Ronald Aucutt, a longtime McGuireWoods partner and nationally renowned trusts and estates lawyer whose experience and knowledge has helped Congress shape tax policy, became senior fiduciary counsel for Bessemer Trust Co. on April 1.
Over his 21 years at McGuireWoods, Aucutt served as president of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and he was elected to the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils’ Estate Planning Hall of Fame. He holds a Band 1 ranking — the highest possible — in private wealth law and is recognized as a “Senior Statesman” in Chambers HNW Guide.
Since 1976, Aucutt has advised lawmakers as they framed tax legislation and Treasury Department officials as they drafted regulations. He served on the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council and chaired its Office of Professional Responsibility Subgroup. In 2015, he was appointed reporter for the revision of the Uniform Principal and Income Act.
“I am thrilled with the new opportunity to serve an outstanding organization in this senior consulting role, but I will forever cherish my time with McGuireWoods, where I grew as a lawyer and made lasting friendships,” Aucutt said.
He is widely regarded as a top thought leader on trusts and estates and taxation issues. His quotes and insights are published by The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Bloomberg and the ABA Journal, among others.
“When you talk about the best in the business among trusts and estates lawyers, Ron Aucutt is at the top,” said Jean Gordon Carter, co-chair of the firm’s private wealth services team.
“We will miss Ron as a partner, but we look forward to working with him in his new role. We know that our friends at Bessemer Trust have made an excellent choice,” said J. Tracy Walker IV, managing partner of McGuireWoods.