Professor Gerry W. Beyer
Governor Preston E. Smith Regents Professor of Law
Texas Tech University School of Law
https://professorbeyer.com/index.html
Gerry W. Beyer joined the faculty of the Texas Tech University School of Law in June 2005 as the first holder of the Governor Preston E. Smith Regents Professorship. Previously, Prof. Beyer taught as a professor or visiting professor at several other law schools including Boston College, The Ohio State University, Southern Methodist University, the University of New Mexico, Santa Clara University, St. Mary’s University, and La Trobe University (Australia). He is the recipient of dozens of outstanding and distinguished faculty awards including the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, the most prestigious university-wide teaching award at Texas Tech. Prof. Beyer was also the recipient of the 2012-2013 Outstanding Researcher Award (Law) and the 2015 President’s Academic Achievement Award.
As a state and nationally recognized expert in estate planning, Prof. Beyer was inducted into the National Association of Estate Planning Councils' Estate Planning Hall of Fame in November 2015. He is a highly sought after lecturer and presents dozens of continuing legal education presentations each year for many state and local bar associations, universities, and civic groups.
Prof. Beyer is the editor of the most popular estate planning blawg in the nation which for the past six years was named to the ABA Journal's Blawg 100 and was awarded ABA Blawg 100 Hall of Fame status in December 2015. He has authored and co-authored numerous books and articles focusing on various aspects of estate planning, including a two volume treatise on Texas wills law, an estate planning casebook, and the Wills, Trusts, and Estates volume of the Examples & Explanations series. He has three times won awards from the American Bar Association’s Probate & Property magazine for his writing and is one of the most often downloaded law authors on the Social Science Research Network. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the REPTL Reporter, the official journal of the Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.
Prof. Beyer serves as a mentor to many students and various law school organizations as well participating regularly in pro bono activities. He is the advisor for the Estate Planning and Community Property Law Journal and its annual seminar.
Professor Beyer received his J.D. from the Ohio State University and his LL.M. and J.S.D. degrees from the University of Illinois. He is a member of the Order of the Coif, an Academic Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and a member of the American Law Institute.
Ms. Maya Brill
SVP, Senior Wealth Strategist
Regions Bank
Maya is a member of the Wealth Planning Group serving closely held business owners and high/ultra-high net worth individuals within Regions' Private Wealth Management. Maya's focus is developing strategic business succession planning as well as advanced estate planning. She approaches her clients' needs with a view towards wealth reservation and protection, but with an acute awareness that everyone has unique family dynamics that require balancing tax efficiencies with personal family needs.
Maya began her career with Andersen, a national tax firm servicing ultra-high net worth individuals and entities. While at Andersen, she specialized in multi-generational complex wealth transfer techniques. Her focus included corporate, partnership, and individual income taxes; and estate, gift, and generation skipping transfer taxes. She subsequently joined Comerica Bank as a Senior Wealth Strategist and Business Owner Advisor where she advised business owners and their families on successful exit planning coupled with sophisticated estate planning techniques.
Maya holds the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) credential and earned her LL.M-Tax from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles; J.D. from UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings); and B.A. in Political Science from UC San Diego.
Mr. Riley John Busenlener
Vice President
Chaffe & Associates, Inc
http://www.chaffe-associates.com
Mr. Busenlener is the Vice President of the Valuation Advisory group with over 18 years of experience in accounting, corporate finance, and business valuations. He joined Chaffe & Associates, Inc. as a Financial Analyst Intern in 2001. He rejoined the company on 2006. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Accredited in Business Valuations (ABV) by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) with the American Society of Appraisers, an Accredited in Estate Planning (AEP®) by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils, and an attorney (JD).
Professor Elizabeth R. Carter
LSU Law Center
Professor Elizabeth R. Carter is the Saúl Litvinoff Distinguished Endowed Professor of Law and the Judge Anthony J. Graphia & Jo Ann Graphia Endowed Professor of Law at Louisiana State University Law Center. She is also the Director of the school's Graduate Certificate in Estate Planning and Taxation.
Professor Carter is an Academic Fellow in the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel (ACTEC) where she has held a number of leadership positions. Professor Carter regularly teaches and writes in the areas of estate planning and administration, taxation and Louisiana Civil Law. In addition to her teaching responsibilities at the Law Center, Professor Carter has taught courses for the Tax LL.M. programs at the University of Alabama and Boston University.
