For over twenty years, Shelby has practiced in the areas of estate planning and tax law, and has advised individuals, families, and closely-held businesses on issues dealing with estate and generation-skipping tax planning, charitable planning, income tax planning, and tax compliance. She has extensive experience in advising closely held business owners in multiple industries on intergenerational business succession issues.
In addition, Shelby maintains a significant estate settlement and trust administration practice, and regularly represents individuals, fiduciaries, and tax-exempt organizations on a wide range of routine and complex matters before Connecticut probate courts, the Internal Revenue Service, and state taxing authorities.
While Shelby heads up the firm’s Westport office, her practice is statewide and she spends significant time in all offices of the firm. Shelby is a frequent lecturer on the national and local levels on various trusts & estates, tax and closely-held business issues. Shelby is the current chair of the Western Connecticut Estate and Tax Planning Council, and also serves as co-chair of the Estate and Probate and Tax Committees of the Fairfield County Bar Association. She is the past chair of the subcommittee on Closely-Held Businesses of the American Bar Association Tax Section, and remains active in its programming. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association Tax Section, and is a member of the Estates & Probate Section.
Shelby is a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel, an organization in which membership is an honor reserved for those at the top of their chosen profession. The College’s members, called “Fellows,” are recognized for their extraordinary accomplishments and professional achievements and for their dedication to improving the practice of tax law.
A lifelong resident of Orange, Shelby is very active in community affairs. She served as Assistant Town Moderator for several years. She also served on the Hopkins School Alumni Board of Directors and on the Board of Directors of LifeBridge Community Services. Currently, Shelby serves on the Town of Orange Ethics Commission and sits on the Endowment Committee of the Milford Arts Council.
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, District of Columbia
- University of Connecticut School of Law, Hartford, Connecticut
- J.D.
- Honors: CALI Award, Tax Clinic
- Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA