Robin A. Smith began her legal career in 1999 and focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning, trust administration, non-profit organizations, tax and real estate.
Prior to forming Butcher and Smith Law, she worked for some of the top firms in the Pacific Northwest, including: Stoel Rives, Preston Gates & Ellis, Miller Nash, and the boutique estate planning firm Thede, Culpepper, Moore Munro & Silliman. In addition to practicing law, she has taught Charitable Giving and Tax Exempt Organizations in the University of Washington Graduate Program in Taxation. She also worked as a Senior Trust Officer for West Coast Trust before its merger with Columbia Bank. This broad range of professional experience enables Ms. Smith to provide a unique perspective to her clients.
Ms. Smith enjoys working closely with her clients to assist them in choosing how to best address their legal needs. She believes that it is important for her clients to understand the laws that apply to their particular situation and takes time to listen and answer questions. Ms. Smith also understands the value of a team approach to problem solving and appreciates the expertise that her client’s investment, insurance, accounting, real estate and other professional advisors can bring to the table.
Ms. Smith has an LLM in Tax Law from NYU School of Law. Her background in federal and state tax law allows her to anticipate and incorporate tax saving provisions in her client’s estate plans. She designs estate plans for high net worth individuals as well as more modest estates. Ms. Smith assists her estate planning clients in developing creative solutions to complicating factors such as second marriages, disabled children, family businesses, charitable giving and vacation and investment properties. She also assists clients with will and trust disputes, guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, and pre-marital, community property and post-marital agreements
Ms. Smith has extensive experience in the formation and operation of non-profit organizations. She has assisted in the creation of numerous public charities and private foundations. Ms. Smith’s nonprofit clients have included all types of entities from small local organizations to high-profile private foundations, universities and hospitals. Ms. Smith has had the good fortune of working with clients on a broad range of issues including creating scholarship programs, developing international programs and negotiating with the Internal Revenue Service.
Ms. Smith’s interest in real estate investment and preservation has resulted in her developing a unique real estate practice. She loves to consult with her estate planning clients on retaining family vacation homes and funding charitable remainder trusts with appreciated real property. Ms. Smith assists clients in negotiating purchases, sales and leases for residential and investment property. She has also worked with clients to weigh the possible tax benefits of donating both environmental and historic preservation easements to non-profit organizations.
Education
B.S. Hamilton College, 1990
M.S. University of Oregon, 1997
J.D. University of Oregon, 1997
LLM in Taxation, New York University, 1999
Memberships
- Oregon State Bar
- Washington State Bar
- The Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar Estate Planning & Administration Section
- The Estate Planning Council of Portland
- Oregon State Bar Elder Law Section
- Oregon State Bar Nonprofit Organizations Section
- Multnomah County Bar Association
- Washington State Bar Real Property and Probate Section
Publications and Seminars
“Hot Topics in Estate Planning and Administration,” Philip Jones, Robin A. Smith, Margaret Vining, Katharine West and Eric Wieland, Oregon State Bar Association Conference titled “Basic Estate Planning and Administration,” Portland, OR (November 17, 2017).
“Creative Opportunities for Charitable Giving,” Robin A. Smith and Rebecca Bibleheimer, Oregon State Bar Association Conference titled “Advanced estate Planning and Administration,” Portland, OR (June 14, 2019).
“The Role of Gifting in the Taxable Estate,” Robin A. Smith and Christopher Clark, Oregon State Bar Association Conference titled, “Basic Estate Planning for Oregon Taxable Estates,” Portland, OR (November 15, 2019).
“Estate Planning Ethics Questions,” Philip Jones, Robin A. Smith, Margaret Vining, Katharine West and Eric Wieland, Oregon State Bar Association Conference titled “Advanced Estate Planning and Administration,” Portland, OR (June 10, 2016).
“Passing the Family Residence or Vacation Home to the Next Generation,” Robin A. Smith, Oregon State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Conference titled "Basic Estate Planning," Portland, OR (November 21, 2014).
“Trust Administration Issues to Consider in Drafting,” Robin A. Smith and Mary Lago, Oregon State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Conference titled "Advanced Estate Planning," Portland, OR (June 14, 2013).
“Revocable to Irrevocable, Key Administration Issues,” Oregon State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Conference titled “Administering the Basic Estate and Trust, Not so Basic Anymore,” Portland, OR (November 18, 2011).
“Charitable Remainder Trusts: Problems and Exit Strategies,” Oregon Community Foundation Continuing Education Series, Salem, OR (October 26, 2007).
“Charitable Giving,” Washington State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Conference titled “Estate Planning for Small to Medium Sized Estates,” Seattle, WA (February 3, 2006).
“Serving as a Director of a Washington Nonprofit Corporation,” Preston Gates & Ellis In-house Continuing Legal Education Series, Seattle, WA (January 9, 2003).
“Linked Organizations: When One Isn’t Enough,” Oregon State Bar Continuing Legal Education Program Conference titled “Advising Nonprofits,” Portland, OR (November 21, 2001).
The Provision of Campus Lodging by Educational Institutions, The Exempt Organizations Tax Review, Volume 32, No. 2, (May, 2001).
The Use of Supporting Organizations as an Alternative to Private Foundations, Oregon State Bar Estate Planning and Administration Section Newsletter, Volume XVII, No. 4, (October, 2000).
“The Formation of Nonprofit Organizations,” Multnomah County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Young Lawyer’s Series Conference, Portland, OR (October 30, 2000).
Direct Dial: (503) 290-2426
Robin@butchersmithlaw.com
520 SW Yamhill Street
Suite 1000
Portland, Oregon 97204
(503) 972-7380