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John P. Edgar

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Jack Edgar assists his clients with matters in estate, trust planning, and administration as well as tax and business succession planning issues.

Professional Biography


Mr. Edgar advises high net worth clients in estate and trust planning and administration, as well as related tax and business succession planning issues.

Mr. Edgar's practice includes all aspects of trusts and estates law, including estate planning; advising clients on estate, gift, GST and income tax issues; drafting wills, trusts and other sophisticated planning vehicles; advising trustees and personal representatives; preparing tax returns; administering estates; planning for retirement assets; planning for business succession and other issues for closely held businesses; charitable gift planning; fiduciary litigation and related areas.

He played a key role in the crafting and refinement of the Maryland Trust Act, which delivers the most significant overhaul of Maryland trust law in years. Mr. Edgar served as reporter for the Section Council of the Estate and Trust Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association in its review and drafting of the Act. He also served as the Section Council's liaison to the Trust Committee of the Maryland Bankers Association in that organization's review of the Act. He was a Section Council representative to the General Assembly during the legislative process, testifying before committees and meeting with members of the General Assembly, their staff, and other interested persons over more than four years to discuss and refine the Act.

Mr. Edgar is a former managing director of the Trust Advisory Group at Legg Mason Investment Counsel & Trust Company, where he supervised the corporate trustee, wealth advisory and custody functions of the organization.

He is a frequent author and speaker on estate and trust planning matters.

  • Named as an "Accredited Estate Planner®" by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils
  • Member – American Bar Association
    • Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust
    • Section of Taxation
  • Member – American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
    • Fellow (2003 – present)
  • Member – Baltimore Estate Planning Council
    • Board of Directors (2005 – present) 
    • President (2013 – 2014)
  • Member – Maryland State Bar Association
    • Estate and Trust Law Section
      • Chair (2008 – 2009)
      • Program Chair (1999 – 2008)
    • Estate and Gift Tax Study Group
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Trusts & Estates (2014 – 2025)
  • Named the Best Lawyers® 2020 Trusts and Estates "Lawyer of the Year" in Baltimore
  • Listed in Chambers High Net Worth Guide in Maryland Private Wealth Law (2016 – 2024)
  • Listed in Maryland Super Lawyers, Estate Planning & Probate (2008 – 2024)
  • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Education

  • University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1990
  • Syracuse University, B.A., 1985, magna cum laude
    • Honors Program
    • Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

  • Maryland
  • Court of Appeals of Maryland

John Edgar advises wealthy clients on tax, estate and trust planning and estate administration. He also advises family businesses on their succession planning. One source describes Edgar and his fellow Baker Donelson partner Matthew Mace as 'both very capable lawyers whose Band 1 ranking is deserved.'


[John Edgar] is probably one of the most sophisticated practitioners in the state.


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