Section News

The Nominations Committee, consisting of Chair Stephanie Loomis-Price, Vice-Chair Robert C. Paul, Members Marissa Dungey, Shelby D. Green, and Benjamin Orzeske, met this fall and interviewed Section Officers, Delegates, Council members, Standing Committee Chairs, and Editors of the Section’s publications. The Committee expresses its appreciation to all those who met with the Committee to share their thoughtful insights about the future leadership of the Section.

The Committee has completed its deliberations and hereby submits its nomination of the following persons to serve in the officer capacity noted by each name:

Section Chair: Robert S. Freedman

Section Chair-Elect: Benetta Y. Park

Real Property Division Vice-Chair: Marie A. Moore

Trust & Estate Division Vice-Chair: Ray Prather

Section Secretary: George P. Bernhardt

Section Finance Officer: James R. Carey

Assistant Secretary (Trust & Estate Division): Bruce A. Tannahill

Assistant Secretary (Real Property Division): Timnetra Burruss

Section Delegate: James G. Durham

Diversity Officer: Kellye Curtis Clarke

The following persons are each re-nominated to serve a three-year term on the Section Council:

For the Trust & Estate Division: Mary E. Vandenack

For the Real Property Division: James E. A. Slaton; Jin Liu

The following persons are each nominated to serve an initial three-year term on the Section Council:

For the Trust & Estate Division: Abigail Rosen Earthman; Mary Elizabeth Anderson; David E. Lieberman

For the Real Property Division: Kenneth A. Tinkler; C. Scott Schwefel

The following persons are nominated to fill a two-year unexpired term on Council:

For the Trust & Estate Division: Carole M. Bass

For the Real Property Division: Kim Sandher

The following person is nominated to fill a one-year unexpired term on Council:

For the Real Property Division: D. Joshua Crowfoot

The Nominations Committee requests that, pursuant to Section 6.1(g) of the Section Bylaws, written notice of this report, together with contact information, a biographical statement of each nominated person and such additional information required under the Section Bylaws, be circulated to the Section membership in accordance with the Section Bylaws.

Robert S. Freedman, Carlton Fields, P.A. Tampa, FL

Will automatically assume the position of Section Chair, term ending August 2024. Positions held in Section: Chair, Timesharing and Interval Uses; Member, Continuing Legal Education; Chair, Common Interest Ownership Development; Member, Publications; Member, Technology; Group Chair, Vice-Chair, Council Representative, and Supervisory Council Member, Hospitality, Community Recreation and Common Interest Development; Member, Vice-Chair and Co-Chair, Groups and Substantive; Member, Council; RP Division Vice-Chair; Chair and Member, Planning; Liaison, RP Synergy Summit; Chair-Elect, Officers.

Benetta Y. Park, Johnson Keland Management, Inc. Racine, WI

Nominated for Section Chair-Elect, term ending August 2024. Positions held in Section: TE Vice Chair, Officers; Vice-Chair, International Tax Planning; Co-Chair, CLE; Vice-Chair, Spring Meeting; Member, Community Outreach; Member, Council; TE Division Secretary, Council; Council Rep, TE Practice Groups; Member, Planning; Member, Nominations; Liaison, Section of Taxation; Member, Meetings Task Force; Member, Career Development Task Force; Liaison, TE Synergy Summit.

Marie A. Moore, Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, L.L.C., New Orleans, LA

Nominated for second term as Section Vice-Chair, Real Property Division, term ending August 2024. Positions held in Section: Chair and Vice-Chair, Retail Leasing; Advisor and Member, Diversity and Inclusion; Co-Vice-Chair, Co-Chair, and Member, Corporate Sponsorship; Assoc. Articles Editors for RP and “Last Word” Editor, Probate & Property; Group Chair and Vice-Chair, Leasing Group; Member, Council; Division Vice-Chair and Member, CLE; Member, Planning; SCM and Council Rep, Residential, Multi-Family, and Special Use Group; Advisor and Member, Leadership/ Mentoring Task Force; Co-Chair, Special Committee on ABA Relations; Vice-Chair, Affordable Housing; Member, Groups and Substantive; RP Vice-Chair, Officers; RP Vice Chair, Council; Liaison, Other Groups and Organizations.