Professor Carter earned a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Memphis, magna cum laude. She earned her J.D. from Tulane University Law School, magna cum laude. She was elected Order of the Coif and awarded a Civil Law Certificate. While at Tulane, Professor Carter served as an articles editor of the Tulane Law Review, Volume 81, worked as a research assistant to Professor A.N. Yiannopoulos, and was a founding member of the Tulane Civil Law Society. Professor Carter was awarded the 2006 Dean Rufus C. Harris Award for the Best Writing on a Civil Law Subject by the Tulane Law Review. Upon graduation, Professor Carter was awarded the 2007 Louisiana Bar Association Civil Law Award for attaining the highest grade in civil law studies. Professor Carter earned her LL.M. in Tax from the University of Alabama in 2010.
Before joining the LSU faculty, Professor Carter worked at the New Orleans law firm of Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard where she practiced in the areas of estate planning and administration, business law, secured transactions, bankruptcy, and marine finance.
Mr. Michael Reese Davis
Hymel Davis & Petersen
Michael Reese Davis is a graduate of Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans. He previously served as a federal prosecutor in Los Angeles for four years and in Baton Rouge for six years. Michael is now the managing partner of Hymel Davis & Petersen. In his civil litigation practice, Michael has obtained multi-million dollar verdicts for plaintiffs as well as complete verdicts for defendants. As a criminal defense attorney, he has also secured nonprosecutions, dismissals, and defense verdicts.
Michael is widely recognized as an extraordinary trial attorney with significant experience in diverse areas of complex civil and criminal law, including contract and corporate fraud, fiduciary claims, trust and estate litigation, qui tam/whistleblower actions, health care litigation, significant insurance claim matters, public corruption, and money laundering. He has proudly represented individuals and corporate clients alike, including Fortune 500 companies. He also serves as general counsel for a number of businesses, including health care providers.
Over the course of his 35+ year career, Michael has served as lead counsel on hundreds of trials and significant evidentiary hearings in civil and criminal cases, some of which lasted for months. Michael has had an AV Preeminent Rating (professional excellence and highest levels of skill and integrity) by Martindale-Hubbell and is recognized as a Super Lawyer.
Ms. Layne C. Fincher
Associate
Jones Walker LLP
Layne Fincher focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning, assisting clients with the preparation of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and other estate planning documents. She also works with clients in succession matters and is involved in the preparation of US estate tax and gift tax returns, as well as other tax-related work. Layne is a graduate of The University of Alabama School of Law, where she received her juris doctor degree and her Master of Laws in taxation, with a concentration in estate planning, summa cum laude. During law school, Layne was a senior editor for the Alabama Law Review, was a member of the Moot Court Board, and earned CALI Awards in Unincorporated Business Entities, Tax Procedure, International Tax, and Taxation of Trusts and Estates. While earning her law degrees, Layne served as a research assistant for Professor Adam Steinman and as a judicial intern to the Honorable L. Scott Coogler of the US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
Mr. John A. Hotard
Jones Walker LLP
Hobie Hotard counsels high net worth individuals, families, and closely held businesses on estate and trust planning, business succession planning, tax compliance, and the potential impact of new and emerging tax legislation. Hobie works with clients to prepare wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and marital property agreements. He also works with clients in succession matters and advises them on preparation of federal gift and estate tax returns. Hobie understands the highly sensitive nature of business succession planning and helps clients identify their unique goals, negotiate parties’ complex needs and interests, and navigate changes in control — all with the goal of preserving wealth and helping ensure business longevity. He also works with family offices and foundations to establish and administer charitable giving plans.
Mr. Justin T. Mannino
Partner
Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips, LLP
http://www.taylorporter.com
Justin Mannino is a partner at Taylor Porter whose practice focuses on federal, state, and local tax matters; estate planning; trusts and successions; business transactions; corporate governance; nonprofit organizations; and tax controversies. He advises individuals, families, fiduciaries, and closely held businesses on wealth transfer planning, trust and estate administration, business sales and acquisitions, tax-efficient ownership structures, and IRS/Louisiana Department of Revenue matters.
Justin received his LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida, J.D./D.C.L. from LSU Law, and B.S. in Accounting from LSU. Justin's work has been recognized by his peers, having been elected as a Fellow in ACTEC and recognized in the Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers publications.
In 2025, Justin was selected as a "Forty Under 40" honoree by the Baton Rouge Business Report.
Justin's representative experience includes multimillion-dollar business transactions, nonprofit formation and compliance, tax controversy work, estate planning and administration, and business succession planning. Justin serves his community in various service roles with on the Boards of Baton Rouge Green, WRKF, Capital Area United Way, Catholic High School Alumni Association, and Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
Ms. Linda S Melancon
Attorney
Legacy Estate and Elder Law of Louisiana, LLC
http://www.legacycenterla.com
Linda S. Melancon, founder of Legacy Estate & Elder Law of Louisiana, LLC, is an attorney practicing in the areas of Estate Planning, "Elder Law," Medicaid and VA Benefits Planning, "Special Needs Planning," and Estate Administration (Successions and Trust Administration). Linda is a Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialist, certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. She is also accredited by the Veterans Administration to give advice regarding veterans’ benefits. Linda graduated magna cum laude from Mercer University with a double major in business administration and history and then attended Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center where she graduated with her law degree in 1997.
