses his practice on trust and estate planning, tax planning, asset protection planning, trust and estate administration and closely-held business planning. Scott carries an AV® Preeminent™ rating and is known for his innovative and creative thinking. Scott thrives on complexity and is often called upon by fellow tax and trust and estate attorneys and other tax professionals to help find solutions to the “can’t be done” problems. Scott’s practice in both Wyoming and Colorado combined with his trust and tax law expertise enable him to incorporate the “best” multi-jurisdictional tools to accomplish his clients’ objectives.
Scott received a B.S. in Accounting, magna cum laude, from Southern Utah University in 1998, J.D. in 2002 and M.B.A. in 2003 from University of Wyoming and LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Denver in 2009. Scott has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court, the United States District Courts of Wyoming and Colorado and is licensed to practice law in Colorado and Wyoming.
Scott is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, Wyoming Bar Association, Boulder County Estate Planning Council and Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), the leading worldwide professional body for practitioners in the fields of trusts, estates and related matters.
Scott lives in Wyoming with his wife of 27 years, Amy. In his spare time, Scott enjoys spending time with his wife and children, hunting, fishing, backpacking and mountain biking.
Legal Assistant
EDUCATION & ADMISSIONS
LL.M. IN TAXATION
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER, 2009
MASTERS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, 2003
JURIS DOCTOR
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING, 2002
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
SOURTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY, 1998
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
2010
Colorado
2005
U.S. Tax Court
2003
Wyoming
2003
U.S. District Court, District of Wyoming
2003
Professional Associations
Colorado Bar Association, Taxation Law Section
Colorado Bar Association, Trust & Estate Section
Wyoming Bar Association, Trust & Estate Section
American Bar Association, Taxation Section
American Bar Association, Real Property
American Bar Association, Trust and Estate Law Section
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners – US
Boulder Estate Planning Council
Community Involvement
Legal Committee Member – The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, Boulder, Colorado, January 2006 – July 2012
Scoutmaster – Boy Scouts of America, Troop 360, Mountain View District, Longs Peak Council, September 2010 – August 2012
Honors & Awards
Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2013
AV® Preeminent™, Martindale-Hubbell, since 2013
Publications & Appearances
Published Work
“Go West Young Man: The use of Wyoming as situs for cross-jurisdictional trusts”, Co-Author, GGI Newsletter, Geneva Group International, Autumn 2015
“Choice of Entity: The Versatile Limited Liability Company”, Council Notes, Trust & Estate Section, Colorado Bar Association, Spring 2012
Teaching & Speaking Engagements
“Qualified Personal Residence Trusts”, National Business Institute – Top Estate Planning Techniques, June 8, 2015
“Business Entities”, National Business Institute – Top Estate Planning Techniques, June 8, 2015
“Annual Exclusion Gifting”, National Business Institute – Top Estate Planning Techniques, June 8, 2015
“Business Succession Planning”, Co-Presenter, National Business Institute – Estate Planning from A to Z seminar, June 18, 2014
Visiting Professor (Full-Time), Courses taught: Income Taxation, Gift and Estate Taxation, Business Planning, Taxation of Business Entities, University of Wyoming College of Law, 2012 – 2013
AMG National Trust Bank Seminar, The Wyoming Advantage, June 17, 2013
“Wyoming’s Emergence as a Leading Trust Situs Jurisdiction”, First Western Trust Bank, Webinar, July 10, 2012
“Trust Situs Planning: Opportunities and Considerations”, 32nd Annual Estate Planning Retreat, Trust & Estate Section, Colorado Bar Association, Breckenridge, Colorado, June 8-9, 2012
“Giving After You’re Gone: A Primer on Estate Planning & Giving”, Panel Member, 65th Annual Conference on World Affairs, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, April 10, 2012
“Effective vs. Defective Asset Protection Tools”, National Business Institute, Continuing Legal Education Seminar, October 12, 2010
“Combining Leverage Opportunities and Family Business Succession Planning”, CLE Presentation, Privately Held Business Subsection, Business Law Section, Colorado Bar Association, April 23, 2009
“Stimulus, Stabilization, Recovery and Reinvestment: What the recent tax law changes mean to you”, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Longmont, Colorado, April 9, 2009
“Estate Planning with Qualified Retirement Plan Assets”, Luncheon Presentation, Boulder County Chapter of the Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants, June 2006
“Wyoming Estate Planning Basics”, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, September 23, 2003
Lecturer, Operations and Production Management, University of Wyoming College of Business, Fall 2001
Scott’s Blog
Client Alert: Likely Tax Law Changes Aimed at High/Ultra High Net Worth Individuals
Yesterday, Monday, September 13, 2021, morning the House of Democrats released the details of their tax increase proposals. The House Way and Means Committee plans to vote this week on the proposals. A link to the text of the proposals is here. The proposals are in...
Legal Insight: What To Do When A Loved One Dies
When a loved one dies, it is important to know what to do and what not to do. Much of it will depend on whether your loved one had a Last Will and Testament or a Revocable Trust and how the deceased person’s assets are titled at the time of death, since assets can be...
Legal Insight: What is Probate
What is Probate? Probate is a legal proceeding whereby a court appoints a personal representative to administer the estate of a deceased person (the “decedent”). However, not everyone who dies has their estate go through probate. So how do you know if a decedent’s...
In the News
Merritt Named Co-Chair of the Firm’s Trusts, Estates, Probate, and Tax Practice
Shelly Merritt, a partner at Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti, has been named the co-chair of the Firm's Trust, Estates, Probate, and Tax Practice. Merritt has over thirty years of experience representing individuals, families, closely-held businesses, executives, and...
BHGR Introduces the Women’s Leadership Committee
Just in time for Women's History Month, Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP formed and formally introduced the BHGR Women's Leadership Committee. The Women's Leadership Committee is comprised of sixteen female attorneys and was established to recognize and cultivate a...
BHGR Partnership Expands with 2023 Elections
The Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti partnership gathered at our Boulder office on January 31, 2023. In that meeting, attorneys Geoff Williamson and Benjamin Wilson were elected Equity Partners, and Elizabeth Froehlke and DJ Goldfarb were elected Non-Equity Partners,...
Firm Happenings
Updates in California Employment Law: Additional Requirements for Pay Data Reporting and Pay Transparency
Updates in California Employment Law: Additional Requirements for Pay Data Reporting and Pay Transparency On September 27, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 1162 ("SB 1162"), expanding California's data reporting requirements under Government...
Client Alert: What Employers Must Convey Upon Employee Termination or Separation
Colorado's most recent legislative session, concluding in early May, pushed through several new employment-related laws that concern employers and employees alike. Senate Bill (SB) 22-234 should be of particular interest to employers, as it requires employers to...
Client Alert: Colorado Places New Restrictions on Non-Compete Agreements Between Employers and their Employees
Colorado has long disfavored non-compete agreements within the state. Historically, under C.R.S. § 8-2-113, restrictive covenants were void and unenforceable except for under specific circumstances, including: the purchase and sale of a business or the assets of a...