Ray Prather, Prather Ebner Wilson LLP, Chicago, IL

Nominated for first term as Section ViceChair, Trust and Estate Division, term ending August 2024. Positions held in Section: Articles Editor and TE Assistant Editor, eReport; Group Chair, Group ViceChair, Chair, Vice Chair and Co-Vice-Chair, Charitable Planning; Member, Corporate Sponsorship; Liaison, LGBT Bar Association; Liaison, ABA Commission on Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity; TE Editor and Member, Publications; Member, Special Committee on ABA Relations; 2023 Council Member, Council Rep, Charitable Planning Organizations Group; Member, Planning.

George P. Bernhardt, Baker Hughes Company, Houston, TX

Nominated for first term as Section Secretary, term ending August 2024. Positions held in Section: Member and Co-Chair, InHouse Counsel; Chair, Industrial Leasing; Member, Special Committee on In-House Counsel; Member, CLE; Group Chair, Group Co-Chair and Group Vice-Chair, Leasing Group; 2023 Member, Council; Council Rep, Joint Legal Education and Uniform Laws Group; Member, Nominations; Member, Planning.

James R. Carey, Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd, Chicago, IL

Nominated for first term as Finance Officer, term ending August 2024. Positions held in Section: Chair and Co-Vice-Chair, Probate & Fiduciary Litigation; Liaison, Section to Dispute Resolution; Council Representative, Group Chair and ViceChair, Litigation, Ethics and Malpractice Group; Co-Chair and Member, Corporate Sponsorship; Member, Task Force on Technology and the Profession; Member, Group and Substantive Committees; Member, Council; Member, Groups and Substantive; Member, Planning, Vice-Chair, Investments.

Bruce A. Tannahill, Mass Mutual, Wichita, KS

Nominated for first term, Assistant Secretary, Trust and Estates Division, term ending August 2024. Positions held in Section: Advisor, Vice-Chair and Member, CLE; Assoc. Articles Editor, Probate & Property; Co-Chair, Operating Businesses.

Timnetra Burruss, Chicago, IL

Nominated for second term, Assistant Secretary, Real Property Division, term ending August 2024. Positions held in Section: Member, Fellows; Member, CLE; Member, Diversity; Vice-Chair, Diversity, and Inclusion; Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Vice-Chair, Multi-Family Residential; Member, Communications, Council, Real Property Division Assistant Secretary.

James G. Durham, University of Dayton School of Law, Dayton, OH

Nominated for first term as Section Delegate, term ending August 2026. Positions held in Section and ABA-wide: Section Secretary; Co-Chair, Career Development and Wellness; Chair, Real Property Division Ethics Committee; Vice-Chair and Group Chair, Practice Management Group; Member, Membership; Member, Task Force on RP Law School Curriculum; Chair and Supervisory Council Member, Legal Education and Uniform Laws Group; Secretary and Member, Council; Liaison, CPR/SOC Joint Committee on Ethics and Professionalism; Advisor and Member, Planning; Member and Vice-Chair, CLE; Liaison and ABA Advisor to ULC Drafting Committee on Uniform Electronic Registry for Residential Mortgage Notes; SCM, RP & TE Legal Education and Uniform Laws Group.

Kellye Curtis Clarke, RGS Title, Alexandria, VA

Nominated for third full term as Diversity Officer, term ending August 2024. Positions held in Section: Member, Fellows; Chair and Vice-Chair, Single Family Residential; Member, Membership; Co-Chair, Vice-Chair, Co-Vice Chair, Member, Diversity and Inclusion; Group Chair and Vice Chair, Residential, Multi-Family and Special Use Group; Member, Nominations; Member, RP Government Submissions Task Force; Member, Council; Liaison, Commission on Homelessness and Poverty; Member, Groups and Substantive; Chair, Co-Chair and Member, Special Committee on ABA Relations; SCM, Real Estate Financing Group; Member, Council; Member, Planning; Council Rep, RP Litigation and Ethics Group; Diversity Officer.

