PARTNER

PRACTICE AREAS

Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Administration, Business Formation & Succession, Disputes, Expert Testimony, Taxation

Tom is a partner at Yates Campbell LLP in Fairfax, VA. His practice concentrates on sophisticated estate planning and the administration of complex estates and trusts. He is a fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel where he currently serves as State Chair in Virginia and as a member of the Membership Committee in Virginia. Tom currently serves as a member of the Legislative Committee of the Virginia Bar Association Trusts and Estates Section where he formerly served as chair. 


Also, he currently serves as an adjunct professor in Trusts and Estates at the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School and as Co-Chair of the Virginia Conner-Zaritsky Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Administration Seminar.


Tom has spoken at numerous continuing legal education seminars including at the University of Miami School of Law Heckerling Institute of Estate Planning, the Conner-Zaritsky Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Administration Seminar, American College of Trusts and Estates events, and the Southern Federal Tax Institute on various topics concerning estate planning and estate and trust administration.

BEST WAY TO CONTACT TOM


Call the office at (703) 273-4230 and speak to Tom, or speak to his assistant, Kim, about an appointment.

Representation Experience

Tom handles the following types of matters, among others:

  • The design and preparation of estate plans, including planning to avoid probate and to minimize estate and gift taxation;
  • The administration of trusts and estates including probate of wills and filings with the Commissioner of Accounts; 
  • Federal estate tax audits;
  • The preparation and review of estate income and trust income tax returns;
  • The modification and termination of irrevocable trusts;
  • Disputes over trusts and estates;
  • Business succession planning; and 
  • Planning for charitable giving.

Bar Admissions

  • Virginia 1996

Education

  • George Mason University, J.D., 1995
  • University of Virginia; B.A., 1991



Professional Organizations

  • Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (Virginia State Chair, member of Virginia Nominating Committee, ACTEC Southeast Fellows Institute Senior Advisory Committee member, National Fiduciary Income Tax Committee member, National State Laws Committee member)


  • Virginia Bar Association - Wills, Trusts and Estates Section and Legislative Committee (2009 to present), President (2019-2021), Vice President (2017-2019), Secretary (2015-2016), Member of Council, Subcommittee Chairs - Inconsistencies between Wills and Trusts, and Will Contests issues


  • Connor-Zaritsky Advanced Estate Planning and Estate Administration Seminar, Planning Committee (2019 to present)


  • Fairfax Bar Association, Wills and Trusts Section


  • Northern Virginia Estate Planning Council


  • Virginia State Bar, Wills and Trusts Section, member of Board of Governors (2002 - 2008)


  • Adjunct Professor, Antonin Scalia School of Law, George Mason University, Trusts and Estates, Spring 2023 and Spring 2024


Speaking Engagements

Tom has spoken at numerous continuing legal education seminars for Virginia Continuing Legal Education, the Fairfax Bar Association, and the Arlington Bar Association on various topics concerning estate planning and estate and trust administration. The complete list can be found here:



  • Continuing Legal Education Seminars

    1. National Presentations - Four Weeks and a Funeral: Considerations for the Two Weeks Prior to Death and the Two Weeks After Death, 2025 Southern Federal Tax Institute (Atlanta, GA), 2025 University of Miami School of Law, 59th Annual Heckerling Institute (Orlando, FL)

