Overview
Estate Planning Attorney
Chris focuses his practice on estate planning, trust administration, nonprofit organizations, taxation and business planning. He counsels clients on wealth management matters including estate and inheritance tax issues and probate administration. As part of his tax practice, he counsels clients on fiduciary, international and partnership tax matters.
In addition, Chris is the principal author of Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice, published by Independent Sector and the Council on Foundations in connection with the Mott Foundation.
Chris was named Ann Arbor “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of Trusts and Estates in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.
For more information, please contact Chris Ballard at 734/372-2912 or caballard@varnumlaw.com
Experience
Experience
Provided advice to large private foundations in the following areas:
- Nonprofit governance
- Private foundation tax issues
- Grant agreements
- Self-dealing
- Program-related investments
- Lobbying restrictions
- Expenditure responsibility
- Foreign grantmaking/equivalency determinations
- Fiscal sponsorships
- Tipping calculations
Drafting team, rewrite of 2015 Michigan Nonprofit Corporations Act
Leadership
Honors & Recognitions
American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), fellow
Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Trusts and Estates, Ann Arbor, 2019, 2021
Best Lawyers in America®, Nonprofit Law, since 2007
Community Legal Resources, Attorney of the Year Award, 2007 and 2008
DBusiness© Top Lawyers since 2011
Leading Lawyers, Trust, Will & Estate Planning Law
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
Michigan Super Lawyers® since 2014
Michigan Super Lawyers®, Top 50 Consumer Super Lawyers, 2017, 2018
Professional Affiliations
American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, fellow, 2014 - present
State Bar of Michigan: Probate Council, secretary; Council member; Probate and Estate Planning Section, chair
Washtenaw County Bar Association
Washtenaw Estate Planning Council
Community Involvement
Civil Air Patrol, legal officer
FIRST Michigan, board
Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, adjunct professor
News & Publications
News
Publications
Education
University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
J.D., 1992
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
B.A., with honors and distinction, 1989
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Court Admissions
- All Michigan state courts