James Wood Bio

James F. Wood's practice focuses on trust, estate, charitable, tax and business planning for individuals, families, and small and closely-held businesses. Mr. Wood's experience, background and breadth of knowledge allow him to provide effective planning to clients on a broad spectrum of issues. In the trust and estate area, he advises clients ranging from relatively simple and straightforward non-taxable estates to complex and sophisticated taxable estates where various specialized trusts and other advanced planning techniques are utilized to reduce and eliminate estate and gift tax, to protect assets and to efficiently pass wealth to succeeding generations. Additionally, Mr. Wood routinely advises and assists clients in the post-death administration of estates and trusts, including probate proceedings, and estate and fiduciary tax return filings. In the charitable area, Mr. Wood counsels clients on effective strategies for charitable giving, including gift agreements and the formation of private family charitable entities. He also has extensive experience in obtaining and maintaining real property tax exemptions for charitable non-profit corporations. In the tax area, Mr. Wood advises clients on tax issues, strategies and controversies involving estate, gift, fiduciary, corporate, partnership, and individual income tax. In the business planning area, Mr. Wood advises individuals and closely-held businesses on planning matters pertaining to a variety of issues, including business formation, asset protection and business succession planning. Prior to forming Hale | Wood, PLLC in 2010, Mr. Wood was a partner in the tax, estate planning and wealth management group of Stoel Rives, LLP, where he practiced from 1998 to 2010. Previous experience includes: Associate, Van Cott Bagley Cornwall & McCarthy, Salt Lake City, Utah (1996-1998); Associate, Fabian & Clendenin, Salt Lake City, Utah (1994-1996); Law Clerk, Honorable Pamela T. Greenwood, Utah Court of Appeals, Salt Lake City, Utah (1993-1994); Law Clerk Intern, Honorable I. Daniel Stewart, Utah Supreme Court, Salt Lake City, Utah (1991); Revenue Agent, Internal Revenue Service, Salt Lake City, Utah (1988-1990); Tax Accountant, Peat Marwick & Main, Los Angeles, California (1985-1987).