Kostelanetz partner Melissa Wiley will speak at the Howard County (Md.) Estate Planning Council (EPC) membership lunch meeting on February 13, 2025. The panel presentation will address the steps that estate planning practitioners can take to minimize the chance or impact of gift and estate tax audits at the federal and state levels in Maryland, particularly in light of the potential sunsetting of provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the Maryland Comptroller’s office’s latest efforts to investigate Maryland estate tax returns.

The panel also includes Patrick Guthrie, director of business development at Evergreen Advisors, and Amanda Abel, manager of the Estate and NRS Tax Units of the Revenue Administration Division of the Comptroller of Maryland. The lunch will take place from 12 PM to 1:45 PM at Cured 18^th and 21^st, 10980 Grantchester Way #110, Columbia, Md. You can learn more and register here.

With more than 20 years of experience in tax law, Melissa has represented a diverse range of clients, from large corporations to high-net-worth individuals, in complex disputes with federal and state taxing authorities, including in the estate and gift tax arena. Known for her calm, empathetic style, Melissa excels at distilling intricate tax issues into clear, actionable insights — helping her clients efficiently resolve disputes and focus on what matters most in their businesses and lives.