From the time she was in 7th grade Sharon wanted to be an attorney, initially because she wanted to join the FBI and a legal education was an option for admission. Later, she was certain she would become a trial attorney- think Perry Mason. That all changed during her first year in law school during mock trial upon realizing that witnesses were not always predictable or truthful. This was not going to work and after more than 10 years, she was rethinking her career path until she took a trusts and estates class.  That class opened her eyes to what her legal career would be.

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Estate planning brought meaningful relationships with families who allowed Sharon to problem solve, not just for taxes and business reasons, but also to address the unique circumstances for each family. Sharon is fairly confident she has the best clients, having worked with some families for decades.

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When families are dealing with the death of a loved one, they are often overwhelmed not only with the loss they experience but also with the myriad of decisions to be made. Sharon has the expertise to guide families through the difficult times with compassion and understanding.

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The desire to work with families began at an early age. Sharon’s father was in the military and she moved every few years early in her life. She became used to meeting new people and adjusting quickly. It seems she has never met a stranger and often forges a strong relationship when working with a new client. In fact, there have been a number of times she was approached by parties on the “other side” of negotiating a probate settlement or a prenuptial agreement, because the party liked her approach and respected her knowledge.

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After entering working a few years in the estate planning field, Sharon realized that to effectively serve her clients, she needed to build a solid understanding of tax law. She returned to law school, taking tax classes at night at Southern Methodist University and received her LL.M. in taxation.

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Equipped with technical expertise and strong people skills, Sharon’s estate planning practice runs the gambit from simple estate plans for people just starting out to representing people with wealth. Some clients need basic wills, powers of attorney and other “disability documents” while others may be best served with a charitable lead or charitable remainder trust, a private foundation, a series of rolling Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts, or a variety of other tools. Working alongside other trusted advisors, Sharon assists small businesses and families in structuring their entities and finds ways to pass on businesses beyond just one generation.

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After two decades in private practice, Sharon took a six-year detour. First as Director of Planned Giving at SMU and then as Vice President of Planned and Endowment Giving for the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. She loved the work but missed the more challenging aspects of a private law practice. So, she is back where she belongs- working with families and small businesses as they plan their futures and address current difficulties.

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Sharon continues to find charitable work important and serves on the Board of Shakespeare Dallas and the Radford and Patricia Crocker Foundation. But, the most important role she has ever played is as mom to her son, Conner. She misses him these days while he is off at college continuing his art education and continuing to grow as a remarkable artist. Conner left behind his dog, Otie, whom Sharon loves. Still, Sharon wonders when Conner might be able to take that big, ole slobbering dog with him!

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Sharon loves to travel with friends, family, and particularly with Conner. She enjoys the Dallas art scene, entertaining,  hiking, reading, and spending time with friends. Okay, she enjoys the arts everywhere she travels, but one of her favorite places to enjoy art is at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts where she volunteered for many years.