While in law school, Linda received the Order of the Coif award for graduating in the top 10% of her class and was a member of the Louisiana Law Review. She is a member of the Louisiana Elder Law Task Force, the Academy of Special Needs Planners, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and the Baton Rouge Aging Network.
Also active in the community, Linda has served as a board member for the Ascension Council on Aging and The ARC of East Ascension. Linda also regularly presents educational seminars for the public, as well as professional groups, on the importance of proper planning.
When not working, Linda enjoys outdoor activities - particularly hiking, biking, and kayaking. Linda has three children and seven grandchildren and very much enjoys spending time with them.
Ms. Rebecca S. Luster Radford
Associate
Wiener, Weiss & Madison, APC
Rebecca S. Luster Radford is a shareholder at the Shreveport, Louisiana law firm of Wiener, Weiss & Madison, a Professional Corporation, and a practitioner primarily in the areas of taxation, estate planning, successions, trusts, and business and commercial transactions. Ms. Radford is a Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialist as Certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business Administration, cum laude, from Rhodes College and a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Virginia. Ms. Radford earned a J.D. and a Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law from LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center, cum laude. Subsequent to her studies at LSU, Ms. Radford earned a Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Florida. She is a frequent speaker on estate planning and taxation topics and is a co-author of Estate Planning in Louisiana, which is part of the Louisiana Practice Series since 2020.
Ms. Betty A. Raglin
Attorney
Legacy Estate & Elder Law
http://www.legacycenterla.com
Betty A. Raglin is an A-V rated attorney practicing in the areas of Taxation, Estate Planning, Elder Law, Estate and Trust Administration and Litigation, and Business Planning. Betty is Board Certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization in the areas of Tax Law and Estate Planning & Administration.
Betty graduated from Lamar University with a Bachelor in Business Administration and then attended Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center where she graduated with her law degree in 2001. In 2002, Betty received her Master of Laws in Taxation from Southern Methodist University.
She is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and a co-author, beginning with the 2010-2011 Supplement, of “Estate Planning in Louisiana” (Thomson West, 1991).
A frequent speaker and humorist, Betty has presented on behalf of the law schools of Louisiana State University, Loyola University New Orleans, Southern University, and Tulane University. In addition, she is the former Chair of the Estate Planning Advisory Committee of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, and former President of the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association.
Betty's hobbies include reading, traveling, and learning everything she can about New Orleans.
Professor Ronald J. Scalise Jr.
Tulane University Law School
Ronald J. Scalise Jr. is the Eason-Weinmann Chair of International and Comparative Law and the Director of the Eason-Weinmann Center at Tulane University Law School. He previously held the John Minor Wisdom and the A.D Freeman professorships at Tulane and the McGlinchey Stafford professorship at the LSU law school, where he taught from 2004 to 2009. In his more than two decades of teaching, he has continuously taught both common-law Trusts and Estates and civil-law Successions, Donations, and Trusts.
His scholarship focuses both on domestic trusts and estates issues as well as comparative and civil law perspectives on successions. He has authored an extensive number of law review articles, book chapters, and treatise updates. He is the editor for the Thomson Reuters edition of the Louisiana Civil Code and the primary author for the annual updates for six volumes of the Louisiana Civil Law Treatise series. Professor Scalise has spoken, taught, or lectured in a variety of foreign countries, including the UK (Cambridge), France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Malta, Scotland, Hong Kong, Canada, and South Africa. He has also served as a visiting scholar as the Max-Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Hamburg, Germany, and currently serves as a Professeur Invité at the Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas.
Professor Scalise has served on numerous law reform projects on both the state and national level, including as Reporter for both the Successions and Donations Committee and the Trust Code Committee of the Louisiana State Law Institute as well as the Reporter for the Uniform Law Commission's committees on the Community Property Disposition at Death Act and the Conflict of Laws in Trusts and Estates Act.
Professor Scalise's national and international work has also garnered him a number of accolades and recognitions. He is a member of the American Law Institute, an associate member of the International Academy of Comparative Law, the Treasurer of the American Society of Comparative Law, an academician in the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law, and an academic fellow in the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel (ACTEC). He currently serves as the Southern Regional Chair and the Louisiana State Chair for ACTEC and is a member of the Board of Regents. He also currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Louisiana State Bar Association.