Mary E. Vandenack, Vandenack Weaver LLC, Omaha, NE

Nominated for second term on Council, Trust and Estate Division, term ending August 2026. Positions held in Section and ABA-wide: Member and Co-Chair, Future Practice and Guidance Task Force; CoChair, Economics and Technology of the Practice Small Firm Practice; Vice-Chair, Small Firm Practice; Vice-Chair, Asset Protection Planning; Co-Chair, Emotional and Psychological Issues in Estate Planning; Member, Planning; Liaison, ABA Standing Committee on Technology and Information Systems; Group Co-Chair, Joint Law Practice Management Group; TE Assistant Secretary, Council; ABA Law Practice Division: Editor-in-Chief Law Practice Magazine; Counsel; Women Rainmakers; Vice Chair Futures Task Force; Evolving Business Models; Attorney Well-being; ABA Commission on the Future of the Profession; ABA Commission on Youth At Risk; Member, Council; Member, Nominations; Council Rep, Non-Tax Estate Planning Considerations Group; Member; Special Committee on Career and Wellness; Chair-Elect, Law Practice Division.

James E. A. Slaton, Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann L.L.C., Baton Rouge, LA

Nominated for second term on Council, Real Property Division, term ending August 2026. Positions held in Section: Chair and Vice-Chair, Land Use and Zoning; Group Chair and Vice-Chair, Land Use and Environmental Group; Member, Marketing and Social Media; Member, Conservation Easement Task Force; Chair, Purchase and Sale; Member, Membership; Member, Nominations; Member, CLE; Assistant RP Division Secretary; Member, RP Government Submission; Member, Council.

Jin Liu, Carlton Fields, P.A., Tampa, FL

Nominated for second term on Council, Real Property Division, term ending August 2026. Positions held in Section: Member, Fellows; Co-Vice Chair and Chair, International Investment in Real Estate; Member, Communications; ViceChair and Group Chair, Special Investors and Investment Structure Group; Member, Membership; Member, Publications; Member, CLE; Member, Council; Member, Groups and Substantive; Member, Working Group on Anti-Money Laundering; Council Rep., Residential, Multi-Family and Special Use Group.

Abigail Rosen Earthman, Perkins Coie LLP, Dallas, TX

Nominated for first term on Council, Trust and Estate Division, term ending August 2026. Positions held in Section and ABA-wide: Member, Fellows; Chair, Co-Chair and Liaison, Tax Litigation and Controversy; Chair and Co-Chair, Digital Property; Co-Vice Chair, Skills Training CLE; Fellows Vice-Chair, Membership; Liaison, National Asian Pacific Bar Association to other Groups and Organizations; Member, Special Committee on Career Development and Wellness; Member, Membership; Liaison, ABA Section of Taxation; Chair, TE Practice Group.

Mary Elizabeth Anderson, Wyatt Tarrant & Combs LLP, Louisville, KY

Nominated for first term on Council, Trust and Estate Division, term ending August 2026. Positions held in Section and ABAwide: Vice-Chair, Surrogate Decision Making; Member, Diversity and Inclusion; Group Chair and Group Vice-Chair, Elder Law and Special Needs Planning Group; Member, Community Outreach; RPTE Section Advisor to ULC Drafting Committee on Fundraising through Public Appeals (f/k/a Management of Funds Raised Through Crowdfunding Efforts Act); and ABA Advisor, ULC Drafting Committee on Fundraising through Public Appeals; Liaison, ULC Drafting Committee on Health Care Decisions Act; Assistant Secretary, Council – Trust and Estate Division; Member, Marketing and Social Media; Liaison, ABA Commission on Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity.