    2. Virginia Law Foundation - Virginia Continuing Legal Education

    • Hope for the Best but Plan for the Worst: What Estate Planners Should Know About Creditors' Rights and Asset Protection, 2022 Connor-Zaritsky Advanced Estate Planning and Estate Administration Seminar (co-author and co-lecturer)
    • Four Weeks and a Funeral: Considerations for the Two Weeks Prior to Death and the Two Weeks After Death, 2021 Connor-Zaritsky Advanced Estate Planning and Estate Administration Seminar (co-author and co-lecturer)
    • Five Pressing Issues for Trusts and Estates Lawyers, 2023 Annual Trusts and Estates Seminar (panelist)
    • Virginia Legislative Update - Annual Trusts and Estates Seminars (lecturer) (Annually 10/2011 - 10/2015) (2018 - 2022, co-author in 2021 & 2022)
    • Basic Estate Planning and Trust Administration -Bridge The Gap Seminar (lecturer) (Annually 10/1998 - 10/2011)
    • Filing with the Commissioner of Accounts: What Lawyers Need to Know-Death and Taxes: Putting It All Together (co-author and lecturer) (11/2008)
    • Practical Aspects of Preparing the Final Individual Income Tax Return -Death and Taxes: Putting It All Together (co­ author and lecturer) (11/2008)
    • Ethics in Representing Fiduciaries and Beneficiaries - 26th Annual Trusts and Estates Seminar (co-author and panelist) (10/2008)
    • Roadmap for Administering Revocable Trusts After Settlor's Death -Trust Administration (co-author, lecturer, and panelist) (8/2008)
    • Trusts and Estate Ethics Panel Discussion - Trust Administration (co-author and panelist) (6/2008)
    • Question and Answer Panel - Trust Administration (panelist) (6/2008)
    • Divorce and Family Law Consideration for Estate Planning Attorneys -24th Annual Trusts and Estate Seminar (co­ author and lecturer) (11/2005)
    • Practical Ethical Considerations for the Trusts and Estates Lawyer - 23rd Annual Trusts and Estate Seminar (co-author and lecturer) (11/2004)
    • Premarital Agreements - 22nd Annual Trusts and Estate Seminar (lecturer) (11/2003)
    • Non-Tax Estate Planning Issues - 22nd Annual Trusts and Estate Seminar (lecturer) (11/2003)
    • Estate Planning for the Dying Client: Threshold Issues -­ Intermediate Estate Planning Seminar (co-author and moderator) (3/2001)
    • Gift Planning - Intermediate Estate Planning (co-author and lecturer) (3/2000)
    • Fiduciary Income Taxation - 18th Annual Trusts and Estates Seminar (co-author and lecturer) (11/1999)
    • Disclaimers, GRATs & QPRTS (3 separate presentations) Intermediate Estate Planning (lecturer) (3/1999)

    3. American College of Trust and Estates Counsel Meetings

    • Four Weeks and a Funeral: Considerations for the Two Weeks Prior to Death and Two Weeks After Death, 2022 ACTEC Southeast Regional Meeting (co-lecturer and co-author) (9/2022) 2023 Fall National Meeting (co-lecturer and co-author) (10/2023) and Southeast Fellows Institute (5/2024)
    • Presentation on Boyle v. Anderson case, 2022 ACTEC National Meeting, State Laws Committee, Banff Canada (presenter) (6/2022)
    • Presentation on Palmero v. USA case, 2023 ACTEC Fall National Meeting (Louisville, KY) (presenter)
    • Southeast Region Law update for Virginia Law, Southeast Fellows Institute (5/2023 and 5/2024)

    4. Fairfax Bar Association

    • Practical Considerations for Estate Planning and Estate Administration in Context of Pre-Marital Agreements (author and lecturer) (9/2016)
    • Virginia Legislative Update (lecturer) (5/2008)
    • Virginia Estate Tax (lecturer) (1/2004)
    • Estate Administration in Fairfax County (co-author and lecturer) (9/1999)
    • Preparation of Estate Tax Returns (co-author and lecturer) (3/1999)

    5. Arlington Bar Association

    • Virginia's New Augmented Estates System (author and lecturer) (1/2017)
    • Augmented Estate (co-author and lecturer) (2/2001)

    6.Virginia Bar Association

    • Wills and Revocable Trusts: Functional Equivalents with Significant Differences (co-author and lecturer) (6/2018)
    • COVID Estate Planning Issues (6/2020) (lecturer)
    • McLean Estate Planning Council
    • Virginia's New Augmented Estates System (author and lecturer) (2/2017)

  • Publications

    1. Drafting the Trust, Estate Planning in Virginia, Virginia CLE Publication, 6th Edition, Co-Editor (2022)
    2. Virginia Domestic Asset Protections Trusts, Chapter 17 of ABA Domestic Asset Protection Trusts: A Practical and Resource Manual, American Bar Association, Co-Editor (To Be Published)
    3. Maximizing the Basis of Difficult-to-Value Assets in Non-Taxable Estates Without Getting Into Trouble, Virginia State Bar Trusts and Estate Section Newsletter, Spring 2015 (Co-Author)
    4. Wills & Revocable Trusts:  Functional Equivalents Construed Differently, Virginia State Bar Trusts and Estate Section Newsletter, Summer 2016 (Co-author)

  • Civic Organizations

    1. Falls Church Anglican Church (member of Vestry, member of real estate board, current Finance Committee Chair, former Chancellor)
    2. Fairfax City Rotary (1998 to present) (former Board member, Rotarian of the Year 2003, Paul Harris Fellow, Service Above Self Award 2016, former Interact Club Representative)
    3. Trinity Christian School (member of Board of Trustees, member of Finance Committee)
    4. Truro Church - former member of Vestry (board)
    5. Sudan Sunrise (former member of Board)