David E. Lieberman, Levin Schreder & Carey Ltd., Chicago, IL

Nominated for first term on Council, Trust and Estate Division, term ending August 2026. Positions held in Section and ABAwide: Co-Chair and Vice-Chair, Ethics and Malpractice; Liaison, CPR/SOC Joint Committee on Ethics and the Profession; Co-Chair, Ethics and Professionalism; Member, Future Practice and Guidance Task Force; Co-Chair, Probate & Fiduciary Litigation; Group Chair and Group ViceChair, TE Litigation, Ethics and Malpractice Group; Liaison, ABA Advisor to the ULC Drafting Committee on Conflicts in Law and TE.

Kenneth A. Tinkler Carlton Fields, P.A. Tampa, FL

Nominated for first term on Council, Real Property Division, term ending August 2026. Positions held in Section: Group Chair and Group Vice-Chair, Land Use and Environmental Group; Chair and Vice-Chair, Land Use and Zoning; Liaison, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources; Co-Chair and Vice-Chair, Corporate Sponsorship.

Kim Sandher, Pivotal Law Group PLLC, Seattle, WA

Nominated to fill a two-year unexpired term on Council, Real Property Division, term ending August 2025. Positions held in Section: Member, Fellows; Liaison, YLD Liaison to RP; Member, Community Outreach; Chair and Vice-Chair, Single Family Residential; Member, Membership; Chair and Vice-Chair, Multi-Family Residential; Member, Special Committee on Career and Wellness.

D. Joshua Crowfoot, Crowfoot Law, Chattanooga, TN

Nominated to fill a one-year unexpired term on Council, Real Property Division, term ending August 2024. Positions held in Section: Member, Fellows; Vice-Chair, Retail Leasing; RP Acquisitions Editor, Media/Books Products; Liaison, ABA GP Solo Division; Chair, YLD; Vice-Chair, Senior Housing and Assisted Living; Chair, Young Lawyers Network; Vice-Chair, Purchase and Sale; Vice-Chair, Office Leasing; Chair, Assignment and Subletting.

Carole M. Bass, Sullivan & Worcester LLP, New York, NY

Nominated to fill a two-year unexpired term on Council, Trust and Estate Division, term ending August 2025. Positions held in Section and ABA-wide: Co-Chair, BioEthics; Co-Chair, Vice-Chair and Member, CLE; Co-Chair and Vice-Chair, Non-Tax Issues Affecting the Planning and Administration of Estates and Trusts; Vice-Chair, Spring CLE; Group Co-Chair, Non-Tax Estate Planning Considerations Group; Vice-Chair, National CLE Meeting Division; Ex-Officio, Council; ABA Law Practice Division, Member, Women Rainmakers Committee Board; Co- Chair, Women Rainmakers Webinar Subcommittee; Member, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee; Presidential Appointment, Member, Advisory Committee to the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP).

May 2023

TO: All Members, ABA Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law

FROM: James Durham, Section Secretary

RE: Proposed Amendments to the Section Bylaws

Pursuant to Article 14 of the Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Bylaws, this is notice that approval of proposed amendments to the Section Bylaws will be sought at the Section Annual Business Meeting on August 4, 2023, during the ABA Annual Meeting.

There are many amendments that are simply clean-up, but there also are two substantive amendments to the Bylaws, as follows:

• § 4.5 is amended to rename the position of Section Diversity Officer to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, and there also are amendments to the duties of the DEI Officer.

• Article 9 is deleted to remove from the Bylaws the listing of Section Standing and Special Committees. This change approved by the Section Executive Committee at its meeting on February 16, 2022, and was announced at the Section Council Meeting in Dallas on April 30, 2022.

These amendments are subject to being approved by the Section Council at its meeting in Washington, DC, on May 13, 2023. If approved by the Section and the ABA Board of Governors, the changes will become effective September 1, 2023. A copy of the proposed revised Bylaws may be found at ambar.org/rptebylaws